The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-21

places, Dy 6ucn on army - tnab o. SHERMAN D.
and there are no mountains or dcfles or
swanps in the way, where small force may
hold in check . large one. The march for
Augusta. therefore, will probably be q race
between the retreating and pursuing army, and,
whether broken up en- roas. or driven over the
Savannah into South Carolina, the enemy, in
losing Augusta, win have no railway commu
nicaton left between the States north and
those south Of the Savannah river except the
solitary remaining connection by way Of the
city of Savannah
With the occupation Of Augusta and savan-
nah not single rebel railway train from
Richmond, or Raleigh, or Charleston, can pass
beyond the Georgia border. The safety OF
Augusta and Savannah, accordingly, now de-
wolves upon the rebel army Of Georgia; and
Sherman's grand campaign, we dare say, Will
not end short Of Savannah or Charleston.
Little OF the "Loot" Can Reach Rich
mOnd.
The rebel raiders who recently visited Mary
land are not escaping with their aloot' so
easily as they had expected. One Of their
columns has been already overhauled in
Suckers Gap by the advance OF General Hun
ter's army, under General Crook, and there is
good reason to believe that the greater part Of
their southwark going trains may yet fall into
the hands Of Generals Averili and Dnfie, COM
manding the First and Second cavalry divisions
Of the Department of West Virginia. This
cavalry has just been remounted at Wheeling
Parkershurg and Cumberland, aud, with its
fine fresh horses aud veteran riders, should be
able to strike far down the Virginia valley
country on both sides Of the Blue Ridge.
There is no doubt, however, that the amount
Of ''loot" collected by the Maryland raiders
has been grossly exaggerated, the entire State,
in its best days, not having been able to furnish
oIie-half the number Of cattle and horses which
are described by '.verscions gentlemen" and
''reliable contrabands" as having been seen
crossing the various fords and ferries of the
Potomac, en- route for Richmond. The part Of
Maryland invaded has never been a stock rais-
ing country. 1t has never had more cattle
than about sufficient cows to furnish milk and
butter to the inhabitants, while all its horses OF
any valne have Long since bsen swept into the
Quartermastcr's Department of the national
army, only leaving old farm animals of from
fifteen to thirty years Of age, or young colts
and fillies ranging from one year old to three.
Even of these poor brutes, which will all
break down under the fatigues of the first
three days Of service, it is not probable that
the rebels can have secured many more than
will suffice to replace their own sore backed
horses, broken down in the northward march.
On the whole, it may be questioned whether
the rebel raiders will carry back with them to
Richmond, or wherever they may be going,
one days rations more than they will need for
their own consumption. Soldiers are aoomina-
bly, wasteful animals at best, and never so
prodigally wasteful as when dispensing stores
which they have captured in the enemys
country. There is then no commissary or
quartermaster .'red tape to stand in their way:
and the experience OF all our own raids is that
1t is "easy come, easy go" with everything
eatable, drnkable or wearable captured in the
enemys country. Judging by the best light
we can obtain, 1t may be safely predicted that
seized by General Early in Maryland not ten
dollars worth will ever reach the depleted
commissary or quartermaster departments Of
the rebel army at Richmond
THE JNcAPAcITY OF THE ADMINISTRATION
The Roman general who had to beat Varro, his
colleague, before he could hope to beat Hanni-
bal, his enemy, was perhaps an antelope Of all
generals in republican armies Every such
general has suffered from q fire in the rear, 80
much more dangerous than the fire in front
that the larger numbershave fallen by it.
General Grant has at no time had so much diff
fculty with General Lee in the present cam
paign as he has had at every step OF the way
with the War Department. That department is
corrupt and rotten. 1t not only does not assist
General Grant in the proper and necessary way
for the vigorous prosecution Of the war, but it
embarrasses him with all its little bitter quar-
rels, and has even attempted to reerganize the
army now under his command without consul
tation with him. And the President, cognizant
of these things, goes on with his political
schemes, leaves the departments to the inoapa-
city and corruption Of the various Secretaries,
and probably wonders how it will all como
cut As our government is at present consti-
tuted there is no central point Of power In it
no executive force at all. Every one in the
Cabinet does what he likes, and the President
neither knows nor cares what is done, until
SEINE one who is troddcn on resists and appeals
to him. When called upon to decide the ques-
tion he tells little story and lapses again into
his political iutrigues for the succession.
Every one in the Cabinet does what he likes,
and every one Mixes to do what is weakest and
worst. Old Welles is in the hands OF old Blair,
whore imbeciie relations have seized upon the
United States Navy as their family appanage.
Our navy Is not power to help put down the
rebellion. II is one of old Blair's farms Mr..
Chase, when in the Cabinet, abolitionized 1t, be-