The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-05-24
Strength and losses Of the army Of
the Potomac.

den appearance, al over the country,
Of dispatches, letters, rumors, hints,
suggestions and assertions, all giving
dreadful and doleful accounts of our
pretended great losses" in the recent
battles, Of Lees enormous strength,
and Of the desperation Of oursitUation
This concerted scheme for depressing
the public mind and exciting the PEG
pie against the government was crown
ed yesterday by forged proclamation
openly admitting defeat As sample
Of what these conspirators are doing,
we quote the following, which we find
in the Cincinnati Enquirer Of the 18th
Instant:
when the full details Of these ter
rible battles ere spread before the
country, not by lying special despatch
es and bulle IN but as they are, they
will cast & gloom over the whole coun-
try. The destruction of life has been
fearful 10 contemplate. The stories of
our success are not known to the army.
Only the most heroic courage upon the
part of the troops and energy upon that
of General Grant has prevented an
abandonment Of the campaign and the
falling back to the old position across
the Rapidan. We have lost nearly one
third Of our army in killed, wounded
and prisoners. Forty thousand is a low
and moderate estimate, and yet the
heavy work Of the campaign is upon
as. OF this number eight or ten thou
sand are prisoners, and three Generals
are taken with them. The strong points
of Lees defence have not been reached
and they will be defended with terrible
tenacity."
Such reports and rumors as these, like
those which formerly ascribed immense
and overwhelming forces to Johnston
and Lee, when Mcclellan commanded
the army, are intended TO dishearten
the people, and make them despair Of
success. We have taken pains to ex-
anime into the truth of these reports
and are able TO assure our readers that
the information given below is correct.
]. The losses Of General Meade's
army in the recent battles. up TO last
Sunday, amounted TO about sixteen
demonstrating out Of this account
a considerable number of men who
struggled to the rear, and many Of
whom even made their way to Wash
ington, under pretense Of being hurt.
These stragglers and runaways have,
however, been sent back; and no doubt
Generals Grant and Meade viii inAict
such severe punishment upon some Of
them as viii keep the survivors in the
ranks in future battles Arrangements
are now made by which struggling viii
not in future be so easy as it was in the
first battles
.. General Grant has received two
days ago achievements which more
than replaced his entire losses lie
has not at any time felt the want Of
men, provisions or ammunition, but
has had everything furnished in time,
in sufficient quantities, at the required
points. lie has today an army more
numerous than that with which ne set
out on the campaign, and rs well equip
ped, il not better, for battle. The OPP
erations Of the last fourteen days have
given the troops confidence in General
Grant, and have made him thoroughly
q ,quainted with the capabilities of the
rmy with which he is for the first
time operating. Grant has found in
General Meade and able, Jealous help
er-an officer Of remarkable executive
ability, and one in every respect in ac-
cord with his own views. The army Of
Meade WAS somewhat discouraged by
the result Of the first two days of bat
tie; the men long accustomed to
fighting brayely without substantial re-
suits, and falling back after a certain
amount Of bloodsbed, were prepared in
mind TO return 70 their old camps. The
battles had been indecisive, and under
such circumstances they had become
habituated TO retreat But when Gen.
Grants order was read at the heads of
the regiments, informing the troops
that the Commanding General intend
ed to move to the south and not north,
and meant to pursue the enemy and not
10 retreat, shouts greeted these words,
and the whole army was inspirited and
demanded 10 be led against Lee. From
that day Grant has possessed the en-
thusiastic confidence Of the troops, who
feel that they have leader who viii
make them do their best
3 Owing to the distance of the army
from Fredericksburg, the roughness of
the roads, and the immense and sudden
call made upon the resources Of the
army Medical Department aud the
Sanitary and Christian Commissions by
eight days of severe and continual
fighting, our wounded have suffered
necessarily somewhat, but there has
been no neglect, and no lack of neces-
sary stores. Nor has this demand ex-
hausted the supply; another series of
battles, IL it took place Immediately,
would find the medical department
ready with sufficient help and stores,
Thus, so far from being discouraged,
We have every right to be encouraged;
We have cause for gratitude TO God for
his blessing in the last two eventfuI
weeks, and for entire confidence in the
result of General Grants operations
our armies are stronger, better placed,
more ably commanded, than ever; they
are led By a General whom no obstacles
can intimidate, who has already shown
himself master Of the situation IN Vir-
ginia and out-maneuvered Lee, and who
has won the confidence Of his troops
lie ia aided by subordinates devoted 70
their country, with no selfish motives or
partisan spite to paraliEe sheir arms