The New York herald., 1863-11-11
TILE AMERICAN QUESTION.
English Review OF Tho Position or tho
Union Armies-The Force Under Grant
May .Capitulates"
ondon Times, Oct. 90. ]

From the London Times, Oct. 30
The intelligence from America brought by the Europa
extends from the 10Th to the nth of October, woek
which has transferred the active movements o the
from the remote West almost TO the gates OF Washington
OF the two great armies OF the North one IL shut In
among the mountains Of Chattau aud the other by
tho last accounts has been compelled to mako hurried
retreat nrst tho appahannock and then from
bank TO Fairfax Manassas Plains thus again
closing in on the federal capital Itself The names of
placesmadc familiar by the earliest conflicts OF tho
again appear @ the scenes OF the most recent engage
ments In There last operations in Tennessee
aud Virginia the moderate commanders have displayed
a degree ~ mi tary skill and power Of combining
their force that The fcderais have never been able 10
attain The armies OF General Lee md General Bragg in
Georgia aud Norlhern Virginia, than four
hundred miles apart In straight line Yet they co opc
rated with and supported oach other with much ceeri
ty rs they were engaged in one operation. whole
corps has becn taken from and added 10 the other
with facility great as II the main bodies bad only been
separated by the distance OF days march. Tho i'm
mense advantage OF railroads for the purposes OF
has yot been sgnay proved by the transfer
OF Longsrecs corps from Virginia 10 Tennessee 10 aid In
the dccot OF Rosecrans and back again TO enable Lee TO
make this advance confidently The troops
thus twice moved from point TO point must have
traversed more than a thousand miles OF road,
some OF the railway lines they TOOK being circuit
Gus; Ihe possession Of q tn, these lioes has been
great stra,egca ability to turn even advantages TO
count Lee and Iobgstreet could not rocr opera
tions OF ancient for pfcccdcnts To weaken army
in face of an enemy OF equal force 70 strengthen another
Ave hundred miles distant hardly thn he resources
Of od military scce II has not only been done, but
repeated and both movements have been successful.
remarkable dchtere7p aud its Importance Ia sugu.
ary Illustrated by complete contrast with IT, Burnside
was despatched TO reinforce kosecrans Long
streets movement was asccrtaincd. But tho federal
general had no railway lines ~ move by Ho strug.
glef on through country either roadlcss or III
provided with the means Of communication. lilo
could not arrive 10 time TO prevent tho disas.
ter OF Chattanooga intercepted In the al
tempt. and bis whole force tells for little In the
present state OF the Tennessee The engagement he
Is stated TO have fought Greensvie has only 70
suited in heavy ss TO be added 10 that OF the battle
of Chcamauga without visiby improving the position
OF Rosccrans, who is almost besegod among tho
tains lie has powerful army In his 'front.' which can
harass him by Its artillery and yet avoid battle while
strong bodies OF cavalry In bis rear cutting on his
communications aud interceptiug his supplies. Eua
ud,t0r Uhesr re DiN hdv 10 cdpi,ud,e retreat
7hs forr- dppedr, the NOR frooobe alternative The
Conederatcs have been aSe, It Is said to destroy tho
railways and cut the telegraph limos at several points be-
tween Chattanooga and Nashville, and they have taken
a whole train OF three hundred wagons, containing
muntion and supplies for tho icdersa heavy loss
army beset in front and rear.
The rumors current la Washington on the 10th OF
battle having actually been fought s Bull run, and Of
General Meade having been superseded IN his command.
cny represent the feversh state OF the public mind
Unless the President and his Cabinet have lost all
mon sense they would not change their commander nj
such crisis, nor select civilian and POLITICAL General
Se sckcs "a his succe.ser Up 70 the l7tn there bad
been no decisive engagement The last Nosp has p 10 be
Hrnct and the ederas will have extraordinary good
tune II tue Third battle the ssrne OF two defeats re
verses the associations connected with the omcned Geld
OF Bull run.