, 1864-07-11
FROM THE ARMY OF THE P0-
TO1IAC.
How the Army reAts--Vfs1tors to the
Whnt Is the Plan for the Futurea


GENERAL. GkAu1'a HEADQUARTERS,
July 4, 1864.
This day two months ago the Army Of the
Potomac abandoned its winter quarters on
The north side of the Rapidan, md entered
upon Its third summer campaign. In the
brief period intervening between the Cross
ing Of the Rapldan and its advent in front Of
Petersburg, it has added seven pitched bat
minor import to Its bloody record. After
seven weeks Of almost continued fighting,
working with pick and shovel, manmuvring
and marching, II has been enjoying during
the Inst fortnight term Of comparative rest.
I say eompa1ative; for, whlle the severe
strain of nerves and the hard exercise Of
muscles incidental to IN almost unbroken
series Of hard-fought conflicts, rapid move
ments md arduous faugue-labors have
ceased, the relative inaetlou during the stated
period has had nothing Of the case and secu-
Iity that it experienced while In winter
quarters. With the enemy close In front
there can be no such thing as perfect
quIetude.
Whatever rest, however, the army has had,
was well earned, m1ch.needed and rendered
unavoidable, even though its commander
had not been disposed to grant 1t, by the tor
rid heat Of the Inst ten days. After the un-
successful attacks upon the inner line of rebel
intrenchments; protecting the approaches to
Petersburg, on the 18th and 18th nit, the
army was very much Weasied and shattered.
An interval OF quiet was needed, not only to
give officers and men time to get over their
phy E1cal exhaustion and consequent loss of
spirit, but also. to effect the reorganization
Of those parts of the army, the efficiency of
which had been impaired BY great numerical
losses, the mixing up and scattering Of com.
In Hrfi rnr 9Fvtfn a516
the discharge Of more or less number OF
men, whose time Of service had expired.
Time for consolidation, re-assignment,
re-mustcring, and the collection and
return to their proper commands Of de-
tails, stragglers, &C, SC. was imperatively
required. The process Of recuperation and
the work of reformation have been steadily
progressing, and perceptible improvement
has been wrought.
In still anoiher respect the brief respite
from offensive operations has also been quite
advantageous. 1t has added very much to the
| the arrival of bodies Of new and old troops,
| but also by the return of many thousands of
| officers and men, who have recovered from
the slight wounds received in the hrst COM
bats Of the campaign.
There mar be few more dayH-perhaps
week or more of inactivity. But the conn
| try may rest INSURED that the prosecution OF
tie task Of the army sent out from Culpepper
/ to accomplish in the course of the summer
| wfu be speedily resumed. General Grant
has thorough appreciation Of the inestlma-
BILE value Of time In the present state Of the
national affairs. He feels, as much as any
other patriot, the absolute necessity OF
achieving substantial, lasting, decisive sue"
cesscs upon the eastern thcater Of war, dur
| ing tht present season of active operations,
| and Will be found to act accordingly.
Since The opening Of regular conmunica-
ton with Washington By mail steamers, .
large number of well-meaning, but iudfscreet
| and thoughtless individuals, mainly from
motives of curiosity, with considerable ad-
mixture, however, Of benevolence, have
manored to find their way to City Point,
{priucjpallv under the easily accessible Hgis
Of the Sanitary and Christian Commissions
OF course they had to visit the general head
quarters and see General Grant and exact 9
talk with him. That they acted Inc Part 10 o.
ouestlone1s rather than listeners may BE- I'M
acined, Directly or Indirectly, they express
OF lpsinuate their nnxiety to know "What
The General means to do next tThels
anxious curiosity on this subject is,
beyond doubt, shared By. every 10y
al man and woman in the North:
But nowhere is the desire to learn Whai
the future has in store for the good cause In
these parts, more intense than In the army.
It is felt most keculy By an-from the lotl5
positions Of MAjor-G -Generalsbipsd down to the
many idle hours to while away just nov, Il
is natural, that both officers and men indulge
III frequent speculation relative to this Ques
tion OF all absorbing interest. Conjecture
alone, however, is af1oat in the encampnents
There are just four men In this army, thai
may bare positive knowledge In regard tt
our future movements, and they are Generals