The Portland daily press., 1863-10-02
Gen. Rosecrans.

While Gen. Rosecrans is engaged in fight
ing rebels in front it is the duty of the loyal
press, as FAR as is consistent with truth, to de-
fcnd him against Copperheads in the rear. The
following we copy from the Detroit Adyer-
tiser:
The check Of our army at Chattanoo ga fur
nishes an opportunity for class of Demo-
cratic papers to indulge their long pent-up ha-
tired 10 Gen. Rosecrans, for the high stand he
has taken in support of the Administration
and the unconditional submission of the rebels.
Already the World is denouncing Gen. Rose
Grams as an incapable military man, and using
extreme diligence to magnify the check of our
army into great and overshadowing disaster
The editor OF that sheet evidently belongs to
the class OF abomnable wretches who stand
on the tp-toe of expectancy, with hat in hand,
waiting TO swing il over their heads and cheer
fnlly exclam: "A disaster, dsaster-thank
God, disaster! 1t will help US in the Ohio
and pennsylvania elections A political effect
is allthat these scabby fellows afflicted with
the murraln OF treason can see in a victory or
defeat. Contessing that the devotion of the
people 70 the Union was the cause of their de-
feat IN Vermont, California and Maine, it is
not strange they magnify an indecsive reverse
IN Georgia. and attempt to use il TO advance
Their political schemes.
In the accounts that have reached us from
the battlefield, there is not fact to cast CEN
sure upon Gen. Rosecrans. The strategy
which from Murfreesboro, past Shelbyville,
Tullahoma, the Tennessee River and Chatta-
nooga, kept Bragg on the flight before him,
has not been exceeded In brilliancy and eflec-
tlveness by anything in the history of the war.
lie has accomplished the most important re-
suits, turning immense Notifications, and pos
sessing leading lines of communication with
scarcely any loss of life; while a wary manage
ment and most consummate system of fortifi-
cations has enabled him TO hold, all that he has
acquired, and protect efiectually line of COM
munication for supplies extending hundreds of
miles. No great movements can be accom-
piished without risk, and Gen. Rosecrans was
inaneuyering TO capture Chattanooga, when
ne encountered the enemy's forces. There is
nothing to show that he intended to sweep
down into Georgia, as has been alleged but
everything iavors the opinion that he intended
10 occupy Chattanooga until Burnside's army
joined that of the Cumberland.
Nor Is there anything in the evidence we
nave to show that the battle was not well
iought. All the means he had ut command
were employed. He was neither surprised
nor outgeneraled 1t was no fault of his that
the rebels collected an overwhelming force
IN his front, He could not have averted that.
de had done all that military skill could do to
compel Dragg 10 n9nt before that occnred.
Ills incomitable army was not driven from the
ield-no division wavered that did not receive
It's support and when the force of numbers be-
came too great for his own skill and manage
ment he was enabled 10 fall back upon a
strong fortifcation in good order, removing
most of his wounded from the field. The
feoeis do not rejoice over a victory achieved:
why should the Democratic press deplore a
ueieat not sustained? The brave men who
ioughtu under Rosecrans who know what he has
uohe' receive him with rapturous cheers.
al 'le same moment the Copperhead press
Are attempting to destroy his honestly won
reputation. W."
In estimating this last great battle. and the
importance oil the stand made by Rosecrans
ana ms army, we must remember that the
rebels did not expect to defeat him only hut
TO destroy his army and then turn upon Rnrn-
side, and, destroying him, re-occupy all the
Southwest. They had drawn troops from
every direction, exposing Richmond. Mobile
ana even Charleston, to accomplish this
ana ialled. After the battle they find their
region so badly shattered that they cannot
resume the offensive until Gen. Rosecrans
mas han time to repair, and in the meantime
zen Durhsldes army is unharmed and will
SOON % unite with the hero of Stone River.
Inc great railroad center of Chattanooga is In
our possession, and we probably cannot be
dislodged from it, 1t must also he remem-
bered that less capable General than Rose
Grams might have been defeated in front of
Chattanooga instead of occupying il and com
PEELED to make ruinous retreat across tho
mountains.