Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-07-15
An Old stratagem Trisa Aeain

More than ten days ago. as we know on ths
best authority Gen. Grant Informed the Wal
department OF the fact that certain troops had
been sent by Lee into the Valley. with orders 10
oross the Potomac and do what damage they
could 10 Pennsylvania aud Maryland. dfani
informed the Secretary Of War of Lees direc
lions and intentions told him what force to ex-
peet. and showed, in short. that he knew " hat
W0s going on, Al the same time he made a II
the necessary preparations to meet the plans Of
the rebels. l.-
lie did not. however, attempt to guard every
1901 OF railroad near the POiomae';. he did not
line that river with iroops, 30 as TO prevent the
Guessing Of rebel troopers he did not break up
bis own plans TO sOunleraot those OF Lee il be
had he Would have done precisely whal Lee
wanted. No; Grant left something for the
aoldlers in garrison and the militia Of the r. GO
states TO do. lie threW upon the citizens the
onrdea Of defending their property against the
scattered and weak bands which he knew G onld
easily be driven of by few resoiute men.
Ton robels burned the house Of Governor Brad.
ford fourteen destroyed the railroad at Cockeys,
Vile two hundred seized the cars Of Magnolia;
and bands OF from four or flse to twenty appear
10 different pArs OF the country. rob farmers,
burn bridges, and ride away on the best horses
they eau find
meantime this attempt at diversion by the
rebels reminds Gen. urant Of very similar
affair which occurred while he was besieqiug
Vicksburg last year. Tho rebels suddenly ap.
peared in apparently considerable numbers at
many points in the sountry about COrinil and
Instantly the rebel newspapers, aud their abel-
tors In the North, began 10 show that Il was Al
up with Grants army.
An immenoe force was moving againat Mem.
phis; this point was to be captured, the Alissis-
s,ppi closed above, supplies stopped, aud poor
Grant forced TO surrender. The plot really
looked promising and many persons began to
have fears for our army around VieksburR.
The rebol forces in tue meantime burned some
stores, destroyed some miles of railroad, ran
nllher and thithsr 10 small bands as they are
doing now, created great deal Of excitement
amongst post Commanders who had TO lio awake
nights in fear OF al attack or had to chase for
days force which they could never find, aud
presently the excitement died away, the tremen-
dons rebel host was found to be myth, the a T.
tempt on Memphis was discovered to be rather
an attempt upon Grants credulity, and very
foolish failure at that and when Johnston d g.
covered that he could neither whip Grant nor
scare him, he left PembertOn TO his fate, and
Vicksburg fell.
For, remember, no threat suffieed TO make
Grant bulge from his post. lie lay quietly be-
fore Vieksburg as now he does before Peters
burg, and paid no attention to the demonstration |
Of johnston, the foolish boasts Of the rebel |
Journals, and the promises Of Davis. What
happened last year ia repeating itself now. |
Once more GRAM is, threatened; once more the
rebels play their favorite game Of bluff; hut !
Grant, who knows what they are doing, and
what they can do, and what they cannot do,
quietly pursues The task be has set his army. !
He appears to be as completely satisfied with |
bis situation now as when he was before Vieks- |
bnrg. IL may he true, as rebel sympRthizers
hint, that lie does Just what Lee wanted, that he |
is jnst where Lee wants him to he. that Lee will ,
presently show his cards and take the gafns
but until he does, We shall maintain our npnf-
denoe 10 Grant for, however II may end, the
against Ice ie accompanied BY pre-
clsely the same phenomena which signallzed that
against Pemherlon last ysar,--N. y. EseFag |
posk