The New York herald., 1864-07-11

| credit from its present deplorable coalition
| lessen the bu rthens of the people, and restore
| in great me asure, prosperity and confidence
| to our stricken land. Lincoln's first mastery
stroke of State policy may yet be productive
| of incalculable ood Mr.. Fessenden is every
way superior m. to Mr. Chase. He has no
personal schemes nd aims like Mr.. Chase. He
has a clear field bell IRE him for the inauguration
of great financial lovement that will retrieve
the errors of his pra decessor, and we believe
the country will find that he is equal to the
task.
How the Rebels sIiPr 'ed into Maryland
General Hunters Fa .ilure-Where Lies
the Responsibility.
1t Is the old story oyt again. The back
door, by way Of the Shes andoah valley, has
been left invitingly open, and formidable
column Of hungry rebels frcl Richmond have
slipped yet once more inte Maryland; and
scattering the feeble Union ietachments il
their way like chaff, they are carrying every
thing before them. With all he instructive
lessons Of the last three years, fir, I'm Stonewal
Jackson and General Lee, in refe renee to the
rear of Washington, neither the feder al admins,
tration nor the local authorities Of Maryland
and Pennsylvania appear to have tui ned these
instructions to any valuable account.
A month ago the Maryland border was safe
enough, because there was no subsis ence in
vading army; but since that day the wha It and
rye harvest Of all the border States haa been
gathered in, which has materially change the
whole face of affairs touching the campaj2 in
Virginia
Under this new condition of things It, beca me
at once a duty of the first Importance to he
government, and to the authorities of Maryl0a d
and Pennsylvania, to guard securely against tn ,
danger of rebel invasion. But this duty hss
been SO far neglected that, with the approach
of rebel force Of fifteen or twenty thousand
men, the little squads of Unien troops scattered
here and there along the Potomac, with the
people and authorities of the border States, are
thrown into the helpless confusion of general
panic. With anything like proper precautions
against this danger this invading rebel column,
instead of penetrating into the heart of Mary
land, would have been captured or dispersed
on the banks of the Potomac river.
column from Richmond has succeeded in slip.
ping down. the Shenandoah valley and across
the Potomac and into the heart of Maryland
before any positive knowledge on our side OF
its actual strength could be oh tanned? A few
words will explain this mystery. First, Gene
raj Hunter, repulsed from Lyncbburg, and
finding himself in danger Of being enveloped
fho foro Iofa cd from, Pscbp 4,
to cut him off, discovered that his only safe line
Of retreat was across the mountains to the
Kanawfa river, and down that stream to the 4
Ohio. He took this course, and thus the
Shenandoah valley from Staunton down to the.
Potomac. and all the short lines Of commune
cation between that valley and Richmond
were left entirely open. Hunter could.
not be followed through the destitute moun-
famous country into which he had retreated.
Nor was it desirable to followhim further after,
he had left the Shenandoah valley inviAngly
open to the Maryland border, with the chances.
Of an opening into Washington.
Where, then, lies the resp onsibility for this
shameful - ebel invasion-for the third time-ot
the State Of Maryland! Not with Gen. Grant;
for he is not responsible for the appointment
Of Hunter or Sigel, to each OF whom, and their
may be traced the immediate causes Of this,
daring rebel diversion from Richmond. These
men are among the pet generals Of President,
Lincoln-Sigel especially, who, in failing to
make any seasonable reconnaissance, or any
stand to feel the strength Of the enemy's ap-
pr0aches, permitted them to enter Mary
land, and to sweep beyond the Monocacy all
obstructions before them, from the ignorance
which still prevails ON our side Of their formi-
dable numbers.
Our accounts from the Army Of the Poto-
mac represent that the results of this move
ment in Maryland ara very anxiousiy expected
by the rebel army still on Grants front. Since
that army has been in Petersburg and near Ii IL
has had no fresh meat, and even "salt horse''
hss been scarce. Three-quarters Of apound
OF salt meat every two days has been the
whole meat ration. Of the rebels for nearly
thirty days, and. they naturally look with
hungry hope for Ewell's speedy return. laden,
Is they expect him 70 be, with the portable
aeshpots Of the North, and driving before him
herds Of the fat cattle from Western Maryland
and Pennsylvania Unfortunately, there is but
little prospect that their hope will
prove Elusive. We could not reasonably
count upon any one but Hunter, with his own
column and that recently. under Sigel, to
intercept the raiders, and he IL not likely to
do IL He appears to have been considerably
crippled by his hard marches In Western Vir-
ginia, and 10 already behind the time at which
he was expected In the valley.
II Ii 70 bs regretted that new life and
strength should thus be given TO the nearly
starved army under Lee, and that General