Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-02

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There is nothing at which they willShinch
las has been proven but lately at Spottsyl.
Yania, on the Chickahominy and on the
Appomattox. Their whole souls are in
the work. All their mental faculties and
physical powers are concentrated upon it,
Danger is nothing; death is but an Incl
dent to them-even though it be the final
incident. II ever, under any Commander
there has been a time when il could be
said that the army was not in deadly ear
nest, that time is most certainly not now,
under Lieut.. Gen. Grant.
2. The absolute fKedness of purpose,
the resolutsnsss of the army, have already
incidentally signalized.
3. Its patience under all circumstances,
| it's endurance under all fortune. No COM
planning, no growing, is heard. Wound
ing and pain are not followed by whining
In the hospital, on the sod, and among the
MANNED men trudging along the road to
City Point, have seen an amount OF patti
ent, heroic endurance that will forever
glorify the Army of the Potomac in my
eyes. Discomforts and hardships of all kinds
and only those who have been with the
army on this campaign can realize its
hardships-are borne with cheertulness
that could not be surpassed.
4. Its solidity, compactuess, unity in de-
votion. The army is thorougly knit to-
gether by firmest bonds. Its feeling, as
already remarked, is one aud uniVersali its
purpose is one and definite; its general life
and action those simply of warlike patri-
otism.
g. Its elastic strength. This is now the
most elastic and mobile Of armies, as is
shown by its marvellous movements and
marches; its operations, fractional and IN
the large; and its entire history since the
opening OF the present campaign. This is
consequent, in great measure, upon the
high standard of intelligence that disting-
uishes this army from all other armies of
the world.
6. The mutual respect between officers
and men, and their confidence in each
other.
There are many other characteristics
which might be noted and dilated uponi
but if those given convey general idea of
the true spirit of our army, they are sut-
fcieut. From time to time ever since the
war began aud this army was formed, the
public have been regaled with telegraphic
information that the troops were in "splen-
did spirits," in "high enthusiasm" in sup
erb condition." ETC., etc.i but the perpetual
repetition of these phrases under all cir
cumstauces has not tended to create pub
lie conviction of their perfect accuracy, or
at all events, so far as the country geuer-
ally is concerned, the phrases now carry no
idea whatever, and have become utterly
meaningless. The impressions made by
the army upon an observer may therefore
properly supplement or interpret these
phrases.
Some oft grand traits now visible and
vital, in the Army of the Potomac, may be
traced to the fact that they exist so largely
in its leader, Gen. Grant. He is veteran
soldier of indomitable spirit; and the ear
nestness, resoluteness, endurance and unity
offeeling of the Army of the Potomac-all
have their type aud representative in him.
Emerson sagaciously remarks that the tri
umphs of the French army at the opening
of this century, were not due alone to the
fact that it was led by the Great Napole-
on, but largely also to the related fact that
all the soldiers who fought under him were
Little Napoleons. The one circumstance
and the other were mutually dependent and
related.
Certain large considerations, such as
those here set forth, based upon personal
observation, have given me a new and
broader faith in this army, and in the ulu
mate triumph of the cause for which ii
does battle, The greater part of Its vet
eraus, whose term of service has expired,
return to the field, in order, as they say,
to see this thing through" great por-
ton of those whose term will expire in the
ensuing months, will also, believe, re-
enlist; and it only needs that the strrIgth
of the army be maintained and magnifed,
and the spirit of the people be of a kind
akin to that of the army, to insure for our
arms a perfect triumph, and for our flag
the homage of the whole land and the re-
spect of the world.