The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-11
Russell on the Situation.
T From the London Amy and Navy Gazette, Ju

IL, 1861
Lieutenant-General Ulysses Grant seems to us to
be III what he would most probably term, in his own
nervous dction, "a very tight place" 1t is quite
that III his present position he must give much
anxiety to the enemy, and that he 1nenaCes the Con-
fccrate capital with greater danger than any the
tenacious and valiant SOutherners have vet had to
encounter from Federal foe but it is scarcely pos
sble that he can retain that position under the fire
ot the July and August sun and as yet any attempt
10 improve II 10y advancing has not been attended
with sIng Iort.- A. 4 line Il lcush with
out breadth, and circle is bounded by lire,
General Glant may MAINTAIN that he Iva not de-
parted tom his pledge 10 fight out the possession OF
Richmond ION this line" 10y moving round the capt.
tai, but 1t Is difficult to perceive what advantage hc
has gained b.. approaching it from tIie eoath
side if he fails III his purpose OF cutting the Conf,l
crate communications. That the combination on
which he relied for that purpose has signay failed
cannot be doubted Hunter may have done damage
to the western lines, bnt he has suffered dearly for
his interference, and the injury was speedily re-
paired.
The cavalry, in which the Fo1erals seem to have
established decided P,eponderance, have failed 10
effect permanent destruction and an attempt made
by an expedition under Wilson to break up the hue
between Richmond, via Petersburg -and Weldon,
must have ended badly, II 1t be- true that the Com
fed. rates intercepted the hJrStmen and forced Meade
to march whole corps aud division to their as
sistnce, with results yet unknown to US Sheridan,
from whom good deal was expected, has not TUNED
out to be ZcidlitZ, MuIat, Paget. He
N.tt very fu"bl" effort TO reach Hunter, and
he has siHce lost told, one thousand men III
SCaVcr across the Peninsula, -oUth uf richmond,
with the view Of getting his corps th2 James
river 10 iii the cavalry force belonging to GIANTS
amy The next great Federal army, or which the
hopes OF the North have SO long been fixed, promises
10 become q source of fearful anxiety. sherman If
retreatng, Is certainly not advancing and IL
| the COniedeJates interfere seriously with his
| communications, he must fall back as he has
| eaten up all the supplies of the district.
At Charleston all is quiet, and Mobile has ceased
TO care for FarTaguts iotia. The blockade cannot
keep out arms supplies and special correspondents,
or keep III cotton in the Sonth On every point OF
the ragged circle which the Feierals seek to pene-
trate, they encountered by sklfu, resoute and
successful opponents. All the enormous advantages
possessed by the Federals have been nul6ed by
want OF skill, by the interference of Washington
civilians, and by the absence of anmating homo
geneous spirit the part OF their soldIery. Some
fight for pay, others because they can't help ii
fight for the Union, others for abolition;
for confiscated lana, others because they dislike
slavC-OWning aflSOcraCy. Every Suutherner fights
because, cUIsCript though he be- he hates his enemy
and IS striking for the principle of State rights which
converts the land OF his birthplace into fatherand
for him against all the world. Who be native
of Union A native OF Georgia or Virginia has
something tangible to point to when he Is asked
where is his country. If the Union destroyed
formally tomorrow We believe II has been prac-
tlCally long ago. the man of Maine Ohio could go
back to his home, not much damaged i'll any way,
except III certain windy pride, and in the happi-
ness derived from the contemplation of excessive
| size, which rendered him disa2reeable companion
| TO the rest OF the world
| New York, indeed, would lose some trade, ant
| tariffs would he modified Ill States but thelt
| .. mischief would cease. Far otherwise would i
be with Georgia Virginia If the South wel,
crushed he would become an outeast, pariah, til,
scorn OF bitter enemies Therefore, the Southerner
fight to the death against the invading REVOLUTIONARY
North and all their hordes, sustained by such spir
rs would have animated the people of England hac
| the First Consul thrown himself their shores a
| the head Of Il Republican and Jacobu army That
ali things considered the North had the elements o
military superiority 10 such extent as justified al
impartial observer in predicting they would obtain
possession of the principal strategic points, the ports
arsenas large cities, railway teiinini and rivers i'll
the South, cannot reasonably be denied. 1t is true
they very far from the attainment Of their object
now, after all their LOSSES in money and men MOI
| does il look il Grant going to achieve it
Even if Itichnond fell the South would fight long
and desperately. But Petersburg bars the way, and
Grant Il s1il sitting IN front of the Confederate
| earthworks whiting sticks, is his won't filling
the hospitals with the living and fttening the rank
soil with his dead.