Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-08
Vickaburs ana Port, HndsOn-The
0nUOrtmmitV.

Vtcksbure and Port HudsOn-The
Opportunity.
Gen. Banks and Com Farragut haVenow
done for Port Hudson what Grant and
Porter had previously accomplished at
Yicksburg. These two strOngholds of the
enemy on the Mississippi that remain,
and the last they'Ca establish,-nre each
surrounded by federal Gre; gunboats flame
from the water, and Cannon and bayonetsa
glisten on the land, in full circle. The
Investments in both cases are complete;
and capture may be delayed, but it cannot
well be defeated, unless the government
has been and continues strangely remiss
in forwarding reinfcrcements, and in dis
tracing and occupying the enemy at other
points. The opportunity of the war seems
Ito be upon MS; aud this mouth of June
ought to realize victories that will shatter
| the hollow crust of the rebellion to pieces.
Gen. Banks probably has 10000 to 49,
600 men or twice the number he surrounds
at Port Hudson. Grant undoubtedly had
10000 at least, when be closed around
| Vicksburg, or double what Pemberton has
within the walls. Now Grant should have
at least twice 10000, and the increase
should be and might be still going on at
the rate of several thousand day. We
suppose there is no doubt that new troops
have reached New Orleans from the North,
of late, but whether in such numbers as to
spare any more from holding the exposed
points in Louisiana for Gen. Banks siege
of Port Hudson, is perhaps doubtful Yet
he should have, or been provided with the
ability, in undertaking this business, to
gather force of Mt least $4,000 upon it.
And with the time and the warnings we
have had, there should be no limit to the
assistance given to General Grant Heis
within two or three days steamboat
ride of Memphis, st. Louis, Nashville and
Cairo, and troops should have been and
still be pouring down to him at least as
fast as Johnston is collecting them against
him in his rear. If the rebels are weak
ening Bragg's army in Tennessee to recruit
Johnston's, Rosecrans can spare equal
numbers for the aid of Grant, unless he
enters himself upon crushing campaign
against the enemy Then at all points up
and down the Mississippi valley and its
tributaries, there must have been scattered
considerable forces, that, at this juucture,
wheu the rebels are stopping all serious.
offensive operations to save Vicksburg,
can be spared to swell the triumphant
army that is bent on crushing it. - .i
All this we presume is done and being
done, because it might be and should be.
We do not ask the government for the de-
tails; we will believe it foresaw the present
emergency, and prepared for it; that it did
not send Grant against Yicksburg and
Banks against Port Hudson, without max
ing certain their reinforcement in this yery
natural and inevitable hour of trial; and
that at least it has fully improved the time
that has passed since the siege of Vicks-
burg commenced, aud the rebels began to
gather for its relief. But if has not; if
these promising sieges fail; if today's tri.
umph becomes to-morrow's disaster, then
the government must needs make plain n i
strong its excuse; the circumstances must
III themselves form IN apology, crit will be
arrnigned and condemned more severely
than ever before in this war.
We see no reason to apprehend serious
disaster, however, even if tue enemy out
numbered us at either point and raise the
siege. Gus armies hold full communities
ton with the river, and ii their invest
ment be broken up can fall back to their
gunboats and be protected from any crush
ing blow. This is the worst that can ham
pen; and this need not and should not, and,
as we believe, willno If Vicksburg falls
first, Grant can then reinforce Banks as
quickly as the enemy, baffied at the upper
point, strike for the lower. We have the
river. 1t must be remembered, through all
its course, aud are supplied with abundant
) transports and gunboats; and this must be
more reliable and speedy means of com
munication than any of the land routes,
even than the railroads, in that region, in
their present weak and broken condition.
While upon these things in the South
west hang the more or less early crash OF
the rebellion, there must be Opportunities
for our armies in Kentucky and Tennessee.
and 10 Virginia, that should not be neg.
lected. Uuless Rosecranshas been drawn
on heavily for Grant, our forces on both
these two great lines must be in excess Of
those of the enemy. We undoubtedly have
a third more troops in Virginia than The
rebels, perhaps twice as many. Our armies
on the Peninsul" 9pd on the Rappahanuock
ought not to be passive idlers in this crisis.
The enemy have too long played success
fully the game upon us of massinp their
forces at single point, and delivering an
effective blow, either by way of attack or
OF rePnVse. And We have let them do it.
When they have withdrawn from our front
to engage elsewhere, we have politely wait
ed till they came back, before we moved
onward. Shall this be SO still again: and
IN this most glaring instance OF golden Oh
Portunity? The peril of Vicksbu1g to the
rebels should bring to US the complete
possession of Virginia, Kentucky aud Ten
nessee. We have the men for the work:
shall history write that we stilllacked the
brains and the vigor?
Barbour County Election Returns
PHILLIPPf, YA., June 4th.
fdlsR. YSsba All F