Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-11-07
Meade and Grant.

Yankee
coin is urging Meade to deliver general engagement
at the earliest possible moment lest the great nation
should be dsgraCed in the eyes OF Europe by the novel
spectaco of sovereign Congress beleaguered in its
Capitol at the close OF the third year OF rebellion.
We shall ask leave to credit just so much OF this story
as the character of the naatOr5 and the nature OF the
case permit. An army which three weeks ago ID like
Ac pJn beforehis hounds from the insurgents, aud
which returns over devastated country, and along
destsoyed railroad can hardly assume the offensive at
ia own Measure Mr. Lincoln would have been exceed
inrlv eoandal,zed if his next message should be read
almost within the hearing of the rebels at Bull Run
and it ia probable that if Lee could have remaineda
that point long enough, Meade would nave been rein
forced by all the troops within the defenoes of Wash
ingon together with large part Of keys forces from
the line of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad and others
frm the election precincts in various States, and COM
PEELED to attempt the relief Of the Capital by assault
upon Lea But, with the wastes Of Fauquier and Gull
pepper behind him, Leo could wait no longer than he
did he withdrew to point nearer his base Of supplies
aud Meade, oyfuly, but cautiously followed Nor yet
has he ventuted near enough to enable Lee to force
him to fight, and the probability il that he neEsr will
so long as his army is ia Its present condition.
What is this condition According to Gen. Fry's
report to the u s. Secretary of War; the late draft for
500, 600 men has yielded only 5000 We will suppose
that all Of 'hese under Meades command, and
that they are no longer hand'cufsd but have become
we'll trained and willing soldiers equal in every respect
to the famous veterans" of the Grand Army of the
Potomac. To counter. balance this addition OF 000
We remember that three four corps Say $4,000
men, have gone to Grant and have already displayed
their ancient vaour in the important victory" in Rae
coon Valley. Add to these ab5entees from the Grand
Army 10 600 cOlvaleacents sent to New York with just
enough vitality left in them cast against tie
Democracy, and to drink twenty glasses PER diem during
their ten days oOnvaescent furlough. Moreover, We
hear of the sudden appearance of Yankees at Falmouth
aud Newport News Taking all these fac;s together
we are constrained discredt the Yankee papers, and
to avow conviction that the cautious "hero of Get
tysburg VII waste the precious moments of this beau
tiful weather. and so incense the Northern popuace,
that he will be forced to repCa in December the folly
OF Burnside or yield his baton to the new imam Of
the hour the hero of Brisoe Station" GJverneur K
Warren.
Il to be conceded by the Yankee press that if
battle 10 Northern Virginia is postponed later than
the 18th of December, the anniversary of the mas
sacre Marye's Hill there will be no further fighting
until the rainy season of winter is over, and the
winds of spring have dried the mud in the excerable
roads Of Virginia" Ga the other hand it is expected
that Grant VIII carry out the brilliant winter
paign which has yet illustrated the of that in
vGcbie hero. Donels6n and VIcksburg are to be
ecpsed perhaps before the winter sets in for the New
York Times-the great military authority of The ma
tOn-has expressed its purpose to be dissatisfied unless
Craft pushes straight upon Atlanta aud winters there
Perhaps he may for there is ugly that Bragg
intends to fall back that point, whether with the
view Of drawing Grant into the field of Chickamauga
and Furnishing him there, because he compelled
retire on account of bad roads aud the advantages
gained in Lockout Valley by the enemy is not stated
SupposOg this rumor be the precursor of the fact
the question arises will Grant follow Looking to his
past career eve should think not. he to have
Yankee ondness for water lines and is not bold in
turing from riparian base. AT Doneson, at Shiloh at
Vcksburg his success due to gunboats and tran
sports. His pretence of following Johnston into the in
terror Of Mississippi after the fall Of Vicksburg
most contemplate farce He has the Tennessee river at
Chattanooga and will relinqnish its advantages and
risk the fate of Rosecrans at Chckamauga unless
PEELED BY his meddlssome War Department or encour
aged by the iusuboTdinadOn of Braggs army His head
must be indeed turned if he is silly enough to ignore
the conditions Oh which his previous successes
based, and, of his accord give honest battle to
commander whOha had at least some experience and
whose army appro1imases the strength of his own
When Sherman arrives he may stake his reputation in
general engagement he may risk as much fer the
sake Of retaining his flothOd in Lookout Valley But
he will not rush mAdly Atlanta. Content to spend
the winter unmoested in Chattanooga, he will raVage
the country with rAding parties and next spring. if his
army holds together and increases to 100000 Or 300
900, be will his career with the conquest of
Georgia. 81
GES. IvERsoS,-We have noticed that some of the