Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-05-26
More BLOODY Battles.
Correspondence of the Cincinnati Enquirer
WASIUNuToN Nav Is. 1864

WAsuNGToN, May Is, 1864.
Since | wrote you week ago far greater
and more bloody battles have been fought
battles which the telegraph, under Govern
ment censorship, has declared to be great
and glorious victories for the Federal army.
The public who are easily humbugged so be-
icvc but that there is not one word of truth
in it. Save the surprise of General John
sons Division by that skilliul and cntcrpri-
sing officer General Hancock, and the cap
ture of some 5000 prisoners, the latter part
of the campaign has been as disastrous as
the former The success of Hancock even
had 10 effect upon the general result. 1t is
now more than two weeks since Gen. Grant
with the largest, finest, and best offensive
army that was ever raised upon the Cont
ncnt put under the charge of one man cross
ed the Rapidan. Lee fell back to Spottsyl-
vania Court House, a distance of eight or
ten miles--it being the first of number of
the battles for the defence of Richmond,
and there awaited the onset Of Grant army
of l7j, 900 men.
The victor of Vicksburg, with that heroic
energy and vigor which are distinguishing
traits of his character, and with that reckless
prodigaity Of life which he always evinces
when 1t is necessary to carry point, lost
no time in commencing an attack.
! After eight days of the most tremendous
| fighting and the most extensive and bloody
losses after the slaughter of at least sixty
thousand men, Lee still hold his position
with defiant front at Spottsylvania. All at
tcmpts to drive him from it by direct as
saults have failed. All attempts to obtain
the same result by a tlanking process have
also been abortiye.
\ pause has occurred in the protracted
and relentless struggle. The wear and teai
upon the soldier has been frightful, and il
is absolutely necessary that our army, which
has such heavy work before it as march tc
Richmond, should have some repose to re.
fresh its exhaustion and renovate its deci-
mated battalions.
General Grant is entirely at loss what
to do. Shall he, after some interval of time
and after hc has received rcinforccments
continue to press on in the route he has Sc
lected or shall he retire beyond the Rap
dan and select a new base of operations? |
+ the first alternative is adopted, how many
l armies will be destroyed before he reaches
, Richmond! If our army i'll the flush Of en-
thusasm failed to drive Lee from Spottsyl
= vania after eight days fighting can it b.
. done when Lee has vastly strengthened hi
= position and when his troops are elated b.
t their previous successes.
wn,,ld nni' Lo 90 o,bnr and ,trnno", D".n ',o.;
q tions where his advantages would incrcas
+ and where those of Grant would decrease
v Every mile that our army ADVANCES but add
q y to the obstacles in the way Of success, OWN
V to the difficulties Of transportation and tn
keeping open Of communications, while ev
, cry mile that Lee falls back strengthens hin
# iii, and Lo i nrosooJ VIII tba rro;nht "
n .l,i,, H., pi'' WIN '0
) H., p,nl;dont aud Soorot,,., of wor q,
G ;,,nrassod ,g;th tbn haI;nftbattb a,nnaio,
: world nrove fnilurc. have ostcntotious 4
',,'.ad i to bo nnLl;ahnd tLot Gennrnl Gron n
oInmo i ~ resnonl;bla U fnr + ''' y ''' ''''
. The wiser and better poicv would be +,
, f,lI hack to Erederick sburoh and select nm
: n,her and mora nrocticol ronte to Richmond
| II i .neriailv ~ sincc Mi tbe ennnort;n
movements IN behalf of Grant have beef
5 failures.
Ruuer has hoon hotIv vbinnnl hv Raou
+ regard near the James, and comnelled +
= retire TO Bermuda Hundred He lost sevc
f raj thousand men in killed. wounded an
prisoners
s Sipel, who was to come IN the Valley an
I reini1rce Grant. has been driven back bv
l. small Confederate force under lmDodeI
L. with the loss of three thousand men kille,
is wounded and prisoners.
lie SO much for entrusting important exped
tions to weak and incompetent polite
Generals. [ have reason to believe tn;
General Grant desired very different men
AZ assistants than Butler and Sicgel but grea
=. ly to his regret he was overruled
Il But to return Despite all this Graz
=. hesitatcs to select a new base Of operation
o because it would be II confession OF failure
- and have disastrous effects upon the coul
=, try, who would lose confidence in his mil
/ tary skill and ability. 1t would perhal
lr lead to recognition Of the Contcderacy
W Europe.
is General Grant has never been saanSul
OF success and 1t Will SO appear. when h
l. suppressed dispatches see the light NJ
/ stanton NefendS that he has not Ieclphe
al cd them, most puerlle preteXt when con
@, ing from the War Department, and on
calculated to excite public derlslon al
nj scorn
ii | have drawn gloomy picture of OF
;. prospects, but it is one portrayed in Il
/ most loyal and select circles of the frien,