The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-06-22
tFrom the Boston COurisr.1
rcGIelfar's Plans Sustained.

a balance struck OF the gains and losses
consequent upon the attempt 10 reach the
neghborhood of Richmond by different
route from thai judged 10 be the proper one
by Mcclellan, tells seriously against the
mode of approach adopted The sole gain
is in fact, tha. the identical line of opera
lions near that city, held by Mcclellan.
two years ago near the middle OF May, has,
been al length reached BY Grant. Twenty
six days have been spent in accomplishing
this object Thet have been days of ter
ribe conflci and OF fearful and exhausting
Struggle with natural distractions even
when no enemy Stood in The way. In the
successive bloody battles which have en-
sued, The fonuue of war has been pretty
sauslly divided When our army has
attacked The rebels, il has been repuIsed,
when the rebels have attacked onr army,
they have been repulsed Without refereHce
TO various brilliant deiached operaions, on
both sides, il is obvious that no substantial
advantage, by mere fighting. has been
gained by either That is, no vic tory has
beeen won, such as to affect The constilu-
ton and Integrity of the several armies.
Grant finding the enemy's lines in his front
| too strong 10 assail, without danger of too
heavy loss, has gradually executed the
movement by his Aank. which has placed
him in his present position. Lee, per-
ceiving his plan, has left behind him the
for ficalons which Ri adversary declined
10 assail, and has moved down in unbrokeu.
strength in advance OF his adversary, keep
ing his own force always between our army
and The city which it was lis object to be-
siege aod capture. 49,
10 these various, manGuvres we know
that our own loss has been severe beyond
precedent Without question, the loss
upon the other SIDE has been heavy, also
though inadequate means exist 10 estimate
il. But there is no reason 10 imagine that
it is in any degree comparable 10 our own,
for the reason II at .he rebels have bought
under cover or behind entertainments, as
much as possible. II seems evident. also
that while Grant al irst pursued the policy
Of endeavoring 10 break his wey by over
powerng strength thus presenting large
com pac; bodies OF men 10 the sweeping
rebel fire, Lee has sought every means of
outstanding his forces. exposing it no more
than the nature OF the case required. In q
word, after long csrise of desperate and
murdsfous encounlers, which have dstin-
guistet thus eventfuI campaign, Grant 6nds
himself where Mcclellan was, at the hrst
establishment of bis headquarters on the
Pamunkey river, and at The beginning Of
the slill more serious work before him.
The question Of 1anking or not fanking,
which has recently been agiiaied with such
vivsciy, resolves Itself into ihis-ihat Gen.
Grant Who, beyond I'll possibility of dis
p6,e, crossed the Rapidan with the inien-
rion of proceeding 10 Richmond by The
shortest direct line of march, found il inn
possible to do so, by reason Of the resist.
auce offered him. He has consequently
changed his plan, recrossng The North
Anna liver, over which he had pushed his
columns, and By circu;tous route, in order
10 accomplish his object, has now taken
posl,ion on ths Pamunkey His recent
march has not been wiIhstood, but Lee, we
presume. is OH the Chickahominy awaiting
him. The rugged nature OF the country
where the latter NAV be posted is at least
as favorable for defence as either of the
points where he has heretofore made q
stand, and on line in such proximity 10
the Confederate capital We may be sure
that every inch of ground will be disPu,-
ed.
We do no, pretend to estimate the losses
of our troops in ,he series OF enga gsmen,s
during the last ,wenty-seven days. They
have been variousiy sratej al from 10000
to nearly twice that number. Ii il enough
tha, they have been enormous and seeing
that nothing has been gained by attempting
the route in question, but the same position
which might havs been so much more
readily secured, al comparatively slight
loss, by reaching that position through
anorher mode of access, those who have
insisted upon a course involving such ieaf-
ful sacrifices should. no. escape their ae-
counlabili.y 10 The country. Besides, ot
what service now might De 10 Gen. Grant
The 40 600, il no more, of the brave men
who are either disabled or lie sleeping fo:-
ever in the Wilderness aud upon other the
aires OF the la!e desperate ana terrible con-
!, flicts :
shnyt Tins