The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-07-13
THE STU gAE'EON.


When, two months ago, Gen. Grant
started on his campaign against Rich
moud, small cooperating force under
Gen. Sigel was sent up the valley of the
Shenandoah, toward Staunion, situated
near the head of that valley, very near the
geographical center Of Virginia as she was
in 1860. Gen. Sigel was soon confronted
by superior Rebel force, defeated and
thrown back. Gen. Hunter now super
seeded him in command; while most of
the Rebels who had defeated Sigel were
dispatched to the aid of Lee, then sharply
pressed by Grant. Gen. Hunters column
once more advanced, routed the Rebels
who opposed them, killing their leader,
Gen. Sam Jones, and capturing Staunton
and Lexington. Had Gen. II. pushed
vigorously, rapidly forward, he might
probably have taken Lynchburg, situated
on the James River and Canal and the
Tennessee Railroad, and principal Rebel
depot of provisions and munitions. But
Gen Hunter advanced so slowly that
Rebel division under Eweil, detached from
Lees army reached Lynchburg just before
our force did, repulsug Hunters attack,
and rendering the capture cf Lyncbburg
hopeless. Hunter now retrea;ed west
ward into the valley Of the Kanawha, in.
stead Of mort Inward into that of the She
nandoah, and left the triumphant Rebels
free to move into and down the latter val
ley uGopposed They did so, apparently
unobserved on our part, and were never
even heard of until they were close upon
Gen. Sigel at Martinsburg on the Poto-
mac, compelling him to retreat hastily,
burning a part Of his stores. Hunters
army being far away, any present trouble
from that quarter was out of the question.
The Rebels-say $4,000 to 10000
pushed across into Maryland, and after
threatening Pennsylvania from Hagers-
town, turned short to the right, and cap
tured Frederick, driving thence hastily
collected Union force under Gen Wal
lace, who on Saturday fought them nearly
all day at the crossing Of the Monocacy,
but was ultimately defeated with heavy
loss and driven back on the road toward
BaItimore-but not into that city, as some
of the panic makers tried to make out.
If ihe Rebels make any serious attempt
on either Baltimore or Washington. we
shall be greatly mistaken. We fear they
will all be south of the Potomac within
three days-too soon to let the Union
forces now gathering to fight them, get
sight of their flying coat-taiIs. This is
no serious demonstration, but piundcr-
ing raid, and, we regret to say, likely, be-
cause Of the shameful lack of Militia or
gauization in all the loyal States, to prove
highly successful. Within the last week,
enough able bodied men ran away from
Western Maryland and Southern Penn
sylvanja to have captured and Gagged ey-
cry Rebel who has crossed the Potomac.
MARYLAND, with not less than One Hun
dred Men able to do Military duty has
not Ten Thousand Whites in the Union
armies, and had not One Thousand Mill
tia in the battle of Saturday, which may
have decided the fate of her metropolis.
We trust that metropolis will erect an
other Monument to Maryland valor after
this War is over; but the deeds of hero
ism that are to glorify it are yet in the
future. Let US hope that the present
week will witness some of them. Iri-
bune, July IL.
The National Loan of rs 100000, was