Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-07-16

When two months ago, Gen. Grant start
cd on his campaign against Richmond, a
small cooperating force under Gen. Sigel
was sent up the valley of the Shenandoah,
toward Staunton, situated near the head of
that Valley, very near the geographical cen
ter of Virginia rs she was in 1860. Gen.
Sigcl was soon confronted 10y superior
Rebel force, defeated and thrown back.
Gen. Hunter now superseded him in COM
mand while most of the Rebels who had
defeated, Sigel were dispatched to the aid
of Lee, then sharply pressed 10y Grant. Gen.
Hunters column once more advanced, rout-
ed the Rebels who opposed them, killing
their leader, Gen, Sam Jones, and cupturing
Staunton and Lexington. Had Gen. ii.
pushed vigorously, rapidly forward, he
might probably have taken Lynchburg sit
uatcd on the James River and Canal and
the Tennessee Railroad and principal
Rebel depot of provisions and munitions
But Gen. Hunter advanced so slowly that q
Rebel division under Ewell, detached from
Lees army, reached Lynchburg just before
oar force did, rcpulsing Hunters attack
and rendering the capture of Lynchburg
hopeless. Hunter now rctreated westward
into the valley of the Kanawha, instead oI
northward into that of the Shenandoah, and
left the triumphan. Rebels free to move into
and down the latter valley unopposed. They
did so, apparently unobserved on our part
| and were never even heard Of until they
were close upon Gen. Sigel at Martinsburs
| on the Potomac, compelling him to retreat
hastily, burning part of his stores. Hun
| ters army being far away, and any prcsen
| trouble from that quarter out of the ques
tion, the Rebels-say $4,000 to 10000
| pushed across into Maryland, and altel
| threatening Pennsylvania from llagcrstown
turned short to the right, and captured
! Frederick, driving thence q hastily collect
cd Union force under Gen. Wallace, who OF
Saturday fought them nearly all day at tn
crossing of the Monocacy, but was ultimate
ly defeated with heavy loss and driven bacl
on the road toward Baltimore-but not int,
that city, as some of the panic-makers trict
to make out, II the Rebels make any ser
ious,attempt on either Baltimore or Washing
ton, we shall be greatly mistaken. We fea
they will all be south of the Potomac with
in three days-too soon to let the Uuio
forces now gathering to fight them get sigh
of their flying coat-tails, This is no seriou
demonstration, but plundering raid, and
we regret to say, likely, because OF the shame
tul lack of Militia organization in all tn
loyal States, to prove highly successful
Within the last week, enough able bodie
men ran away from Western Maryland an
Southern Pennsylvania to have capture
and Gagged every Rebel who has crossed tn
Potomac Maryland, with not less than On
} Hundred Thousand Men able TO do Nilitar
duty, has not Ten Thousand Whites in til
Union armies, and had not One Thousan
Militia in the battle of Saturday, whic
! may have decided the fate OF her metrol
oils. We trust that metropolis will ereC
/, another Monument to Maryland valor aftt
this War is over; but the deeds of heroisI
that are to glorify it are yet in the tutur
Let us hope that the present week will wi
ness some of them