The New York herald., 1863-07-10

| The Battle Fields Of Gettysburg and
vaimy-Hissorical Parallel.
In reading the description Of Meade's line Of
battle at Gettysburg. as given by our CORES
pondent, Mr.. Knox, in yesterdays HERALD, it
struck us that the parallel to the battle field of
Valmy and to the circumstances of that event
were 80 remarkable that it was difficult to re-
sist the conclusion that the permanent military
and historical results would be similar. Our
correspondent describes the battle field as re-
sembling horseshoe, the toe or centre at the
cemetery pointing towards the enemy, and the
two wings at the heel, the longer side of this
irregular triangle being the base, or from the
extremity Of one wing to the other. 1t was in
fact natural fortfcation of the character OF q
promontory. And what is the description given
of the battle field of Valmys Lamartine says
at projected like cape into the lines of the
Prussian bayonets." Our correspondent re-
marks that the position at Gettysburg gave us
great advantage over the rebels. We could cen-
centrate on either wing or on the centre by
moving from two to three miles. Acting on
the outer circle, Lee was forced to move ten
miles to make q similar concentration. By
watching Lees movements carefully General
Meade was able TO checkmate him on each
occasion.
In both cases repulse was the result. But
the similarity Of the circumstances is still more
remarkable. The French Revolution, born of
our own, had the monarchies Of Europe
arrayed against it, and they conspired to crush
it. The Duke of Brunswick, with sixty thou
sand Prussians, trained in the school Of Frede-
rick the Great and the General himself having
acquired reputation in the seven years war
second only to that of Frederick. was advancing
against the French capital, supported on his
tanks by forty-ive thousand Austrians, fifteen
thousand French emigrants or royalsts, and q
body of Hessans. The French arms had suffered
various disasters, and the movement to Paris
was now considered so easy that it was talked
Of as "a military promenade" The fortresses
Of Longwy and Verdun had fallen, and Sedan
only remained to be captured to open the
way to Chalons, to fine fertile country
and to the capital Of France. The chief general
in command of the revolutionary troops was
Dumouriez. Kellermann, at another point, the
heights of Valmy, commanded twenty thousand
men and some raw recruits. The Duke of
Brunswick, renowned general with his dis
ciplined force, assailed the French position. He
prevailed. The French repulsed their assail-
ants twice at the point of the bayonet. The
Prussians left eight hundred dead on the field,
and all hopes of crushing the revolutionary
armies vanished; and though Brunswick fingered
for some time in the country, distress and sick
ness wasted away his once splendid force and
finally but wreck of 1t crossed the frontier.
In the words Of the historian" The day was
ours, and the in itself almost Insignificant sue
cess of Valmy produced on our troops and upon
opinion in France the effect of the most complete
victory. From the same epoch may be dated
the encouragement aud retreat of the enemy"
The illustrious German poet. Goethe, who was
present at the battle, predicted ON the spot
"From this place and from this day forth COM
mences new era in the worlds history"
In the same manner Lee, q general of high
reputation, flushed with various successes over
our arms, invaded the North with large army,
and seemed to act as If his march to Washing
ton were but 20 military promenade" VIM
chester and other posts had fallen. Harrisburg,
Baltimore and Philadelphia were threatened.
But the resistance offered to the confident in
vader on the heights OF Gettysburg arrested bis
progress, and he was compelled to retreat.
Whether pending events may force him now
over the Potomac, or destroy his army, or
whether he may remain for some time longer in
Northern territory, the turning point at Get
tysburg remains the same, and proves that the
Southern host cannot successfully invade the
Nerth. AS Valmy was the decisive battle of
the French Revolution, 80 is Gettysburg in the
war of the American rebellion.
THE Coal DEALERS AND THE Rise IN CoAI~-
Soon after the rebel army made its appearance
in Pennsylvania the dealers in coal of this aud
other cities Immediately raised the price to ten
dollars per ton. There was not the slightest
justification for this course. The rebel army at
no time approached near the anthracite coal
delds. There might have been some excuse for
raising the price Of the semi-bituminous coal
from the Cumberland and Broadtop regions;
but the anthracite mines are all on this side of
the Susquehanna, and have, in reality, at no
time been in danger from rebel raids. They
might just as well have raised the price Of -four,
with an overabundant crop, as the price Of
coal, when they did.
The amount of coal brought to market this
year exceeds that Of former years over five
hundred thousand tons, and probably before
the close of the year the excess over any pre-
ceding year will be fully one million tons.
In the face Of these facts the coal dealers
seized upon slight pretext aud ran coal up
enormously. This action is an imposition upon
the public, and shows that,the coal dealers, like
the shoddy aristocracy, speculate upon the ne
cessities Of the people. Men who will take ad-