, 1863-07-18
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
SATURDAY MORNING, JULYIs 1868
The Union Victories.

rejoiced over by every JEFF. Davis man in
the country. This week the tables are
turned, and the news is encouraging enough
to cause Union men to rejoice with JOY un-
speakable. The threatening clouds that
hung for time over the hopes and fears
Of our people, have vanished, and victory
IS again with the Unionists. Cheering
news comes from our armies everyv here.
Gen. Meade has fought great battle and
has shown himself able to command the
army of the Potomac and lead it to victo-
ry. His dispatches are of the short and
modest order, and in striking contrast to
the humbugging bombast of the Potomac
commanders since NJ cClelan left the field
The victory at Gettysburg is reported tG
have been decisive. Lee must have suffered
a Waterloo defeat" The battle ground
was disputed for three days; but on the
4th-the glorious and ever to be rendered
fourth Of July-the tide set in favor of
the Unionists. and before the day was gone
Lee was driven from the field discomitted
and badly whipped. He retreated toward
the Potomac in the hopes of getting mis-
broken and demoralized army across in
safety; but heavy rains had SO swollen the
stream thet his pontoon bridge was washed
away, and he was left without means of
crossing. If Meade followed him up in
force and found him water bound the
chances would appear to be quite favorable
for panic to prevail in Lees army, and for
once a splendid opportunity to bag the
whole batch. Lees forces, before TIE bat
tie, was estimated at from 10000 to l2O.-
600 strong-probably the first figures are
nearly correct. If he lost so 900 at Get
tysburg. all told, he would then have but
$4,000 troops to operate with 1t is alto
gether likely that Meade's army greatly
outnumbered Lees, and that Lees loss in
killed, wounded and prisoners vas the
heaviest. 1t would appear, then, that to-
gether with the federal forces south of the
Potomac, and those lnder Meade north of
it, centering upon Lee, that it is almost i'm
possible for him TO get away with his ar
N.Y. However, we have no great faith in
this Wholesale bagging business. All the
braggadocio heretofore lndulged in about
capturing large bodies of troops has re-
suited in leaving good wide gap fer the
army so to be bagged, to escape through.
If Lee escapes, badly whipped, it will be
enough to satisfy US for the present.
vicksburg is reported to have surrender
ed to Grant on the 4th inst. Last weeks
news was favorable for such result, and
although we have TO particulars of the sur
render nor official information of it, yet
TIE announcement has been made in two
dispatches, aud little room is left to doubt
the news being correct
The rebel General Price lately attacked
General Prentiss, at Helena, Arkansas
with force of $4,000 men. Prentiss
had but 5000 men, and whipped the reb-
els badly. Price displayed his usual skee-
dadline qualities, and left large number
Of prisoners with the federals.
Banks, who was reported to have made
final assault on Port Hudson and was re-
pulsed, is still hanging on with the deter
mination of reducing that stronghold
With Vicksburg taken, and Port Hudson
about to fall into the hands Of the Union
lists, the Mississippi will certainly soon be
open to navigation Then with the Union
triumphs that have taken place, and ale
about to take place on the Atlantic sea-
board, and with North Carolina ready to
lay down her arms and tai e her place in
the Union. that famous backbone of the
rebellion" so much talked about, must be
about broken. The radicals of the Admin
strahon at Washington no long rule and
we may expect the straight forward, conser-
vative policy now being pursued by the
leaders, to bring about peace. Mr.. Lin
coin no longer gives encouragement to ia
natica- notions, and even rebukes the abo-
lition meetings and Conventions being held
in some of the States-giving them to un-
derstand that they will find no sympathy
with him.
LArER.-As we 90 to press We have
news by the stage which confirms the sur
render of Vicksburg with $4,000 troops -
Grant Immediately parcled 3 600 of them.
The ammunition had given out n the fort
and the rel els we're forced to surrender.
TIE Federal forces have Lee hemmed in
on the Potomac, and the latest advices state
that it is impossible FOR him TO escape. lie
must fight or surrender.
General Meade states the rebel loss to be
from 80, 900 to $1,000 men and 60 pieces Of
artillery. Our loss so far !oots up 1900
killed wounded and missing.
The rebels have been driven out of Mid
die Tennessee.
The Election in Walla Walla.
Never was there a more determined spir-
it manifested by Democrats anywhere than
was displayed by the Democracy of this