The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-05
THE MILITARY sITUATION-PETERs
RURG-ATLANrA.

The public depression at the unsuccessful
sttsck upon Petersburg Is neither warranted
by the failure, nor comprehensive except
upon the suppoeition of a partial review of
the military situation. 1t is owing to gene
raj tendency among us, toconsder that long
prepared attempt must be the signal of sue
cess. It Is also owing to general tendency
TO great exaltation at good news when, if the
reverse comes, the revulsion Of feeling is so
great us to create despondency.
From whatever cause this false impression
as TO the Petersburg affair is derived, it is
our duty TO attempt to dissipate 1t by re-
view of the military situation.
From our present standpoint Of knowledge,
1t Is impossible to decide what was the cause
of our want Of success. 1t is absurd to declare
that because corps which were intended to
support engaged troops were not ordered for
ward, that military incompetence must have
existed. Troops are placed within supporting
distance Of others, for the purpose of being
ordered forward In certain contingencies.
Win certain revelation of the extent of con-
eentrated fire that an enemy can bring to bear,
a general rightly desists from sending his
troops to a slaughter-pen- As for the demoral-
izatlon Of the negro troops, something more
than the simple establishment of the fact Of
their demoralization Is needed to prove that
they behaved In a cowardly manner. Any
troops may be demoralized. There is llml
Of fendurance beyond which human beings can.
not 90. We believe 1t to be pretty well estab
nsbed that the French ran away from Water.
loo; and although the @Guard dies, but neve,
surrenders," q good many OF them lived to tel
the story of their own magnanimity.
We are unable to ascertain more than thai
The attack on Petersburg was well planned
aud that Il failed In the execution. The pre-
fimlnaries were admirable. But when the tim
for action came, the fuse would not burn; tn
attack was delayed in consequence; da,
dawned; the mine exploded; the assault wa
made, but not on the instant; and the negrt
troops were repulsed In an attack on the inne
line Of works. Whether these were untowar,
accidents, or the result of mismanagement, Ii
who, at present, dares to Judge conclusivey
must DO presumptuous man.
Although we cannot, with certainty, estaS
Hsh the causes OF our want OF success, yet b
q careful comparison OF the accounts OF cor
respondents, we can gain general knowlcdg
what occurred. Keconciling, as nearly a
possible, the slight discrepancies which appea
Al the accounts, Is appears to be establishes
that she assault upon the exploded fort WI
made by both white and negro troOps-:h
black troops bringing up the rear of the col
umn. II Is also established that, for at leas
an hour, the action was continued betweo
the enemy and the white troops, who wer
unable 70 make a secure lodgment in tn
captured crater, and wholly unable TO max
any impression on the enemys inner line @
works.
1t was at this moment that General FER
RERO's Division ofnegro troops was ordered b
assault the crest held by the enemy. A NOR
severe test could not be asked than the con
sIderation whether these men did not underg,
as much as could be expected Of white troop
of equal length of service. 1t seems probable
During the occupation of the crater Of th'
exploded fort, the enemy continued 10 arrlV'
IN torce. Cars were heard coming from Rich
mono' and troops from the lines about Peters
Dufs "ere converged to the point Of attack
fet the negro troops took light intermediate
line ofworks, aud II was ON their attemntino
TO take the main line that thew ,ver. g;,y.ad
back in disorder. The assault was ro,o,,,al a
and thcy were completely dlsorvAu,ze.l : ,,d
put to fight The correspondent Of the New
York Herald, who cannot, Of course, be con
sidered partial to negro troops, saysi-
elm connection with this story of alleged dc
moralizati0n, justice comPels It 70 be added tbs
made by the colored troops on the enemy
First line directly following the mine explosion
aIt Is true they fell back after tho secORd chargN
bus II Is also true that In 10 charge made
his war have troops been under such a sever
and murderous exploding ire of mHsketry aa
. fhmpnei."