The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-15
7uE RAID AND IT'S RESPONSIBILITY.


THE RAID AND ITS REsPONsIBILITY.
Now that the raiders have departed down
She Shenandoah valley, and the "big scareD
they got up In Maryland and the border couu-
ties Of this State Is at an end, we may review
The events that have transpired with rational
composure, and measure their real importance
with tolerable accuracy. Judging then, OF
the late Rebel movement by the light Of facts
which are now generally known, It would
seem that the first public impression of It's
character and purpose was substantially cor
rect. That impression was that the demon
stratlon Contemplated only the acquisition Of
supplies for the Confederate army, and that
those engaged in the expedition, being proba-
bly, but small force, did not design TO make
. serious assault either on Baltimore or Wash
lngton.
The sequel has fully verified this calculation.
The most reliable accounts from the scene
Of the raid agree in estimating that the whole
OF the Rebel troops that crossed the Potomac
Amounted TO but thirty-odd thousand. We
are also aware that Baltimore was not at
tackled, and that Its Immediate vicinity was
only secured by squads Of cavalry sent out to
cut various railway and telegraphic commu-
nications with Washington, to alarm the
people, and pick up certain quantity of
plunder,
As regards the action Of the marauders
before Washington, there would seem to be
ample reason TO warrant the notion that no
positive purpose to assault the capital with
the hope Of capturing il was at any time en-
tertained. The most rational theory with
regard to the affair is that the appearance of
the Rebels in that quarter, as well as what
they did, was but feint, intended to cover
the passage down the Shenandoah Valley Of
the wagon trains that bore away towards
Richmond the spoils which the feebooters
had gathered from the defenseless people
within our lines. In order to effect this
object show of assaulting Washington had
to be made to keep our forces from pursuing
the robbers and possibly capturing them with
all the valuable booty which they had secured.
It Is furthermore probable that the raid was
made by no other forces than those which
were sent by LEE 20 resist HUNTER in his
march on Lynchburg, and that their subse-
quent progress up the valley was asort of after
tary blunder of HUNTER himself in crossing
the Alleghenies and passing up into the ex-
treme northwestern corner Of Virginia, instead
Of fretreating directly north, and by that means
keeping bis troops directly between the Rebels
and Washington, until he could be so far re-
inIorced as to have again assumed the offen-
sive. 1t is. we apprehend, to this amazing
mistake of HUNTER that the recent raid, with
all It's consequences, must be attributed, since
1t appears to be quite manifest that had Hun
TER fallen back towards Martinsburg and
Harper's Ferry, instead Of running Off on 9
line which completely uncovered the points
Damed, and all the region of country they
commanded, EARLY and BRECKINRIDGF
might have been deferred from the foragint
incursion they undertook, or have been dlas
trously repulsed in the attempt. As it turne
out, however. SIGEL was surprised with
force too small to make stand, and had t
give way before the advancing columns Of th
Rebel Generals, while HUNTER was too e
away to be reinforced by SIGEL or to reinforC
him in his sudden and desperate eX remity.
We are not disposed to be unreasonab
captious In criticzing our military leade
and their conduct. We think that gre
deal of injustice has been done to many u
fortunate, but truly meritorious men, by tc
quick and 1ippant censure Of them in whiC
mere civilians indulge. But in view of Il
late alarming and destructive foray of IL
RebCIs into our borders, and the importal
aid which General HUNTER apparently CO.
tributed to its inception and prosecution, |
actually opening the way for and theret
inviting it, we are deliberately of the opiniC
that his action in the premises is fairly a su
ieot for Executive inquiry, and should ther
fore, for the sake of military morale and d
cipline, be speedily investigated by a comp
tent tribunal OF board of officers, and de,
with according to the facts Of the case as tn
may be judicially reported.