The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-07
The Army OF che Potom ac-Generaa
Grant m Route Tor WashinGton.

The Army or che Potom ac-Generai
Grant m Route for Wsshiagtoa.
The reports received Of General Klpatricks
late dashing cavalry raid to Richmond furnish
sufficient evidence, we think, TO show-hrst,
that his delicate and hazardous mission was
skiiui!y and courageously executed; secondly.
that with supporting infsntry Qplgm OF even
five thousand men from General Buffers de-
partment, seasonably on shand near Richmond,
the expedition. in all probability. would have
resulted In the most decisive and comprehen-
sive success Of all our successes Of the war;
and. thirdly, that in failing to supply this sup
porting infantry column the managers Of this
enterprise have shamefully Numbered.
The responsibility must be shared between
the President, his military board Of directors
at Washington, and the commander Of the Army
Of the Potomac. We have no doubt that from
Union prisoners escaping from Richmond and
from refugees and rebel disorders, General
Meade and the War Office, In planning this ex-
petition, ap1d upon positirs information #hicas
justified the largest anticipations of success.
But still the question recurs, why was not .
strong supporting infantry detachment sent up
the peninsula to join Fitzpatrick at the suburbs
of Richmond? II may be answered that Gen.
Butler, in consequence Of the troops he had
detailed from the peninsula for active service
in North Carolina, and around Norfolk, was
left too weak to be Of any service to Fitzpatrick,
except to cover his retreat. But why, then,
was not column Of five or ten thousand in
fantry and artillery detailed by way of the Po-
tomac and York rivers for this Richmond expe
dition from the Army of the Potomac? From
all accounts from both sides, that army can
spare five, ten or even twenty-thousand men,
and still be strong enough to hold Its ground
against Lees army under any possible contin-
gency. Surely in this matter there has been
some very stupid laundering, or some profound
secrets of strategy which ordinary mortals can
not comprehend.
From a council Of war at Washington Gene
raj Meade went to the front the other day to
execute the plans agreed upon in reference to
this Richmond adventure, and at the end Of it
the first thing we hear of General Meade is that
he is back again at Washington In consultation
with the Secretary of War. Let them alone,
and we shall probably next hear of some for
midable expedition for the capture Of Mosby,
unless, during the absence of Fitzpatrick, Jeb
Stuart should sweep around in another destruc
tive raid upon Manassas. The simple truth ap
pears to be that General Meade depends upon
the War Office for his plans and combinations,
and that the War Office is incompetent to direct
him. We are glad, therefore, to hear that
General Grant is on his way to Washington.
He comes, no doubt, in obedience to requisi-
ton from the President, and we guess that the
object of this requisiton is to secure the ad-
vice and to try the suggestions of General
Grant touching the future movements of the
Army of the Potomac. We sincerely hope aud
trust that this may prove to be the case; for we
are quite sure that the strategy and tactics of
General Grant, applied to the Army of the Po-
tomac, will soon carry it close upon the heels
or over the broken fragments Of the opposing
rebel army into Richmond. In this view we
congratulate the Aray OF the Potomac that
General Grant is on his way to Washington.