The New York herald., 1864-10-21

se> sned 20 relinquish portion Of what he
| had mn. Richmond sditofv fslt the ssms
ssSpriSs,, but AZ ss,Snnesd iht ,%o ,%oySmsat q
sneSsdsn's, sQt copiSs g . letrsas, and Is
the ressls Of soms victory Of which they
bad never received ths' aews, though they
clearly saw tEo result. b. skeridan's retro
gsds movement had dssfA' significance.
General Grant was probably Of o. Union that
Sheridan could render moro effective service
elsewhere than in the upper valley. b henco
arrangements seem to have been made to s0>i-
ply Sheridan by the Alexandra and Manassas
Gap Railroad and to establish base for opera
tions on the north of Richmond, and Sheridan
consequently withdrew from the scene Of his
great victories to transfer his forces to the east
of the Blue Ridge and strike the rebellion in
moro vital place than tho upper valley
appeared to be. Some delays were inevitable,
for before Sheridan re!inoushed tho valley to
operate, say from tho Rapidan, it was neccs-
sary to fortify some points in the valley sufIi-
ciently to prevent another rebel promenade
to the Potomac; bGt the plan appears to nave
been carried on with all possible rapidity.
Les knew that the railroads for the supply
Of Sheridan from Alexandria were being put
in order, and he knew that Sheridan, who was
evidently leaving the valley, had not been
forced out OF 1t. He undoubtedly saw Grants
purpose, and saw how necessary it was to
strike o blow soon in the hope TO break up
his plan. LongsLeet, as more reliable than
fGfly, was put in the valley, and apparently
with twelve thousand new meu. How much
was left Of EaTly's army it is impossible to
say; but tho whole army was reorganized and
newly supplied with artillery. Six days ago
tie Strasburg people declared that Long
streets force was the largest they bad ever
seen in the valley. Undoubtedly Lee had
made an extracrdinary effort, and lent ali his
disposable power to achieve success that
should turn the tide in his favor. At the same
time he gave out in the army at Petersburg
that great blow was soon to be given to the
Yankees. He may have glanced at Hood, he
may have glanced at Longstreet, but he felt
certain that one or the other would bear out
his promise.
General Longstreet with an army nowly
organized, newly supplied aud in good
spirits, followed sheridan'S retiring steps With
commandable caution, and on the 14th in
slant Sheridan's army aud Longstreet's
army were, in military parlance, face to
face. That is, Lcngstreet on Friday last was
concentrated at Fishers H;ll south Of Stras-
burg, with skirmislers in the town; and Sheri-
dan on the came day WAS concentrated on
Cedar creek, with skirrliEhers towards Stras-
burg, and with his left flank apparently on the
Shenandoah river. Sheridan knew that Long.
streets whole force was in front; but Long
street appears to have thought that good
part Of Sheridan's force vas already east Of
the mountains, and that he had before him
only one or at most two corps. He therefore
supposed that he had an easy victory in the
valley, and perhaps a second easy victory east
Of the mountains. Ills error must finally be
fatal to all rebel attempts to interfere with
Sheridan, whether east Of tho mountains or in
the valley. II is not possible that Lee can any
longer supply the terrible drain that these valley
campaigns make upon his forces; and bis last
immense effort to destroy Sheridan ard prevent
the danger that menaces Richmond on the
nortb, has met with most disas .rous failure.
Can ho make another?