The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-16

materially lower Pork declined % 81 per bbl, -four
1sc. aei. wheat 100 2oc.. lard lc. % and whsksy
&c 60 All other articles operated In were more or
lsss on FrsIghss were nrm. with . fair business.
Lees Last Tatlare-Our Opportunity.
We have at length some definite particulars
Of the invasion Of Maryland, in which it can
be seen that Its real object was the capture OF
the national capital. 1t was made by column
ct least thirty thousand strong, and very prob
ably stronger still, under the command OF Gen.
Early His infantry was commanded by Gen.
Breckenridge and his cavalry by Gen. Ransom.
He was well supplied with artillery. Crossing
the Potomac at different points, the various
parts Of the column were to move on converg-
ing lines so as to concentrate at Frederick, or
between that and Washington, and ct once I'D
vance against the city. The resistance ct the
Monocacy, perhaps, compelled the concentra-
ton there OF Q larger force than was intended,
and so delayed the advance. Hurrying on, after
this delay, the enemy approached the capital
insevsal Tines. He hoped 70 storm the de-
fences on Sunday night. but psrhaps could not
get in position In time. He then arranged to
storm them the next day, but on that day dis
covered the Greek cross OF the glorious Sixth
corps in the forts, and, concluding that he could
net storm such forts, held by such men, he hur-
ried away, the rebel soldiers who had been
promised the possession Of Washington, literally
cursing that they had marched three hundred
miles for nothing.
General Lee has thus made desperate At
tempt to relieve Richmond and his own lines
from the steady pressure made by Gen. Grant,
and his attempt has ended In complete failure
Many advantages to the rebellion were doubt
less contemplated by the projectors of this
invasion. Plumber and cattle and horses were
some Of these advantages We know that the
rebel cavalry has lately been lamentably inefa-
cient for want of horses, and it is likely that
large part Of the foot force lately in Maryland
was dismounted cavalry, which made itself
effective by the capture of horses at every step
OF the way. But the great and main adyan-
tage hoped for was the diversion Of the Army
of the Potomac from Richmond. Lees earnest
hope was that dashing threat against Washing
ton would 50 operate on the fears Of the admins
tration that the whole army would be withdrawn
from the James, and thus the war be at
once transferred from the neighborhood
of bis capital to tho neghborhood of ours.
Or, il not the whole army, he at least
hoped that so much Of 1t would be
turned away that the remainder would not
be able to hold Grants position against an i'm
petuous assault. But Washington has been held
against this advance, and the rebel column
compelled to retreat, without any material
change In the state Of affairs on the James.
Grant still stands there-still presses tightly
the throat Of the confederacy; and, though men
were sent by him to Washington, they did not
SO reduce his strength that Leo dared venture
an assault.
Much ruin has been spread through rich
agricultural country BY this advance; but it
has not in any way weakened our main army
or broken the force Of our offensive operations
against the rebel capital. 1t has weakened the
force entrusted with the defence Of that capital.
Whatever the strength Of the rebel column
was, supposing it now to receive no
further harm from us, it will return to
Richmond minus one third that strength
lost in battle and by dcserton. II will
return rich In horses and much needed cattle
and in small supplies, but defeated and with
out having accomplished the real object for
which 1t set out 1t may make the empty boast
that it went as close to the defences Of Wash
ington as Grant is to those Of Petersburg; but
it could not stay there. Broken and worn out by
an awfully hard service, it will return to End
that its hard labor has been useless, that Grant
is still there, and Richmond as hard pressed as
ever. Its arrival under such circumstances will
deepen the gloom that is already settling on the
Richmond people.
But all this is supposing that its present line
OF march will lead 1t safely into Richmond.
There Is at least fair probability that ii will
not, and that Lee will have even more to grieve
over than the defeat Of this column. General
Early. to cross the Potomac. must move some
distance north of Washington, and, having
crossed the river, no must then march the same
distance southwark to be only opposite Wash
ington on the other side Of the river. Our
troops, crossing at Washington, can thus reach
point opposite that city in either the Bull
run or the Shenandoah valley before the rebels
can. In other words we have interior lines on
which to operate against retreating enemy,
and II we make proper use Of these lines Early's
column may be destroyed entirely. There is
TSa to hope that it will be.
..,.,.- - ut hour furnishes Che grand oppor-
,.--arnment Il y the hour OF
r.cv H., -. seen. Al, .sil that the coufede-
tsated ia Virginia and in OS.s srs concen'
man Is once more going ahead 10. ener
last stage to Atlanta, and Johnston b used ipse
Pressed desperately in virginia tho enemy has
mat tried a ,ast and most desuorate reaoyrce 10