Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-07-02

| fcult field, would require, The rebels
themselves confidently asserted his defeat at
the outset, and asked no consideration or
favor. The genius of common sense is evil
dent in every movement and disposition
which Grant has made and the whole of
his fixed plan has been carried out with a
directness and triumph which arc extraordi-
nary
The rebellion in Virginia is now practical
" reduced to the vicinity of Richmond
After running fearful gauntlet the dcci-
mated army Ut Lee is now abou. to make
its last desperate series of diminishing strug
giles. How Grant has brought his foe to
this fate seems incXplcable to the rebels,
and, simple as his plan has been, is surpris-
ing to his friends. In little more than one
month he is before Richmond, having won
every step of his progress with hard fighting
or consummatc skill y period remarkably
brief, for its results, is crowded with victo-
rious history such rs the war has not known
hitherto Success has been gained where
success has been the most difficult. In his
vigorous campaign against Nlcksbnrg, Grant
first became we'll acquainted with his genius.
After that his future was necessity. In
the much grander campaign in Virginia, his
genius is fully displayed, and, like all genius,
u
done everything that was wanting to have
satisfied the pride of the country by fairly
defeating the enemy in the most obstinate
contests, besides over-rcaching him at all
all points of strategy. Great armies do not
accomplish RESULTS such ns these, but great
minds. Nothing can be suggested as better
than the plan which General Grant marked
out for himself: land let US here take occa-
sion to say, il in no particular resembles TIE
plan OF Mcclellan. Contrary to the policy
of the latter, General Grant based his sue.
cess upon courage. rs every great soldier
must. For six weeks Mcclellan sat down
before Yorktown after his army had been
transported nearly the whole distance thi-
thcr. In less than the same time General
Grant is, to all effect before Richmond, hav-
ing accomplished what Gen. Mcclellan re-
garded as nearly impossible lie has fought
The enemy in me comparatively direct line
OF march, and driven him, broken and dis
spirited. to the wall. Instead of following
his antagonist, Grant has forced him; more
than this, he has Out-monUuvred him and
astonishcd him. Now, all arc ready to adj
NIT that the plan of placing an army in the
rear of Richmond as Il cooperating force to
an army moving direct on Richmond, and
Il balancing and supporting force to an army
moving down the valley, Is the best OF all
plans. 1t was conceived mt once, and under
taken in the hundredth part of the time em-
ployeA for McClcllan's colossal preparations,
ana will have revcnged we think, in stnpcn-
dous victory over the enemy, all the monster
misturtuncs of the old Pcnnsuar campaign.
The new march upon Richmond has swept
clean. Every branch of the rebel power in
Virginia seems to have been cut off, and
only root and trunk remain. All the rail
roads 10y which the enemy might move north
Or south have been seized or broken. and in
thi, feature OF the campaign, and especially
in the disposition of his cavalry, Grant has
shown the best foresight and the rcadiest
inspiration. We not rchcarsc how all along
the march he destroyed the roads IN both
his front and rear. opening up new bases of
supply, and never leaving to the enemy
point for attack or speculation. His plan
grasped at once Lees means of supply and
rcntorcemcnts, and yet safely provided for
the worst results while he cut his own army
off from the ordinary means of communica-
ton with Washington. With such plan
and such leader failure in the main object
seems AN impossibility.-Ph PhihI Press.