The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1864-07-08


written concerning this campaign ageipst
Richmond chapter to the text OF which
the recent remarks of Senator Wilson in
the Senate furnish "a most startling com
meptNry Viewed in its proper light, ana
With the explanations furnished by this
commentary, il is seen that the whole
compaign thus far has been q succession
81 failures and Of abandoned plans--of
plans abandoned, too only after success
sive attempts to carry them out had cost
us the lives of 10000 soldiers. Some Of
these abandoned plans have heretofore
alluded to. have now 10 speak Of the
latest two.
THE lrst OF these was that which Gen.
Grant had in view when he made the
three days attack on Coal IIarbor, on the
three first days OF June. Thiswas to gain
possession Of the roads leading from
Gaines mill across the Chickahominy at
Woodbury's bridge, to the james river
at Turkey Bend, by way OF wage station
and the western end OF the White Oak
Swamp. These were the roads which
Gen. McClellan took in his movement TO
the James river They are hard and dry.
and in excellent order, and the distance
from the Chickahominy to the Jamos riv-
en- by these roads, is only ten miles
This plan failed in consequence of the
firmness with which the rebel army main
tanned their position on the ridge be-
tween Coal Harbor and the Chickahomi.
ny; and, after sacrificing $4,000 men,
Grant abandoned this plan, and on the
7th of June, began to carry into execu-
ton another. This was. to cross the
Chickahominy at Bottoms, bridge, and
to move to the James river BY way Of the
White Oak bridge, lat the eastern end Of
the White Oak Swamp and the Quaker
road. This would also take him over part Of
the roads used by Mcclellan, and would
give him, besides, the splendid posi-
ton Of Malvern Hill. The preparations
for this movement were all made by the
18th Of June, and the railroad between
the White House and the Chickahominy
had been entirely destroyed, when il was
found, at the last moment, that the move
ment was impracticable. Gen. Lee had
penetrated the design, and had taken
measures to defeat it. and he did defeat
it. The first detachments of our army
that reached the Chickahominy at Bet
toms Bridge found themselves confront
ed there by superior rebel force who
held the south hank. As early AS the
10th Of June all the rebel troops ad be, n
withdrawn from The north side OF that
stream. On the l1th hey began TO move
on the White Oak Swamp roads towards
the James River; and on the 10Th the dis
position Of the rebel army was as follows:
1t was facing towards the east. The left
wing was holding the tete da poat at Bot
toms Bridge, and the newly constructed
nm ., frh
body was holding the White Oak Swamp
roads, and the Charles City road. IIilrs
corps, constituting the right wing, was
road, with his cavalry pushed out towards
Malvern Hill on the right, and towards
the white Oak Bridge lover the White
Oak Creek on the lett. Gen. Grant be-
come aware of this formation just as he
was about to give the order 70 march
With the enemy in that position. IL would
be impossible to begin the movement
from Bottoms Bridge. The order was
given, therefore, to move down on the
north side Of tho Chickahominy. and to
cross at points lower down, IL Hancock
and Warran's corps at the Long Bridge,
Wright's and Burnsides corrsaG Jones'
Bridge. After the crossing had been
effected, hover, 10th to abandon his
plan while there is the least possibility of
its success, Gen. Grant caused reconnois-
sarce IN ftrce to be mqdc from the Long
B.lurt Westward ioNnd llr t'i,sfieF a't3
road fpot towards Charles city; the no.
Of this partof Virginia is even
more scnseless and absurd than that of
he streets Of this city The result Of
his reconnaissance was, that the rebel |
army was found TO be in the positions I |
rave designated. AT the point where the
New Market road, the Quaker road, and
he Charles City road como together, the
'ehels were found to be in such strong
orce, and tho position itself afforded
hem UGH advantages, that it was seen at
,nce that it would require the whole
trengtll Of the army to dislodgc them.
md as they thus held the head Of the
it would have been mpos
ible fer the army to have reached Mel
ern Hill or Turkey Rend without battle
hat might have proved fatal to the cam
aigr.
In consequence Of this state Of things,
len. Grant abandoned his plan also,
arned the heads Of his columns towards
he southeast, and marched to the james
liver by way Of Charles City, striking the
yer at Wilcox's Wharf, seven miles
Glow lTarrison's Landing. Thus Gen.
ee's man@uvres bad been successful in !
Citing Grants plans on these two occa-
ons, as he had done before when the |
liter had tried 10 force his way TO the 2
outh Anna, and when he had tried to :
'rcs the rebel position at SpottsYlvania. :
know that the country is expected to !,
B very joyful over the fact that Grants q
oyements to the James River was effect
| without serious molestation, and that :,
S army is now at last on the right road :
Richmond In regard TO that have =
lly to say that il remains to be seen y
neither or not he is on tho right road :
ID that there is deep significance in o.
e fact that hewas permitted to make &
e movement TO the james River with y
I serious molestation. ie
Gen. Lee made no opposition 10 Grants -
oyeinent when the latter abandoned =.
E attempt to force the position at Spott- =
tania, aud marched his army to the
nth Anna. But Gen. Grant found Tie
ole strength OF the rebel army thereto Ju
,eige him, and he found. when he had L
I over 3, 900 men in forcing the passage as'
the North Anna, that many lives were
I.nN