The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-06-08
The Virginia Campaign.


Il is noE just a month since Grant commenced
bis march b. the overland route for Richmond ;
and according 10 the latest accounts, bis whole
army vas not very far from the fortihcations OF
the city. The copper head editors have written
very labored editorials to prove that TIE over
land route was utterly impracticabe for an army,
either large or small; and that since il was at
tempted, the victorious General Lee was driving
the defeated General Grant before him from day
70 DAY.
Nov shat is the result Of the battles that have
taken place! The Rapidan is nearly equal
distance between Richmond and Washington.
Here the two Generals faced each other first. and
Grant, alter tie hardest lighting ever kno~n, has
followed bis enemy, step BY step. to biz capital.
and is ready to attack it with the greatest army
that ever stood on the American continent l.
this be counted as a defeat for US, what would
victory be Should we not feel very differently
70 day-would not the people Of Richmond have
very different feelings, if Grant had been forced
back from the Rapidsn to Washington. aud the
thunder of the rebel cannon we're sounding In the
ears of the Washington peoPler Il is idle for
the friends of the " Southern Brethren TO pre-
tend any longer that the rebels are all the while
victorious.
TIE military abilities Of Lee and Grant art
well matched against each other. The activity,
forecast, fertility Of resource and daring courage
which Lee has alsays displayed. are admirably
met by the calm, steady, unwsvsring, iIfexible
purpose with which Grant goes right on 10 the
course which he has marked ont. Grant seems
70 look his antagonist in tie face and TO say 10
bin, L" 1 shall fight you every day till either you
or | can fight 10 longer" Aud there 10 some
thing grand in the cold, relentless, unfAltering.
untirinS energy With which be follows up his Op
ponent. he sights him one day in the thickest
woods with nothing but musketry; on another
be il equally reacy, in the open country, with
four hundred pieces Of artillery. Ga one coca
sion be fights him all day till twelve O'Clock at
night; on another be marches all night and be
gins with the dawn Of day. He fights the enemy
in the mud, and he fights him half choaked with
dust He fights him In the open fields, snd 6ghts
him In bis intrencbments; and be moves on him
without waiting even 10 bury the dead. When
the enemy appears he ia always ready for fight
when he disappears, be goes to 6nd him. Under
such system Of warfare, no contest can lss
very long. Human nature will give way under
the terrible ordeal. The struggle will become
one Of endurance mainly; when both parties are
pounding the life out OF each other. the victory
must necessarily be TO the one that will pound
the hardest AID longest
When Lee gets to that condition 10 which be
car no longer meet Grant in the open field, (and
that time would seem to be approaching,) he
must do one OF three things; drop into the fO ii
ncaGions Of Richmond With bis whole army and
standa siege; leave large garrison there, and
make raid into the loyal States with the re
mainder Of bis army or take the same troops
and 90 south and TALL upon Sherman. II be does
the 6rst he cannot expect to Come out alive, e1-
cept as 4 prisoner; if the second. certain des
iruction would follow him in the end, whatever
amount OF mischief be might do al FIRST; and q
retreat south, abandoning Virginia, would look
90 much like fight iaat il would take all the
heart out Of the rebel army. The genius of the
Southerners inelnss them to 6ghs much better
on an advance, however desperate, than on . re-
treat
The present situation Of the army, in SIGHT OF
Richmond, successful on the whole 10 every
movement in advance. greatly reinforced, abund
sntly supplied by water communications. with
full aud buoyant spirit among both officers and
soldiers. gives just grounds for hopes Of much
success.
The question OF supplies for the rebel army, |
and for the people Of Richmond and vicinity,
may yet have q most important influence on the /
whole campaign. The supply Of bread for sn ar
nv lie matter OF A. great anxiety to General
as supply Of powder and balls As long a.
there Is supply, even II there be only enough
for one day. all is well but an entire want OF
food for only three days would destroy all the
power Of the greatest army on earth. A great
army can only be supplied from great depots Of
provisions. gathered in advance; and where
such supplies are not provided. such an arm,
mast 60 elsewhere, in a short time il will dis
appear altogether.