The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-09

open field. The fair and legitimate inference
Is. that he feels his want of power in such
contest, for Grant has given him many oppor-
tunities for such battles which Lee has always
declined, and for good and substantial reasons,
no doubt, But what more has been gained
How is il about the railroads leading to Rich
mond: 1t has been announced on official au-
thority that sixty miles of the Richmond, Dan.
vile, Petersburg and Lynchburg roads have
been destroyed, and thoroughly destroyed too
together with much valuable rebel property in
their vicinity. Without these railroads the
rebels canGet furnish supplies for their armies
in and about Richmond. And it is not at all
probable that Richmond has large store Of
provisions on hand.
But what of the recent raid into Maryland?
Is there any thing very alarming in all this ?
What is the objective point OF such rebel
movement 1t is nothing but a spasmodic eff
fort, intended, no doubt, TO impress Grant with
a fear that Washington is in danger, and to in
duce him to withdraw his forces away from
the rebel Capital where they are so trouble
some just now, to protect the Union Capital.
But Grant will not bulge one single inch in
that direction, aud we see no necessity for his
doing so at present. But If the Union CON-
mander had taken the Peninsular route to
reach his present position, Washington might
have been in danger, for Lees army would
have been in good lighting trim, and decimat-
ed as it must be now. He could have sent a
much larger force to assist in this raid upon
Maryland, and still retain formidable militia
ry power about Richmond, but Grants over
land march has been very much in the way of
such a demonstration. That McClellan's cam
paign was failure there is no doubt even in a
Copperhead's mind, but Grant is still victori-
GUS and presents bold front to the enemy.
We have confidence in this leader of our ar
mics, and believe that he has the rebellion by
the throat-a hold that Mcclellan never had,
or, II he ever had, he was too timid to keep it.
We desire and intend 10 give our readers
nothing but the facts so far as we are able to
obtain them from the mass ofnews that comes
over the wires. Our comments and specula-
tions upon these facts must be taken as hon.
estly expressed convictions of what We believe
to be true. And yet we may sometimes err,
and If so, it shall be on the side Of loyalty to
our government. We have no desire TO en-
courage hopes which are not well founded
neither do NE think it just and proper to throw
dark clouds over our prospects which facts
will not warrant. We leave such an ungrateful
task TO Copperhead journals. And their read
ers must know, unless they are thoroughly
hoodwinked by party prejudice, or what is
worse, Influenced by sympathy for the South,
that it is the almost constant habit of such pa
pers to belittle our government and magnify
the power of the rebels.
Before we close this article We will ailude
to Sherman and his noble boys who have
fought their way over long road, and driven
the rebel forces before them. 1t seems now,
from the most reliable accounts that this able
General Is master Of his situation, and that
Atlanta, upon which his eye has been fixed so
long, must soon fall before the proves of his
arms. In our survey of the whole ground
then. we see nothing to discourage the loyal
hearts Of tha country, or to paralyze its strong
arms. Mighty as tho rebellion has proved to
be, the power Of our government backed up
by the generous aud enthusiastic patriotism
OF the people, is more mighty and will prevail.