Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-12-24

the rebels were finally defeated, and "to
Gen Meade belongs the honor OF we'll
earned victory in one of the greatest and
hest fought battles of the war" The re-
treat of Lee, and the pursuit by Meade
are described, closing with this;
ain the meantime Gen French had re-
occupied Harper's Ferry, destroyed the
enemy's pontoon train at Wilhamsport
and Falling Waters, aud captured its
guards. Hating day at Mlddletown'
Gen Meade crossed the South Mountain,
and on the 18th found the enemy occupy
ing a strong position on the nights 81
Marsh Run, in front Of Willamsport-
Instead of attacking Lee in this position,
with the swollen waters OF the Potomac
in his rear, without any means OF crossing
his artillery, and when defeat must have
caused the surrender of his entire army
he was allowed time to construct a pom
toou bridge. with lumber collected from
canal boats and the ruins of wooden
| houses, and on the morning of the l4th
| his army had crossed to the south side OF
the river. HIS rear guard, however, was
attacked by our cavalry, and suffered
considerable loss. Thus ended the rebel
campaign north of the Potomac, from
which important political and military re-
suits had been expected Our own loss
in this short campaign had been very Sc
we're, viz: 1884 killed, 1900 wounded,
and G,643 missing-in all 23,lS2. We
captured 3 guns, Al standards, 1861
prisoners, %, LIS small arms"
Gen Halleck then briefly recounts the
minor operations of the army of the Po-
tomac up to the battle of Rappahannock
Station, but gives no new facts.
The operations IN Western Virginia
have been mainly of defensive charac-
ter, in repelling raids and breaking up
guerrilla bands.
The force in the department Of North
Carolina during the past year has been
too small for any important operations
againstthe enemy, and has acted mostly
on the defensive. But HILLS operations
against os,er IN North Carolina, as well
as Longstreet's against Peck in Virginia
were entirely unsuccessful
General GIlImore's operations before
Charleston are rected at some length
with this comment:
"Gen Gillmore's operations have been
characterized by great professional skill
and holdness. He has overcome difficulties
almost unknown in modern sieges In
deed, his operations on Morris Island CON
stltute almost a new era in the science OF
engineering and gunnery. Since the cap
ture of Forts Wagner and Gregg he has
enlarged these works, and established
powerful batteries which effectually com
mand Fort Sumter, aud can render eff
Gent aid TO the naval attack upon Charles
ton. They also control the entrance to
the harbor.
In thu Department of the Gulf opera.
tons have been generally successful. The
, preliminary movements to the seige o
Port Hudson are given at length, On th'
9Th of July the place Internationally sur
rendered. We captured 6,233 prisoners
81 pieces of artillery, two steamers, 4, 40l
pounds of cannon powder, 5000 small
arms, 10000 rounds Of ammunition, &c
Our loss from the Sd to the 3Uth Of May
including the assault of the 9th, as re
ported, was about 900.
The department of the Tennessee is mex
reviewed. The object of Gen. Grants cam
paign was the opening of the Mississippi
in conjunction with the army of Gen Banks
Gen Sherman's first attack upon Vicksburg
failed because it was more strongly fortified
than had been supposed. The troops were
then withdrawn, and the capture of Ar
kansas Post accomplished on the 18th o
January. We captured at the latter pac,
5000 prisoners, II pieces OF cannon. 3 90
small arms, 10000 rounds of ammunition
and 563 animals.
Gen Grant then assumed command of tn
army of the Mississippi, which was largel'
reinforced. Grant SoCn became satisfies
that the north line of Vicksburg was to,
strong to be successfully attacked; the ca
nal proved failure and Gen Grant directed
his attention to other means of turning tn
enemy's flank. With the assistance Of Por
| ter and Fawagut he ran the blockade a
, Vickshurg, and his army crossed the rive
E 70 miles below, and begun the importan
. | movement upon the rear of Vicksburg
which is described in detail.
The movement was followed by the bar
? ties of Raymond, May ~; of Jackson
May IA; of Champions Hill, May l6; an
= Big Black River Bridge, May lin all {
which our troops are victorious. In thi
! campaign Gen Grant captured 81 900 prison
= ers. His total loss in the whole moyementwa
/ ,243 killed, 1906 wounded and a37 missing
Gen Halleck remarks
"No more brilliant exploit can be foun
in military history. II has been alleged an
the allegation has been widely circulate
by the press, that Gen Grant, in the conduc
of his campaign, positively dsobeyed tn
instructions of his superiors. 1t is hardl
necessary to remark that Gen Grant neye
disobeyed an order or instruction, but al
ways carried ont TO the best of his abilit
every wish or suggestion made to him b
the Government Moreover he has neve
complained that the Government did no
furnish him all the means and assistance il
its power, to facilitate the execution OF an
plan he saw fit to adopt"
Then followed period of rest to a great
err portion of the army; Sherman's corp
however, captured jackson, on the 10th o
July, when Gen Sherman returned to Vicks
burg 20 recuperate.
5 Operations in the department of Missour
: are not reviewed at much length all tn
I battles and skirmishes being recounted bu
, no new facts are presented. In Arkansa
Gen Steele drove the enemy south of III
Arkansas river, and finally beyond the Re-
, River A large portion of the military {
: this department has been engaged in sur
+ pressing the raids of guerrillas, and &c