Washington telegraph., 1864-07-20
sbington GeIegrapFr.
JOHN X. EAkIN. ED,Top


ii0N more tnan that-we are exuItant. Our
leafs have all been dissipated. Even our hopes
nave been exceeded. True, we cannot yet know
'he future with certainty and are at all times
prepared to meet aad bear up under reverses;
but the progress OF the campaign, so far, in all
parts OF the South, has given us firmer co1.fi-
denSe IN our powers of resistance, and the gra-
dGa! (nay, rapidJ decline of the means and en-
efgies of our enemy. and we are now well as
sured that they will fail in this, which we feel
must be- their last grand effort We are wealth
ering the fercest OF the storm, and We can per-
cciye that it is abatirg There may be otAel
bursts OF it. We appgehend one, indeed, in this
department, but they will grow gradually weak
er. If peace does not follow the events of this
summer, we may at least confidently predict
that hos;ilities viii dwindIs into petty contests
along the border and before our seaports if
indeed, may moi be able to carry our vjcto-
rious armies into the heart of their lard. A
srate Of war may linger on, but the hard fgh;-
ing viii be over.
t)nr success has been truly brilliant Grant
has now been two months, with one of the
largest and bcst-appointed armies of veterans
ever known to the world, endsavoring to wrest
ihchmond from our grasp. From the battles of
the Wilderness to the last assault upon Peters
burg he was batfled at every effort, with terri
bic loss, and eibowcd around in half circle il,
MS vain effort to pierce our lines of defence.
He can 90 10 further. After the loss Of not
less We think, than l20. .0C0 men. he finds him
self just where he might have begun without
the loss OF q man. The accounts Of his present
position are somewhat uncertain, but the proba-
hluty IS that the latest dates leave linn still
threatening Petersburg, after a foolish piece Of
bTavado demanding its surrender He did not
choose this approach to Richmond. He las
baen driven to attempt it now with an arnnv one
third depleted when he might have begun it
with ali his original force. He las not fought
his way TO his present position. He has bgen
IN manner kicked to it, away from his tavorite
approaches. Having lost much in irving them.
ne now trieS this as his third or fourth after
thought. There is no reasonable probability OF
his Success
As for Sherman. never had any fears that
he could take andhold Atlanta permanently
Now we feel sure he cannot take it at all John
ston has practiccd upon him the wisest policy
that could have been conceived. He has cradn-
ally Withdrawn before MIN, watching every on
portunlty of intcting stunning blow, and
never iallng Wherever he has offered battle
he has punished and weakened him. and still
continued to draw him further aw.v from his
base. 1t viii ruin any army on the face of the
earth. No Resources so great us to be able to
stand It, Soon his rear will be infested by gu
erriilas and organized armies OF cavalry from
Nashville TO his present position, and he must
Withdraw his army or lose il. The battle of the
9Th was grand repuse. AL the line of both
armies was fully engaged. and they confess that
they were rFPused with heavy losses at every
point. They had not one CLEAN of Success Ii
Is now to be hoped even that their despair may
not come too quickly, and that Sherman may
not ahandon Georgia and hurry his troops 10
assist III the siegt of Richmond But, in that
Gaze, too, Johnston could get there first II
t-s4nl,o tigers in Georgia, his army will be
lost. We hope he will PERSIST. Forests vic
tories in the west have cut off his hopes of rein
forcements, and more and more endangered his
rear.
that by way Of LynchJurg and the valley Of
Firginia--has been signally defeated a;id brough
to an end. Hunter, with his broken and routed
forces, has icd near two hundred miles across
the mountains Gas it seems by the map), and is
now laT away at Gauley upon the kanawha, out
of tht way of danger. The whole valley has
teen left open TO US, and large Confederate
army corps has poured down the Shenandoah
upon Vhe Potomac, seized Harpcr's Ferry GER
tainly, and probably Hagerstown, in Maryland,
and has carried consternation to the peopl, Of
Pennsylvania. We regard this as a singular
turn OF fortune, and We have the utmost conf
dence that it wisely planned. Our rtaders
must not expec' US, however, to hold that coun-
Try permanently. That would cause disappoint-
ment. Whatever object has been CONTEMPLATED
by the movement las been already aceonp !isIlsd.
perhaps, and in course of time CUR army viii
retire again. But it is more glorious from tb.
evidence which it affords of Lees confidence in
the defence of Richmond. In the face of Grants 5
most violent efforts he can cooly spare an armv
corps for the invasion of Pennsylvania.
In this department, Fagan's, Ma,maduke's
and sheiby's commands are taking and holding
the Mississippi Arkansas and White rivers.
There is every reason to hope that Gen. Steele
Will be SO much worried, harrassed and cut OF
as TO be obliged to abandonAshe State if even he
can save his army.
We have lost the Alabama at sea. We have
not tear TO shed for that. She goes down with
our hu5zas! We knew she was not immortal.
Priyatcers expected to be lost at last in their
many chapters of accidents. She has paid for
herself hundred fold. She has alone ain, st
swept the seas clear of Federal commerce in
Federal bottoms. 1t is wonder that she has
lasted 50 long and done SO much. So when her
end has come, think of the sum tot of her
glorious career, and salute her for the last time
with cheers. We still have Semmes and hi
crew Their spirits can give life and glory to
other masses of wood and iron, as they lid to
the Alabama. Our loss in her is just SO many y
dollars and cents, merchantablo value OF the
vessel, and that is a trife
50 we salute our readers in this number with