The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-05-14
A speiuge of Victories.

surrender of NORFOLK to Union force
from fortress Monroe, under Gen. Wool ;
the destruction by FIRE of the iron-plated
Rebel steamship Virginia formerly the
u. S. steam frigate Merrimac); the cap
ture-though still to be con6rmed-by
the Z. s. iron.clad steamer Galena, duriug
an expedition up James River. of the
Rebel steamer jamestown, and the sink
ing of her consort, the Yorktown; the
continued pursuit of the flying Rebel
main army to New Kent Court House,
barely tweDty-seven miles from Rich
mond, while our extreme advance (con-
sistiDg of the 9Th Illinois Caval'y) was,
at p NJ OF Saturday, five miles further
ahead, or barely twenty-five miles from
Richmond, while the Rebels, still retreat
ing in good order, driving in all their
stragglers and destroying all bridges, food,
forage, and whatever else might he of
service to our army, are in light before
them, and are expected to make reso
lutte stand at Bottom bridge, at the head
of the Chickahominy, fifteen miles this
side of Richmond. Add to this that the
Rebel fotilla on the Mississippi, under
the exubereut Holins, made on Saturday
a desperate attack on Com. Foote'S fleet
of gunboats, t, ,mporarly commanded by
Capt. C. ii. Davis, aud were badly whip
ped after an hours fighting, losing three
Of their eight guDboats in the encounter,
and it viii be realized that never was a
days news from SO many and such re
mote points SO auspicious to the speedy
collapse Of the rebellion.
Probably the most desperate, brilliant
and thoroughly successful fighting Of this
war was that whereby the National feet
on the Mississippi assaiIcd and passed
the forts St. Philip and Jackson intended
to bar the ascent Of the river, broke the
big chain thrown across the mighty cus-
rent, captured, sunk, or disabled the IRON
clad rams, re,ships, and gunboatS of the
Rebels, forced their way up to New Or
leans, took possession of that Rebel en-
porium, and compelled the forts left be.
hind to surrender. Though not the most
sanguinary, this was, as a whole, the most
brilliant achievement of the war. But
the fighting Of the Grand Army Of the
Potomac has been splendid, and the
recent generalship of Mcclellan com,
mands universal praise. From the hour
that Yorktown was evacuated by the
Rebels as untenable, their retreating col
ums have been pressed with great vigor,
and it seems with caution and judgement
as well. An army retFeating through
friendly and difficult country, breaking
down the bridges as II passes, and destroy
ing all that could serve IT'S purSuers, can
of course outstrip those pursuers, aud by
turning suddenly in force upon their ad-
vance, can engage them with great ad-
vantage in numbers or push them back
on their main body Hence our advance
under Hooker and Hentzleman had to
fight against odds at Williamsburg or give
ground dlsastrously; aud so with frank
Inns and Sedgwick'y Divisions, hurried
of by transports to West Point to inter-
cept the flight of the Rebels But 10
either case the Confederates we're uli-
mately defeated and compelled to accel-
crate heir fight, so that the moral effect
Of these combats is decidedly favorable.
though their losses in action may not
have greatly exceeded our own An army
of Seventy or Eighty Thousand effectIves,
retreating over its own ground without
having fought and lost pitched battle,
has seldom been pushed back faster, or
with smaller loss to its assalants, than
the Rebel host since it stole away from
its intrenchments at Yorktown With
reasonable good fortune Gen Mcclellan
will be 10 Richmond this weekly y
Tribune. Monday, Nay l2h.
On Saturday afternoon a most destruc-
tive fire commenced in the city of Troy,
originating 10 the covered wooden bridge