The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-18

MONDAY, JULY IS, 1854.
TIE GREAT CONFLICT.

Within the next i've days we expect 70
chronicle some of the most important events
Of the war; important because of their vast
influence over the result Of the great current
conflict We need not inform our readers
that General GRANT has been employing the
past mouth most advantageously. He has
performed wondrous works in that period,
and solved some problems in the practice of
warfare which will give him an exalted niche
In the temple of fame. 1t is a source Of graft
Acation (but half felt as yeti to the American
people, to know that the recent invasion Of
Maryland by the Rebels has not disturbed his
operations on the south bank Of the James
river. Unobserved by all but the enemy, he
has been constantly progressing in plan
which, In its contamination, will give us that
victory which we all so heartily desire and
expect.
There are those among our military critics
who can see nothing in General GRANTS
operations to give us any hope of substantial
success. Indeed, morning contemporary,
whose acuteness and taste for topography
spreads out column on the " situation" each
day, would have us believe that GRANTS
entire army Of over two hundred thousand
men Is before Petersburg to no purpose, and
without any adequate end in yiew-that it
owes its transportation there to the imbe-
ciIity of an administration which can do moth
ing right because it is not Democratic"
That standard military maxim, close no
opportunity to hold OF destroy your enemy's
communications with his bases Of supply"
General GRANT has adopted and faithfully
followed. Yet the advice of "Jomini" cannot
avail here, because GRANT has taken it, and,
we maintain, improved upon it. For such an
isolation as he has effected between his enemy
and his points of supply has never been known
before In the history Of war. The enemy,
struggling under the Inconvenience of the
situation, has been forced to gather together
small force and invade the State of Mary
land, partly as diversion, but mainly
to obtain little food and some
buncombe" for the encouragement of
his people and soldiers. So weak is this enemy
in reality (although his Copperhead friends
are continually calling him all-powerful), that
he Is forced to remain reticent while he is
being throtted by foe whose force and
capacity he certainly has reason to respect
Not respectable sortie is made by the Rebels
TO relieve their army or raise the siege oftheir
cities. If, unnaturally and salamander-like
the Rebels expect to remain forever secure in
their present position, they will perform feat
which will be not only novel, but astounding
to those who have made the art Of war Their
study.
They cannot hope to wear out General
GRANTS army, for it will always be large
fresh, and well fed Its morale is good
although this fact, after its varied experience
may astonish the world. We know that Gene
raj LEE is sorely pressed; he has tried manl
plans for military success, some have carriet
and some have miscarried. He is now lef
without an expedient His brilliancy
waning. He must either come out and fight t
destruction, or remain in his works and en-
deavor to keep at bay tremendous army 0
freemen, under most energetic, perseyerlnl
and hitherto successful leader.
This experiment is about to be tried. In
f5w hours a series of movements in assau
and by flank will be commenced and persC
Vered In to the end These in their develop
ment will show the wisdom and genius of tn
general who has determined to execute then
We, who know something of them, beley
they will give us victory, but we only belev
so because they have been adopted in accorC
ance with the very best scientific teaching
and because common sense (which has all I
do with war; shows them to be rationa
proper, and correct.