The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1863-12-08

tbe Annf ue e. il
West 8iep 90 aa aoe
- resalis vl'ca Ga h msti
seem e. n#u .faa ursm
the frur fh IS uas~s
have goeg = from Is Try sd
Siats g s.afe. every cam. 8o3
~ ilem nearer e. ile Cali. They
bare steadily adsaneel ans nrvcf re-
oeeaed ri4 haee conquered Stale.
and held wbat they have conquered
They base captured strong positions
- ,bc resali. 81 iile csmpa,gus 81 one
se2san abd made ll.em btsss for oar.
Tier operations ftcnekt They have
made 81 conque.fs lhe Stepping stones
&c new ones mad ~ these means %.
tanned decisive s.riore and great re.
sails Wbeu bfe Is ask.d for The re-
aal,s - their cfyfts De Is ready Is
po.ni 20 ihe State. u Kentucky and
Teaarsrc AMI iitc valley 81 tie Ms
sssippi BE 6zhs battle after battle
down che Mississippi apl be bring.
tto Army 81 ile Tom within the
ertrcnghrenp u Eiek,furg H.
traces 'he marches y tie Army q the
Cumberland IN he leaycs Tin Chat
iaHaoga.
Hu, when one q called upon otell
nbai lbe Army Of ihc Potomac has
accomplished be !, not 50 ready ~iib
hi. answer II can point 70 It.
achievements on many vel fought
battlefield, and trace 9 through long
m1rches Of hardship and peril ljul
as cffrcling the question OF results, be
sill be compelled 70 own that many
81 those battles were fought upon the
came feds and that those marches US
ually ended where thry began In
reading Of campaigns ID The West We
are accustomed to see them close with
a battle aud victory, but in follow.
ing The movements Of The Army Of
the Potomac We are not surprised Or
disappointed to learn lhat o march
With ten days railons resulted IN look
ing Al The enemy and returning TO its
Old camping ground. While we are
accustomed to see the Western armi
steadily marching onward 10 ths Gulf.
making ihrir resting lace to-day their
starting point o morrow, we are eQnal-
ly accustomed 10 see the Army Of tie
Potomac marching backward and lur.
ward on tie same old military roaA..-
one day on to Richmond tie NEXT day
back 70 Washington.
This lack Of visible results, such as
captured cities and conquered States,
which arc associated with the cam
paigns Of the Western armies, will If
we are not careful. lead rs 10 DO inins
lice 10 the Army Of the Potomac.
There are many reasons for this fail
ure Of she Army Of tie Potomac TO
accomplish decisive resnlts.--reasous
Which we are not APT 70 consider when
DISCUSSING tie relative merits Of tho
two armies.
Virginia forms one q the best sec
lions for defensive operations that can
BE- found on this or any other CONT
nent. is mountains ami rivers are 80
placed taat skilful defensive gener-
ri can by means q retreats and 1ank
movements keep Up a long and effect
ivc resistance % an advancing army
OF vastly superior numbers. Its sur.
taec between the mountain ranges is
lsilly, woody, and suampy--.very uu-
Ike Tie plains which form The histor.
ic baiIle.telds q Europe An army
90 lhr retreat can make use Of these
inequalities Of surface to keep up a
continued and harrassing warfare with
hut liille loss and without riskins Il
general engagement, until bis advasa.
~ is compelled By want Of supplies to
shorten the distance which separates
him from them. When Rosec,ans
was transferred to tie West be pro.
nouncad that part Of the country alto
eclher the best FOR conducting often
eise movements. Rivers with ehan-
uels too large 10 admit q successful
distractions pass through The territory
swept by the Western armies oford-
ing them the assistance of a powerful
navy and certain source Of supplies.
Tie only time when The Army OF the
Potomac hsd a river Tor its base il
,.ffauksVs ,.s.,....,t...,ss !, ...,.. y. "a. -
tuaaie As 10 receive 10 Elective assist
ancc from the other branch OF the SER
vice.
Failures which cannot be accounted
fer on lhis ground can De explained