The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1864-06-09
The stralegy Of Con Grant.


For three long years The army wailed
for eader. 1t has not waited 10 vain.
General Grant stands head aud shoul
ders above all other commanders who
have distinguished themselves in the
war, and, judged not only by his sue.
cesses, but by the means be has used to
obtain them, must unquesionably be
recognized as one Of the great soldiers
Of the age, The country is astonisbed,
and it has good reason TO be, at The
maslOrly development of the campaign
in Yirgina, Every day brings new
proof Of the soundness and btilliancy Of
the plan, and the energy of its exscu.
ton. No American general has ever
Unanswered an immense army with 4he
ease and skill with which Grant has
handled the forces in Virginia. Il;has
been well said that he controls the Ar.
my ofthe Potomac almost as easily Os
if it were brigade. The history ofihe
campaign, thus far, conclusively shows
Grant 10 be not only the hardest fighter,
but the fines, stratogist of the war.
On the 4th Of May Gen. Grant placed
his whole army on the south bank ofthe
Rapidan, sixty miles on a direct line
from Richmond, and in the same week
hurled his entire forces against the en-
envy. This was terrible reconnaissance
in force, which settled at once The ques-
ton of relative strength, tested the spir'
il OF the army, and justified Grant in
moving with tho rapidity, daring, and
confidence which have marked his sub
seqaent operations A campaign thai
does not begin with a grea! battle is moi
likely to end with victory, and Giant
displayed the genious ola great soldier
10 taking the offensive at once. The
enemy, after these fierce battles, were
compelled to retire to the stronger posi-
ton at Spottsylvauia, 1t was there that
General Grant began those brilliant and
sound combinations which have given
us more confidence in his military skill
than all his other victories combined.-
He refused to hurI his troops upon the
strong works at Spousylyonia, but by a
sudden movement forced Leeto choose
between the surrender Of his. lines Of
communication or retreat. Lee foil
back 10 the South Anna, and GaBl
again declined to attack the enemy9in
his chosen position, and in Notifications
upon which the best engineering ability
Of the South has spent Two years, at
least, OF labor, while the enemy spread
their lines, like vast ian, between him
aud Richmond, and vainly waited an At,
tack, Grant, on Thursday night, Re.
crossed the North Anna, moved south.
erIy on Lees right flank, with bis own
right securely protected by the river,
crossed the Pamunky at Hanover.
town, and is now again confronted by
Lee, who was forced to leave his chosen
position and throw himself between our
army and Richmond, upon the line Of
the Chickahominy. All this was done
by Grant without wasting either men or
time, 1t is the result Of pure strategy
What then is done? Three weeks
ago he was sixty miles from Richmond,
with three rivers to cross, and the best
army Of the rebellion before him, re.
solved to dispute every foot of ground =
Now, without losing a wagon, without
once soverng his communication with
Washington or leaving it unprotected,
without any loss which is no! exceeded
By the loss of the enemy, he stands, or
rather moves, within fifteen miles of The
rebel capital, and has driven Lee 10 a
position which he would gladly have
fought hard battle every day of the
month to avoid Such a campaign is
Unprecedented in Virginia When
General Mcclellan advanced up the
Peninsula he met with little opposition
Beyond the Rapidan no commander Of
the Amy Of the Potomac ten miles
Our lighting has been done in what We
may call the front of Washington
Even in offensive movements tho ne