The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-06-26
The Situation.

Thi, week like the one last past has been
full of rumors and particulars of the rebel
invasion Of Maryland and Pennsylvania.
Lees object seems to be not so much d.
rect attack, as by maneuvering to take ad-
vantage oil any mistake Hooker may make
BY his cavalry invasion he evidently hopes
and expects to divide our strength, md with
his strong reserves fall upon Hooker's scpa-
rate force and annihilate them. But no has
been foiled thus far, aud we may safely say
that this effort on his part will not only tail,
but result in grea, disasters to himself.
Speaking Of Lees army, the Boston Jour
nal we'll says:
Thus far, Lee has been foiled, and more
than that, no has been seriously rebuiled, IL
not Disconnected. by the operations of our
cavalry. 1t impossible not to take crate
full notice OF the vast difference which has
been displayed in dealing with this rebel adj
vance, as compared with that OF last summer.
Then the whole rebel movement was executed
under the wing Of Stuart's successful pion'
'eeriug, and his was truly name Of terror.
Now he cuts but sorry figure. Three cav
airy collisions in succession have resulted "a
our advantage. and through them Hooker
must have gained all the accurate informa-
ton of the encmys movements which has
reached him. We regard this change as au-
spicious OF good termination OF the crisis.
In what locality tho great collision between
the two armies will occur. and when. are
questions which can only he solved by patient
waiting. IL will come soon enough, or else
Leo will have to virtually admit that no has
made failure.
With respect to the remainder Of the mil.
itary field. tho chief point OF interest contin-
mes to DO Vicksburg. not only from the in
trinsic Importance Of the result, but from its
influence on other events. Our information
from Port Hudson is not very late, but it
would seem that Gen. Banks is settling down
into regular siege operations. IL so. hc will
hardly be expected to succeed until Vicksburg
is taken, when, If Port Hudson does not fall
Of its own weight, IL will certainly be taken
by the spare force sent down by Gen. Grant.
II appears to DO taken for granted that Gen.
Rosecrans will not launch into active opera
tons till the iate Of vicksburg is decided, as
the function Of his powerful army. as either
the main stay Of the Union in the West, or,
moro probably, tho executor OF the rebellion.
will then DO cleared up.
Reycrting, then, to Grants prospects, we
are unable to see why they are not satisiac-
tory even to those who take the most enlarged
view Of the consequences depending on his
action. Unles interfered with by Johnston,
the capturs 4 vicksburg, within u limited
time. is as much matter Of certainty as
ANYTHING future can b.. The chances Of
Johnston's successful interference are very
small indeed. He has got to raise a grea,
army-certainly &C. 900 men-before he will
dare to move. and then he has got to approach
through aregion which, in point ofdiihculty,
is the next thing TO the immediate locality
Of vicksburg. which has thus far withstood
tho large army Of Gen Grant. And John.
s.on has got to march square up in face OF
this position. because he cannot turn our
right, for the gunboats are there, nor the
left, for the gunboats are there, too. II
will be time enough TO speculate on John.
stons progress In this undertaking when he
has fairly begun II by crossing the Big
Black river, which no has not done, and is
not very likely TO do.