New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-02
CHANT.


worth of nation which but one man can save;
vet every days experience strengthens our faith
in Lieut. Con. Grant. The task devolyed on
him is arduous: he Is confronted by an able
General and gallant, veteran army, who enjoy
enormous advantages in their defensive attitude,
the nature of the country, and their intimate
knowledge of its topography; yet, from the
hour Of his crossing the Rapidan, Gen. Grant
has gone steadily, sturdily forward, repelling
lmpetuous attacks; assauling (when necessary
strongly fortified POSITIONS; Withdrawing unob-
served from the immediate front of his wary an
tagonist and effecting the most daring and diff
cult flank movements, thereby achieving the
fruits Of victory without encOuntering the car
mage which is the usual cost Of such Success
and all this with stern quietude that indicates
reserved force and a consciousness of powers
adapted to any emergency. We are not apt to
DO over-ssnguine; we realize that victory Is
often a happy accident and that occurrences
purely fortuitous often derange and defeat the
ablest combinations; but, having noted his bear
Ing under every phase of fortune, his quick i'm
provement of advantages and his skillful repair
alton of mischances, we cannot doubt shat ne
has true military genius, and that he will do
Whatever one man can do to break tho back OF
the Shareholders Rebellion.
The fact that the Copperhead organs begin to
attack him more pointcdy than AZ first, when
they were content to lash him over the back Of
tho President, is Of wholesome significance. 1t
is DO longer Old Abe that overrules his re-
quest that Mcclellan be put in Meade's place,
or who constrains him to advance overland
when he would have preferred TO repeat McClel-
lan's doleful Peninsular strategy, but the truth
that the campaign Is Grants own, whether in
conception or execution, stands virtually con-
Tossed and the censuros which are truly praises
arc bestowed where thoy rightfully belong
Thus, the most virulent Of our PTO-Slayery
neighbors says;
The result Of the campaign does not justify the San
gune expectations on which 1t was planned Gen. Grant
oeased TO have any after the first two days
fight Not only have all other postsbeon drained to
make up his onOruOus losses but the temporary three
mUnths men have been sent to reinforce him. SO far
from being able 10 fight 1t through the direct ae (as
DO said be would II IL took hin all SUNNI ~ he has
twice changed his base anu before the end u the first
half Of the first Summer month DO had only one army
operating agnlns, Richmond instead Of three and that
army resting upon tho James River. which 1t might
have reached without any losses whatever"
If the object Of the campaign had been to
roach the James River, it might Of course have
been obtained at loss cost than by Gen. Grants
method. But his chief end was the destruction
Of Lees army, covering meantime our Capital
with its enormous stores Of munitions and mate.
REL, while threatening and ultimately reducing
the Rebel metropolis. To have transferred
Meades force by water to the James, leaving
Lees main body around Orange Courthouse,
With his railroads unbrokcn ard the intermediate
country unexhsustcd, would have involved the
leaving of Bumsdc's Tor some other) strong
corps TO cover Washington and prevent raids
down the Shenandoah into Maryland-in short,
the Mcclellan Mcdowell mistake over again;
Whereas by moving overland on Richmond,
Grant has kept Lee fully occupied. precluded
his threatening Washington, and at length
safely combined his three armies into one, which
threatens at once Richmond Petersburg, and
that Rebel Army of Virginia which is the main
bulwark of the Rebellion. We do not SEQ how
this could have been improved.
But consider the cost!
Well, we do consider it--not merely half but
the whole Of it. Grant has taken II. 900 prison.
ers the Rebels admit loss Of 20, 900 killed and
wounded; we believe this is but little more than
half the real aggregate, and that they have lost
in Virginia, since Grant crossed the Rapidan.
not ono short Of so, 900 men-most of them their
brsvest and best. Our aggregates may have
been little larger, though we think not: for
the Rebels have taken not half so many prison.
ers as We have; while of the wounded in tho
Wilderness and before Spottsylyanis Court.
House, many thousands. owing 10 the superior
medical care and general comfort Of our hospi.
tails, nobly aided By the Sanitary Commission,
have been healed and have already returned to
their oolors. We believe not half 50 many die |
Of our wounded as Of the Rebels, and that |
much larger proportion resume their former
places in the ranks; 80 that, where We have
7, 0O0 wounded to their 5000, the actual loss is
very nearly equal. Hence we judge that the
positive losses Of the contending hosts vary but
little, whilo tho relative loss Of the Rebels is de-
,idedly the greater. They were ready and
lager to fight US on our own ground in tho VIII
lerncss why do they now hold OF, only fight