The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-07-29
Gen. Grant and the Invasion.


The New York E,cning Post has the .
following timely article in regard to
the rebel invasion, which is entitled /
"An Old Stratagem Tried Again"
More than ten days ago, as we know
on the best authority, Gen. Grant in
formed the War Department of the
fact that certain troops had been sent |
by Lee into the Valley, with orders to
cross the Potomac and do what dam |
age they could in Pennsylvania and
Maryland. Grant informed the Secre- |
tary of War of Lees directions and IN
tentions, told him what force to expect,
and showed, in short, that he knew
what was going on. AT the same time
he made all the necessary preparations
to meet the plans Of the rebels.
He did not, however, attempt to
guard every foot of railroad near the
Potomac; he did not line that river
with troops, so as to prevent the cross
ing of rebel troopers; he did not break
up his own plans to counteract those
of Lee; if he had, he would have done
precisely what Lee wanted. No;
Grant left something for the soldiers
in garrison and the militia of the Free
States to do; ,he threw upon the citi-
zens the burden of defending their
property against the scattered and
weak bands which he knew could east
~ be driven off by few resolute men.
Ten rebels burned the house of Gov.
Bradford fourteen destroyed the rail
road at Cockeysville; two hundred
seized the ears at Magnolia; and bands
of from four or five to twenty appear
in different parts of the country, rob
farmers, burn bridges, and ride away
on the best horses they can find.
Meantime this attempt at diversion
by the rebels probably reminds Gen.
Grant of a very similar affair which oc
Cured while he was besieging Vicks
burg last year. The rebels suddenly
appeared i'll apparently considerable
numbers at many points i'll the country
about Corinth, and instantly the rebel
newspapers, and their abettors in the
North, began to show that it was all
up with Grants army.
An immense force was moving
against Memphis; this point was to be
captured, the Mississippi closed above,
supplies stopped, and poor Grant
forced to surrender The plot really
looked promising; and many persons
began to have fears for our army be-
hind Vicksburg. The rebel forces in
the meantime burned some stores, de-
stroyed some miles of railroad, ran
hither and thither i'll small bands as
they are doing now, creating good
deal of excitement amongst post com
manders, who had to lie awake nights
in fear of an attack, or had to chase
for days a force which they could never
find, and presently the excitement died
away the tremendous rebel host was
found to be a myth, the attempt ON
Memphis was discovered to be rather
an attempt upon Grants credulity-
and very foolish failure at that-and
when Johnston discovered that he
could neither whip Grant nor scare
him, he left pemberton to his fate, ano
Yicksburg fell.
For, remember, no threat sufficed t.
make Grant bulge from his post. H,
lay quietly before Yicksburg as now HI
. does before Petersburg, and paid II,
attention to the demonstration o
Johnston, the foolish boasts of tn
rebel journals and the promises o
: Davis What happened last year is re
t peating itself now. Once more Gran
is threatened; once more the rebel
play their favorite game of bluff; bu
Grant, who knows what they are doing
, and what they can do, and what the
| cannot do, quietly pursues the task h
has set his army. He appears to be a
g completely satisfied with his situation
t now as when he was before Vicksbure
= 1t may be true, as rebel sympathizer
5 hint, that he has done just what lie
e wanted, that he is just where lie
e wants him to be, that Lee will pres
entity show his cards and take tn
game; but until he does, we shal
= maintain our confidence III Grant; fol
/. however it may end the movemer
= against Lee is accompanied by precise
+ ly the same phenomena which sigma
e lied that against Pemberton last yea