The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-17
THE ARMY OF THE JAMES.

PracticRbiIityO OfTOIsIng RIchmond-why
abe Movement IL not MRde-RebeI Re.
HRnce ON mcCIeIIan's EIectiOn-HOpe.
less Weakness of the Rebels.
HEADQUARTERS or THE ARMY or THE JAMES,
September l4-There is authority for the state
ment that the Lieutenant General is convinced
that the forces now here-the Army of the Poto-
mac and the Army Of the JLmes-is
competent, without the addition Of a man, tO
the reduction of Richmond, whether by defeat
Of the Rebel army and consequent evacuation
of the city, or by defeat Of that army, which
shall carry the city with it. Then why Is the
army quiet, why is it not put TO work and the
task accomplished lit is asked. If there is
force enough here now, why not use that force
at once, and gain The end so ardcntly desired.
For this reason, reason, to-, that is cOuclu-
sive that General Grant Is not the cold, cAlcu-
latng, flintv- hearted commander, the man utterly
regardless Of human lives and ham IN suffering.
which Rebels and COpperheads would have US
believe; and reason, moreover, which appeals
TO all who have friends in the army, and who
have not friends in the army?
General Grant believes that 1t would be unjust
TO these men who have gone through so much,
who are heroes of 20 many battles, aud the chosen
ones mirucuOusly preserved white so many OF
thtir comrades have fallen. General Grant be-
leves that 1t would be an unnecessary and unjus
tihahle sacrifice 10 SUBJECT these to tue losses
another series OF battlts, when IL is within hi
power 10 80 hOOn anu
thus distribute the loss IT fur her loss there mus
be, among la ger number, or perhaps, enable him.
by means OF larger army, to achieve the same
end with far less sa,ridce of life. These men, by
vi tue of herOism and baptism of fire and OlOO1
have ecOme the Old Guard OF the Republic, and
IL were q & ieyous wasLage OF tried and preciJu,
things 10 sac iice these in other than the RepuU.
lies eXtremity-And, thank God tnat extremity
is past
And you remember that Napoleon's Old Guard
Wasnever called upon except in the last extremity
unless il was TO ride the crest of victory ANA
make it a triumph No, these veterans will be
subjected to no uncalled-for sacrifice, and when
they are again called upon there will be other
thousands to stand by their sides.
Do seem to be writing very hopefully? l
hope l am. Otherwise, should not DO true 10
my convictions. have been with the army since
the first day OF May. | have particIpated in its
feelings of depression aud Of eXutatiOn, and
but participate in its present hope aud spirit when
!. write hopetully-tOr believe that
THE gods, who live forever,
Are ON our side 10 day
There is warrant for the belief. General Butler
who, perhaps, by natural parts and the training
of lifetime, is best fitted of all the generals of
the army TO comprehend the situation, As he GER
tainly is, in point of opportunities for pertinent aud
relevant and conclusive Information Gen. Butler,
am warranted in sta ing believes that the Rebels
have only one ground OF hope-oDly one bond of
eCberonce-and that is, that the pending eeC lou
may result in their favor; in other words, may
result in favor OF the CJpperhcads nud their chi.
caeo nominee. And as all Ia the army believe
that Mcclellan will not be elected, cannot carry
three States, they feel that for the Rebels 10 ean
on that hope is TO lean on Il broken reed and
accordingly they expect to see the whole Rebel
concern fall apart aud go down soen after Novem-
Der, as well from all loss of hope on the ptrt of
the Rebels as from the potency of the Tn on
armies, whose puissant blows will fall again and
again b, fore that time.
BY reference to the Richmond Uhig, which
mailed 10 you last night, you will thai on
their own calculation there remains iu the whole
South but 1872 900 men, between the ages of six
teen and fifty. These they style ereDtDtS By
enactment Of their Congress all residents between
those ages are in the military service. Fron
these eXemPts only can they recruit the IL armies.
But these 10000 are all men who have been
detailed for duty considered, up TO this time, a,
virtually important ms service 10 the army, ana
not all Of them, nor any large proportion Of them
can be spared from their present ayOcau ,ns--as
overseers OF plantations, as workmen in Coufed.
crate arsenals, as manufacturers Ofartcles which
must be obtained. Hence there Is no basis of
addition 70 their armies. They have already
"robbed the cradle and the grave" and to.dty
there is not left to them even the resource of
the Imperial city, when
"sempronlus AtraHus
Was left In charge at home
Witt boys aud with gray -hclded mon,
To keep the gates Of Rome."-N. J, Tribtue