The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-27

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freights
The Army OF the Potion ac- Another Ro-
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Signs or the
Times.
The secret of General Burnside's late visit to
Washington is disclosed. He is relieved. at his
own request, of the command of the Army Of
the Potomac and General Hooker has been
promoted to this responsible and important
position.
We presume that General Burnsides modest
estimate of his own capacities has had as much
to do with this change as any other cause; for
he is universally esteemed brave, energetic,
frank and magnanimous soldier. We know,
too, that the country, instead Of demanding his
removal after the late Fredericksburg battle
desired that he should be given the opportunity
to retrieve that disaster, and we believe that
such was the desire of the army. President
Lincoln has left upon record his undiminished
confidence in General Burnside and that his
accident" and not the result of blunder.
From the reported resignation of those tried
and trusty soldiers, Generals Sumner and Frank
lin, it would further appear that while they
were still ready to render a cheerful obedience
to General Burnside they have not the same
degree of confidence in General Hooker. We
must not forget, however, that among military
men there are often disagreements upon mat
ters Of rank, precedence and claims to promo
ton and professional prejudices that are incom-
prehensible to civilians; SO that from the resig-
nations of Generals Sumner and Franklin we
can form no just impression Of the capacities
of General Hooker to command the Army of
the Potomac.
No man can doubt that the recall of General
Mcclellan to the head of this army would have
impaired degree Of harmony and enthusiasm
among its officers and soldiers, and degree
of confidence to the country which would have
led us on to certain victory; but as Mcclellan
appears to be out of the question, our conf
dence and our encouragement are due to Gene
raj Hooker. He mas secured the popular dis
tinction in the army Of Fighting Joe Hooker"
and we doubt not that among the most of its
officers and men be will be cordially accepted
as their leader. He has proved his fighting
qualities in many OF the most sanguinary bat
ties of the war; but he has yet to prove his
in difficult field on operations, to
handle an army of one or two hundred thousand
men, He is entitled to fair trial, and it is to
be hoped that he will not be embarrassed and
defeated in his movements-as his predecessors
have been-by the politicians at Washin gton
and by the slowness Of the military authorities
here in sending forward his needful supplies,
and means of transportation.
But still the question recurs, what is the pros
pect of a forward movement Of the Army of the
Potomac? We apprshend that these last
changes among its commanders preclude the
idea of an early advance-that some time will
be required by General Hooker to get the army
well in hand; but still we must urge upon
President Lincoln that time at this crisis is
precious beyond all calculation. There ere
three armies Of the rebellion which may still be
defeated and dispersed within sixty days; but
which, if demolished within the next three
months, will substantially put an end to the
rebellion. These three armies are the army Of
Bragg or Longstreet, in Tennessee; the rebel
army at Vioksburg, and the main reliance of
JEFF. Davis, the rebel army Of Virginia. Gene
raj Rosecrans, in good season, we doubt not,
will effect final settlement with Bragg and
Longstreet, and between Generals Grant and
McCcrnand and Admiral Porter from above,
and General Banks and Admiral Farragut from
below, we expect before the lapse Of another
month glorious report from Vicksburg and
Port Hudson.
But Virginia, the quarter in which success is
most urgently demandcd-whcre success is
most essential to destroy the unity, the prestige
and the hopes Of the rebellion, and where our
forces and means for securing success are posi-
lively overwhelming Virginia remains in
doubt Had General Mcclellan been cordially
supported at Washington, Virginia would have
been reclaimed six months ago; il his route to
Richmond is now adopted, JEFF. Davis may be
expelled before the LIST of May, otherwise the
dawn Of summer may find our army still nonn-
dering in the mud this side of the Pamunkey
river. There are strange rumors afoat that the
Army Of the Potomac is to be broken up, and
that "thc heart Of the rebellion" is to be aban-
doned for some new expeditions against its ey-
tremtics: but we cannot believe that any such
suicidal policy is contemplated at Washington.
If we are TO have peace in May, Union or no
Union, according to the foreshadowings Of
Greeley, we, the people Of the loyal States
have the right to demand that the war in the
interval shall be prosecuted earnestly and
heartily to put down the rebellion; and we are
sure that if the war is thus pushed forward, and
with anything like ordinary ability at WASH
ington the rebellion will by the LIST Of May be
extinguished.
The present administration, the government
of the United States, and the loyal States of the
Union, will be forever disgraced before the
world If they fail TO accomplish the restoration
OF the Union. We must make sure of its ac-
complishment, too. before the lst of May, or
we are threatened by the abolition faction with
an inglorio'is dissolution. With tweniy-thrce