Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1863-12-09
General Grants Campaign.

u IS I
ID with military matters that General /
Grants combinations and movements at
as they did al Vicksburg'
come fully ND to what the common peo-
pie regard as Napoleonic. Their admir- |
ration of the man is not in the slightest
but on the contrary greatly
increased, in that he chose an entirely
plan of operations from what
of the people would have sug-
gested had they been consulted in, the 4
premises.
When Gen. Grant assumed command
at Chattanooga, the Army of the Cum
berland was cooped up in that town, lllv7s
ing, ,or rather almost starving, on quarter
rations, its communications endangered,
its transportation facilities not equal
to the task of furnishing the army
with supplies, while an arrogant enemy
were hemming it in with batteries plant
ed upon almost inaccessible positions on
the mountains. 1t was evident toeyery-i
body that something must be done
speedily for the relief of the Army,
or it would eventually be compsll-
ed to evacuate the town, for the
possession of which the battle of Chica-
manga was, fought. Gen. Hooker had
reached Bridgeport when Gen. Grant ar
rived at Chattanooga, and Gen. SheE'
man was on his way south of the Ten
nessee river. The Rebels. however, had
sent a large force to operate against
Gen. Sherman by terrifying Tuscumbia,
and harrassihg his advance to such an
extent that it was evident weeks
must elapse- before he could effect a
junction with Grant. While Sherman
was on his way towards Chattanooga, the
common belief was that he designed
fanking the rebels in. front OF Chatta-
nooga by moving on Dalton or Rome,
and thus threatening the rebel commu-
nicstions. There wassa feeling of dis
appointment when twas ascertaiped
that Sherman avoided therebels atTus-
cumbia, by crossing the river below the
town, and was making rapid marches
towards Chattanooga on the North side
of the Tennessee Prior, however, tc
sherman's arrival, Rockers brilliant
movement up Lookout yal|sg badl . watHfS
wagons Before his occupation of Look
out Valley, every pound sof provisions
had to be transported over. miles of al
| most impossible mountain roads, which
were continually getting worse, before ii
reached the suffering. garrison at Chat
tanooga. Hooker's success substituted
river for mule transportation, and re.
moved all doubts as to the ability ,ol
Gen. Grant to hold Chattanooga.
In the, meantime, rumors of the con.
centration of rebel armies for the pur.
pose of fianking Chattanooga, by march
ing on Burnside and driving him out Of
East tennessee, began to fill the people
with apprehension. Why don't the Gov
sernment reinforce IBurnside7T was the
anxious inquiry all over the country.
Why didn't Gen. Grant send a portion of
his army to Burnside assistance2 What
can he be thinking about? BuelPs cam
paign over againi-were the doleful ex-
CARNATIONS that greeted us on every
hand. We confess we parsook of the
general fear, and were as deeply mysti-
fed by the inscrutable indifference appa-
rently manifested by Gen. Grant as to
Burnsides fate, as any of our readers.
Some editors see the end from the begin
ming, and know it all, always-we do
not claim to belong to that class.
The next news was that Sherman had
Joined Grant, but Burnside was surround
ed by Longstreet What's Sherman do
ing at Chattanooga? cried out an .impa-
tient people. Why is he not marching
to the relief of Burnside2 and dark
hints of a deliberate intention to sacri.t
flee Burnside were floating about But
suddenly ray of light began to disperse
the thick clouds of anxiety and gloom.
The news flashed across the country that
Grants columns were in motion, and
every one knew that meant fght. Wood
has stormed the rifle pits in front of his
position. Hooker has stormed Lookout
Mountain and Palmer, Granger, 56er-
man and Hooker have stormed Mission
Ridge 900 prisoners are captured, and
90 pieces of artillery-Bragg's army is
routed, and in full retreat, pursued by
our victorious columns--were items. of
news following each othersin quick sue
cession, and then the whole thing was as
clear as the poon7day sun, Grant had
relieved Burnside by whipping Bragg,
and everybody rejoiced and wondered
why they had not seen It before.
Thus, by a shrewd foresight, and thor |
ough confidence IN himself Gen. Grant |
has won the most brilliant campaign of |
the war, even if he goes no farther.
But We are inclined to think that he does |
not regard the campaign as closed so
long as Atlanta is in the hands of the
rebels Longstreet is, on "a weary pill |
grimage to Virginia, harrassed by Gen
cavalry. Another portion
OF Brasg's army is cut off from him and !.
Longstreet both, and is endeavoring toll
work its way into North Carolina IsEastd
Tennessee is liberated never again TOD
come under rebel dominion. 7as
Three cheers for Lieutenant- General !
= D'''..' s., nil
=. = ssg ;iHs
RG@G General Grant has captured. since