The New York herald., 1864-08-21
Th., csmp.ss. : .s "A. ,.as. t.sa n
the VALLEY.

she Valley.
Petersburg. Deep Bottom, the Shenandoah
valley, Atlanta, Dalton and Mobile are the
many points at which the war now RACES more
or less fercely. Such activity, and at so many
points, in this midsummer weathers with tropi
cal heat in the greater theatres, evinces de-
termination to lose no time in the prosecution
OF the war. Under the circumstances, that de
termination is a good one; yet we cannot
avoid tie reflection that il the determination of
the War Departm ent on some equally import
ant points had been equally good two OF
three months ago our hard worked sold els
Nigh. he taking Their ease in camp this severe
weather, and tae country be happy in the con
Gdsnoe that the rebellion had received its death
blow s #1s s.
tits said by rho1e who pretend TO know The
thoughts OF tie master rebels that the Southci9
leaders desire peace, II Is also said by tie
same persons that the army under General
Grant is exhausted, dcmoraiized and has 'ne
fight in it," and that it has lost nearly ninety
Thousand MEG since May. while that under
Gsaeral Lee has hardly suffered at all IN all
this terrible fighting, and is ready fer any ser
vice-is better than ever it was. Now, if this
account Of the two armies be true, it must be
very easy matter for Lee to destroy Grants
army; and by the destruction of that army be
might almost certainly conquer peace Yet
it will be observed that he does not assault
that horde Of ~ anleo Vandals,'' though it lies
right under his nose, desecrating the sacred
soil' of his beloved Virginia. He evidently
has very different opinion of the relative ca
pabilities Of the two armies from that enter
tanned by the Southern peace organs published
in this city. %
Lee and Grant. with their armies face to
face, have been struggling these two mo nths
for mastery hat should give one or the other
the opportunity to strike decisive blow. Lee
has at length come TO the definite conclusion
that he cannot gain that mastery in the little
theatre Of operations on the James river.
There appeared to be pretty equal balance
Of powers there. Lee had the advantage of
position; Grant very evidently that Of numbers.
Lee, relying upon tue strength OF his position,
has ventured outside movements, while Grant
has closely applied himself to such develop
ment OF the struggle as would give him the
benefit Of his advantage in numbers. He is
doing this day by day by the extension OF his
lines. II Lee attempts to keep pace with him
in this much longer, as he has done hitherto.
the rebel line will snap very badly one Of
these fine days. And Grant has another
advantage in this his Communication with
all parts Of his line is rapid and easy, while
Lees is not. Grants operations are on an
interior line. His result must come soon.
and will come the sooner because Of what is
in progress in the valley. Lee certainly can
not have more than forty thousand men on
Grants front, if he has SO maryland Grant
must know it,
Lee has certainly sent reinforcement to
Early-it is said of two divisions of Longstreet's
corps Sheridan has done infinitely better.
than any other man We have had in the valley
He did not let the interest with which he fol-
lowed Early at Strasburg distract his attention
from other points OF possible consequence, and
his force that came upon the rebel reinforce
ments near Front Royal gained very neat little
victory. With EARLY in front aud two divisions
OF another corps on his left, Sheridan of course
withdrew. He did SO in good order, aad has
concentrated his men in position alike excel
len: to move With facility toward any threat
ened point or to resist another advance down
the valley. Under such general a very small
force can do very great deal; and we need
have no great apprehension FOR the valley.