Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-11-19
Report OF the Rebel Secretary
of War.

GENERAL GRANT CAMPAIGN.
The primary object Of the enemy was to
effect the capture OF Richmond and the de-.
feat aud dispersion Of the armies Of North.
ern Virginia aud Tennessee He assembled
his main army for this purpose in April last
on the Rappahanock. under General Grant
another army was collected on the PENN
sula, nnder he command al General Butler
To cooperate on the south aide Of Richmond
q third was designed to ueneirate TO the
james River, through the Valley Of Virgin
ia, and the forces in Western Virginia and
Kentucky we're to crosa the mountains and
Join IL on it's march 1t is believed that more
than two hundred thousand troops wrre com
bined ior the execution OF this plan Va April
last, oud that from ifly 10 one bundled thou.
sand men have been since added as re-en-
forcements
The army of General Grant was met at the
Wilderness on the 9th OF May last and defea-
ted il was encountered with the same result
at Spottsyvania Court House, on the PO,
the North Anna aud at Cold Ilarbor, after
which ii abandoned its march on Richmond
and crossed the James River 10 form juno
ton with General Butler near Petersburg
The army of General Butler had landed on
the south side Of the James River, at Bermu-
da Hundred, early in May, to co operate With
the army OF General Grant, which was expect
ell to arrive before Richmond in short time.
On the 10th day Of May this army met with
defeat at Drury Bluff, and was confined
/ to it's entrenehments from that time until it
was Joined by the army under General Grant
The army of General Sigel, designated for
the invasion Of the Valley of Virsinin, was de
fea ed at New Market in May lasl, aud the
troops from Western Virginia were edriven
from the Valley ofthe Upper Roanoke about
the same time At a later period, these ar
mics were united under General Hunter, and
a'ler a successful march up the Valley OF Vlr-
ginia, they were encountered by General Early
at Lynchburg, aud driven to the Ohio River
General Early finding Washington CGy and
Baltimore ex xDOsed passsd through the Val
ley defeating all opposing forces, crossed IN
to MAryla and penetrated TO the suburbs OF
Washington City and Baltimore. lhe cava-
~ raids Of Sheridan and Wilson were defeat
ed and attempts to permanently obstruct Our
communications have failed.
The campaign projected by General Grant
with such mighty preparation has been irus-
trated, and it he depended alone upon means
that were provided and were deemed 10 be
superabundant, his failure would be absolute;
but a proclamation has been made for the
draft Of five hundred thousand men by the
President ofthe United Status to recruit his
defeated and dspirited army, and we cannot
yet claim security or quiet
THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA,
In the great Central State of Georgia the
campaign opened about the same time, but
operations have been, go far, less fav nrabe to
our arms Preparation had been there made
early TO meet with adequate forces exceeding
the relative dispropornou which has usually
existed with all our armies, and repel the en-
emV on the Threshold of the State, but pru.
denee or strategy led the General entrusted
with the campaign to prefer retreating aud
defensive line of action, and in consequence,
our forces, though not without on several Oc-
casons severely checking and furnishing
their adversaries whenever Venturing direct
assault, we're gradually Unanswered or press
ed back toward Atlanta, that being the object
i've point of the campaign
When that important central point Of
Union TO various aonVerging lines of com
munication had been nearly reached and Sp-
peared about to be abandoned, a change was
made in the commanders, and q strenuous
effort was made to hold aud defend by force
of arms this place which had become more
important in political and moral than in a
military view from the significance which the
public of both sides had attached to its pos
session.
1t WAS bravely held for several weeks, and
, some successes achieved with skill and vaor,
, for time seemed to assure TO us its reteu-
tioa, when hazardous movement of the en-
emy which, with as much success to our arms
as there was promptiIude in seizing the occa.
sion by our commanders, must have caused
4 -. In nj lI.I
n evacuation of the city, and its occupancy by
+ the enemy This was felt as serious reverse,
s and caused some depression of feelings
$ throughout the COnfederacy, while it was
e hailed with unhounded seclamation aud re,
e vived hopes by the enemy.
For time the loss of prestige and the po
litioal effects we're uhquestionably adverse Il
us, but results may show that it's consequent
a css were on both sides strangely msunder
It stood and exaggerated IL has liberated ouI
d army fol offensive operation, while it has
y chained down our enemies to the tenure of
>, far inland position of no real strstegical val
n ne since the breaking up Of it's railroad con
s. nections, in the midst of hostile population
u and to be sustained only by supplies drawr
hundreds of miles by single line OF road
)f The opportunities presented by such a aitua
D. tion have been seized and used by our bolt
n and enterprisiDg leader with Prompttude RnC
energy.
ID EARLYs DIaAsTERs.
- Shortly after the fall of Atlanta series o
disasters bstel our troops in the Valley o
y Virginia, and contributed to the discourage
ment hen existing; but when we consider thu
n events Of the entire campaign, the brllian
;" achievements Of our armies in Florida, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri
. the long, erduous and successful resistanc,
:. made by the army Of Northern Virginia, il
n which every virtue Of the army, and the go
a MUS of consummate generalshp, have beer
a, displayed, the glorious defense OF Petersburg
Ne and Richmond the nnmarnna ancceaaas thn