The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-02
The In &c Operations at Fstcrsburg-An-
other Siege or Nicksburx.

Osncr siege Oh
The tremendous operations OF Saturday last
along the whole line of the enemy IS works at
Petersburg, beginning with the blowing up of
one OF these works several hundred feet into
the air, ended, as it appears without any sub
stantial advantage TO our investing army. The
positions gained from the enemy were rem
dered too hot for our troops to hold by the rak-
ing and enflading fires to which they were sub
jected from an inner line Of detences. This
was precisely the difficulty which compelled
the British storming column, at the siege Of Sc
bastopcl, to reliuquish the famous Redan after
they had carried 1t.
As usual in such cases. it appears that the
secret of General Grants mining operations was
discovered too soon by the enemy: and it also
appears that there were some bluuderings and
shortcomings here and there in the assault
after the mine was fired; but it will suffice for
our present purpose that the rebels still hold
the city. The prominent fact before us is that
grand surprise and general assault, in The
pre- paratons FOR which much time and labor
were expended, and in the execution Of which
many valuable lives have been lost, have not
resulted in the success which was anticipated
Was it not So however, last year at Vicksburg,
repeatedly, from The middle OF May till the 4th
OF July, when the place was surrendered, with
its forts, artillery magazines, &c., and its gar
rison Of thirty odd thousand men? That
Petersburg and Richmond will ultimately go
the way Of yioksburg or Columbus we cannot
doubt; for, If the enemy's works cannot be
captured by charging over them. or mining
under them. there yet remains the jnfaiiible,
though slower. system Of regular approaches,
aud the equally infallihle expedient OF cutting
or the belcaguered cities from their Southern
lines Of communication.
What experiments General Grant will next
Try ii would be idle 10 conieciure; but we
know that temporary checks and disappoint
ments only serve TO tighten his grasp upon his
adversary, aud that his resources in strategy
aud tactics are equal to all emergencies. II
one plan falls short he is instantly prepared TO
try another, and, still adhering to BIS purpose,
be knows no such word as fail" Ia his
present position, close TO his base Of supplies
at the junction Of the James and Appomattox
rivers, and holding both sides OF those streams
within his encrcling intrenchraents and under
cover OF he gunboats, he possesses such i'm
I1ense advantages for the prosecution of his
operations against Richmond and Petersburg
in various ways that his browning success in
more disastrous 10 the enemy.
Meantime, however a. experience has
proved that General Grant has. for the present,
work enough upon bis handsin front Of Peters
burg and Richmond, without being required TO
look after the rebel raiders Of the Shenandoah
valley aud the rear OF Washington. We turn
again to The special duty devolyng upon The
administration in reference both to Richmond
and Washington. This duty, now more ur-
gently demanded Of President Lincoln than ever
before, lies In the recall o, General Mcclellan
to the command Of the Washington Depart
ment at the head Of hundred thousaad men,
IL is very generally, in support Of shis appoint
ment. believed that the name oil NcC slan vill
speedily bring TO lis standard many thousands
" fighting volunteers who wilt otherwise ~.
maiu il the background, iucluding a large
Infusion Of discharged veteran soldiers. In any
event, the experiment suggested II tried, will
command the approval OF The masses of ths
people OF the loyal States and IN every way
will be good thing for the country and the
administration.
With General Grant and the Army Of the
Potomac in the rear Of Richmond, we zee, from
these late frolhs Of the rebels in Maryland,
Pennsylvania and the District Of Columbia,
that General Mcclellan is wanted again to clear
away the enemy from the rear Of Washing
ton.