The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-04-15
DECISIVE MILITARY OPERATIONS
EXPECTED.

We reprint from one of our eXchang-
es the following extracts from which it
would appear that hopeful view is
taken Of the present military situation
which the Union army occupies:
At length we arc enabled to regard
the military situation with feeling OF
repose. The army of the Potomac has
been recognized, and with the view
of giving Gen. Grant fair chance for
the destruction of the rebels. 1roa
Though we have full confidence ian
the integrity and soldiership of Grants
we, until now, have regarded his as
sumption of the command Of the army
of the Potomac with extreme depres-
SION. We knew what hidden dangers
lay in the cogs Of the machine
Grant will have a chance such as has
been allowed to no leader but McClel-
Ian; and knowing that his will is in
his work we believe he VIII dispose Of
Lee forever. At any rate, he has the
force to do it with and to crush the
Rebellion TO its close. He has now
under his command cigH buadred and
( .ftty thousand scjriccabie men, most oil
whom are veteran troops, and six
weeks from this date, the number will
/ be made to reach million. Here is
an army greater than the tabled host
/ of NerXes; while the Confederates
count, from our best information, a
scant three hundred and fifty thousand
1t is true they are situated on the III
ner portion of a circle which greatly
enlarges their effective strength; but
granting this, and we will still be able
to assail Richmond, by direct down
ward drive from the Potomac, and UNI
derneath from Chattanooga, with sep
arate armies, each outnumbering all
that can be effectively opposed.
Under these circumstances we have
right to expect decisive operations.
The Springfield Republican says:
The popular feeling about the pend
ing military campaign IS one Of sole
confidence rather than enthusiastic ex
pectation. We look for severe fight
ing; we may have defeats, but our ar
mics are greatly superior in number
to those of the enemy, and if the cam
paign is conducted with only ordinar,
! skill and prudence we ought to over
power the rebels by mere preponder
ance OF brute force We have not les
; than seven hundred thousand men il
r the Union armies, and making tn
} most liberal deductions for those sic
! and ON detailed service, we must hay
half a million of men ready for achv
work in the field This is nearly twic
the number of the enemy, notwith
standing they have brought their Who'll
reserve into the ranks. The genera
! expectation points to Virginia as tn
scene Of the most important operation
of the campaign, and an advance upo
Richmond as the great effort, prohabl
a in two columns, one by the way of tn
S peninsula and the other direct from til
! Rapidan.
A favoite officer is placed IN con
mand on the peninsula, and will prof.
3 ably lead the army to be concentrate
= there. These are the outlines Of tn
4 grand campaign, as now indistinctl
= foreshadowed The spring rains MAX
! an advance impossible for seyeri
weeks to come, but when it is made W
u may reasonably hope that it viii /
l. with such force and under such wis
: direction and energetic leadership {
!. to command success.