The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-13
In. Rebel military situation.

! gingerly way. He argues around il and al
ways at respectable distance. He obeys lit
| orally The injunction Of the most eloquent OF
the Romans. and keeps as much out Of view as
possible the weak point of his case. He has
| great deal TO say about those immense tracts OF
territory In Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and
other States that the government no longer oc-
cupies, and endeavors to swindle upon the
Southern people the impression that because
our troops have withdrawn from those States
they have been driven out. He has considera-
BILE argument also on the probable effect that
the capture Of certain places would have, and
SO he goes on to fill up q certain amount OF
message; but to the great military facts Of the
past year he makes bare allusion. He had to
mention the great rebel armies, and what
be says Of them Is that they have met with
"some reverses."
The simplest glance at the whole situation
shows that all the operations of the rebel armies
in this year may be correctly described as
''some reverses." All the rebel armies have
in this year stood substantially on the de-
fensive; they have assumed the offensive only
in minor operations. In May their main armies
faced US defantly on the Rapidan and in North
ern Georgia at Rnggold. Lee held the line of
the Rapidau, and was expected to keep north
| of that river all the force that the government
could send against Richmond. Grant crossed
\ the Rapidan and Lee in accordance with the
understood requirements OF his position ad
vanced to drive him into or over that river
| All the South was confident that he would do
| it; but his attempt was great failure. He was
compelled even to make race for Spottsyl-
vania. Since that great battle in the Wilder
ness, Lee has fought some twenty battles,
nearly every one Of them being fought specif-
| cally to compel Grant to relinquish bis attempt
| against the rebel capital. But Grant is still
! persistent, still grandly patient, eager, ac-
| tive and wary; and thus, therefore, Lees ope-
rations have all failed, and, without having ac-
complished his object, be has lost fifty thou
sand men--a force that in the hands of great
| general might have saved the rebel cause.
| ! Johnston held Georgia, and the Southern
| writer's sneered at it as the most ridiculous
folly to suppose that any Northern general
or Northern army could compel him to give
way. But step by step Sherman forced
him across all the territory that interviewed
between that general and his objective
point. Johnston met with "some reverses"
| at Ressacca Allatoona, Kenesaw Mountain and
new Hope church; and Hood, bis successor, met
with "some reverses" on Peach Tree creek,
| all around Atlanta, and finally south Of Allan
| ia, with reverse that cost him the possession
| of that place. A rebel army, sixty thousand
| strong, under ON accomplished aud skilful
soldier. could not prevent the advance Of Sner-
man through two hundred miles OF the State
of Georgia; and 80 rebel army. thirty five
thousand strong, under leader with no skill
at all, started to drive Sherman out again over
! the same two hundred miles We have seen his
success. The redoubtable Hood, most disgrace
fully hoodwinked, is marching to threaten Ten
nessee, in the confident expectation that Sher-
man will fly alter him to rescue that State, and
the Union general is marching through the very
heart Of the confederacy Inasmuch as Davis
declared that Sherman must be driven out at
all hazards aud at every cost, we suppose the
| failure to drive bin out and his continued ad-
vance may be classed as a very large one
among the "same reverses."
Early made an offensive advance down the
| Shenandoah to compel Grant to tighten the
pressure against Richmond, and even In the
vain hope that be might be drawn away. But
Grant stayed there, and EARLY, decisively
beaten in three general actions, lost oil bis
| artillery, and was driven in complete rout
| from the last ield he ventured upon. Price
went to "rescue" Missouri with twenty thou
sand men, and with Early and the Ca8ada
| raiders be was expected to help the peace
party at the polls. But be went on,
/ of Missouri in dreadful hurry some days be.
| fore the election, and that State is not ''res
cued" yet Such, then, is the position Of the
| rebellion in every State where there has
recently been any active operation. 1t is beaten
everywhere-in Virginia, in Missouri and ir
| Georgia. It's three armies are confronted BY
equal armies, by which each 10 balanced ani
nulliied. Lee, Hood and Early are held still
by Grant, Thomas and Sheridan, and mean
while fourth army goes to strike an unopposet
blow, the effects of which the rebellion can
not survive. 1t has had no success worthy O
mention within year, and It will never have
another. If Sherman, Grant and Banks are
failures, which one Of the rebel general,
is the grand success! Is 1t Lee, thrown back in
the exhausting wrestle with Grant, and able
only to stand still! Is IL Price, flying from Mis-
souri,. Is 1t Hood, getting over into Alabama to
let Sherman go to Charleston, or is 1t thai
wonderful, redoubtable aud very drunken
leader, General Earlyi
L ApuypIr papTpu Wtrx
since Admiral Porter assumed command OF the
North Atlantic squadron affairs have taken q
vigorous course In the vicinity Of Wilmington.