Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-07-07
GeneraISIliD.

1t is reported from Washington that
the Army Of the Potomac is once more en-
gagged in one OF those mastery movements
Of which it has made already. during tho
present campaign, three, each having as its
result the abandonment by the enemy of
the strong work behind which he had placed
himself
In this spring campaign, for almost the
first time since tho war opened, generalship
has done as much fighting, aud the com
manders OF armies have taken sbure with
the rank and fl 10 in gaining victory. Grant
and Meade in the East, and ShG}inan in the
West, have known how to meet tho obstacles
placed in their way without tho so-callcd
siege" which it was the fashion two years
ago to lay to overy rebel stronghold. Tho
rebels, thoroughly awake to their danger,
spent last winter, as We now know in con.
structing a series of defensive lines, each OF
which was as strong as the famous defences
of Richmond, while some arc stronger. If
they reckoned that every line would cost us
a four months siege, and that they could
use once moro their old device Of holding
back one part Of our line by means of for.
midable obstacles, while they concentrated
tho main part Of their forces against sin.
gle ono of our armies, they have been sadly
enlightened. Neither Grant nor Sherman
are stopped on their way what they cannot
surmount they evado; and one after the 9th.
er, Johnston as we'll as Lee, has been forced
to abandon tho intrenched works from which
evidently much was expected.
What General Grant aud Moade have
accomplished is better known than Sher-
mans operations but the latter officer has
conquered perhaps even greater difficulties,
h. t,aa o. Il
mountainous region aud very far from his
base. lie has had natural obstacles as well as
artificial TO meet; at every mountain pass he
found Johnston fortified; but he has not
baen stopped. 1t is little curious that the
manner Of his operations has been much
tho same as that practised under Grants
own eyes in Virginia. He has executed a
series OF flank movements to the left, each
OF which drove his Opponent from posi-.
ton he considered impregnable.
But ono Of these movements had some.
thing peculiar about it. Sherman had been
obliged by tho nature Of the country, TO
leave the railroad, and It was his object TO
regain II, as it was Johnson's to prevent
him. To accomplish that purpose Sher-
man at first extended his line to the left.
but Johnston met this promptly by q similar
extension. Then Sherman quickly moved
a heavy body to the left, which forced its
way southwark, and having thus altered the
direction Of his lines, he continued to move
to the Southeast instead Of 10 the East, till
he had not only regained the railroad, but
driven Johston considerable distance to
tho South.
What effect the style in which our armies
are handled has upon intelligent, capable
observers in Europe, may be seen by the
following extract from letter just received
by US fom private correspondent abroad,
who says: ut seems as il at last the bra.
very and determination Of your people are
finding military, expression. Hitherto you
have been dashing and thrashing about ike
a hen with her head cut of, to no purrose
but to bleed more freely. Grant spends
blood freely; but he has something TO show
for it, which Is moro thancan be said ofany
previous Commanderin'Ch Chief Of Yours. ~
New York Post.