The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1862-05-28

Correspondents of toe Josrsoi.
CANP NgAu CoetNru. NIss,

OofresponicuSe ol thc voWitof.. l.
CAMP NEAR CosiNru. MISSISSIPPI,
MoNDAY, May l9th, 1852. !
Mr. EDIroR - The speed with which in,elli-
rence is now dashed over the wires, and the great
distance between Gen. IIalleck's army and cur
friends in Wood county, almost RENDERS army cur
r,sponjencc" not only cu, Of date. but waste oi
time and labor The army is jogging along Icy de-
grccs, aud portions are to-day Within three aud q
half to iourmiIcs Of tho rebel works. Our Gvntis
we'll protected Ivy breastworks, and guns are kcr
continually in position as we advance. S,mc oi
our men complain because Of cur slow movements,
hut il is evident that Gen. Halleck has excellent
reasons for his easy advance. Although naturally
restive to learn the issue of the long delayed and
momeutous contest with the lesson OF Yorktown he
fore it. it will be content To bidc the issue o,
events. ltis, too, most gratifying fact that we
can afford to wait. We have an army worthy OF
its name II is well organized well fed wcllequip-
ped and well provided for in every respect do
not think it has ever bc,n in a healthier condition.
Eueamped among sloping grovcs, of almost Areadi-
an loveliness and fruitful with springs and streams
of limpid purity, with confidence in itself aud ella
ted with victories ON all sides, wec& or a fort
nights designed delay in front OF an enemy in the
condition Of ours can not be greatly criticised.
The policy of hitting head whenever one pre-
sents itself may be very good tactics at a Donny-
brook fair, but may not work with equal advantage
in modern warfare II must be remembered that
good gencralship does not consist in always ac-
ccpting battle, even when apparently it may be
fought ON equal terms. There are times when de-
lays, instead of being dangerous, are, on the con
trary, most advantageous. Atprescnt, forinsionce,
strongly intrenched and surrounded by as many
thousands as he may be- it is not impossible or in
deed improbable that Beaurcgard may be rather
trembling lest We do not attack, rather than lest
may. The large army he now undoubtedly has
around him, however exc. llent portions of it un-
doubtcdly are, does not possess the quality of du-
rability. Composed largely of ccnscripts, and of
men who under the excitement Of the moment have
taken up arms for the present crisis only the rebel
leaders may well be solcitious as to its existence
for any length of time, when disaster folloTs dis
aster and stronghold after stronghold falls into our
hand Lie to them as they have done, and as they
will continue TO do conceal from them as much as
they may, the masses of the South know full well
that their yauutcd victories were, in reality sad
disasters, and that their Pea Ridges and Shilohs
were defeats which at least in the case of the lat
ter only needed vigorous pursuit to render an ut
ter rout.
The surrender of New Orleans the evacuation oi
Yorktown, the rebel defeat at Williamsburg, and
| the imminent danger Of Richmond and Memphis
can not but have crushing and dispirting effect
upon the mcrcurial dispositions of the already
wavcring and murmurirg lcgions Of the South
II \ A.. a.
wait. The knowledge that the anaconda 'simpend
ing stroke is lowering over them, ready at any mo-
ment to fall, is not likely to improve their fighting
condition, or render the stroke when it does fall
any the less severe. In the mean time, General
lIalleck may be perfcctng his plans here and else
where, and we may all be assured that when tint
| iron is hot the hammer will be ready,
The right wing of our army lthat is, Gen. Grants
divisions is now advanced about five miles beyont
Monterey, which, with pickets thrown out coupl,
Of miles farther, brings it within very near foui
miles of the rebel standpoint. AS we advance, the
enemys pickcts make no useless show of resistance
but fall back quietly, stopping when our cavalry
does, and taking up their position again within 400
! or 800 yards soon our pickets are posted. II
some cases the opposing pickes are still nearer tC
each other, and occasionally exchange compN
ments, verbal and otherwise Our pickets hay,
strict orders not to fire upon those of the enemy
unless they begin the attack, but the latter witt
their usual disregard of civilized usuages, never
fail to pop away at them, whenever they have at
opportunity, the skirmishing along the lines Il
quite constant. Gen. Buel's, command which oc
cupes the center, is about the same distance from
Corinth as the army of Gen. Grant. The left un
der Gen. Pope has been advanced nearer to thC
enemy than either of the above corps.
On Thursday in reconnaissance he penetrated
/ through the swamps 4 couple of suits beyond Far
mingion and to within an equal distance of Cor
inth, procuring valuable information in regard I,
the character of the country there The work &C
complished, the column fell back to Pennington
! On Monday of last week. however, the enemy re
turned the compliment by coming out in strong
force. Quite brisk engagement ensued, partici
pated in by about five or six of our regiments agans
force of fully 10000 on the part of the rebels
Gen. Pope having received strict instructions tt
bring on no general engagement did not bring NJ
his reserves, and gradually fell back on either sid
to the pickets Of the two armies now in position
1t is reported that we lost in the engagemcnin kill
ed and wounded about one hundred and City.
On Saturday last there was another fight be
tween Sherman's brigade and the rebels, in whicl
we lost fourteen killed and thirty eight wounded
We may have general battle any hour, or vs.
may not have one for ten or fifteen days; but d
not think it will extend beyond that period.
/ If these few lines prove acceptable, you ma
hear from mo again. With regards,
D. W. $.
Why Gen. Mcclellan Delayed His Marcl