The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-20

Of Richmond and Atlanta. The accomplishment
Of this, IN each case, is attended with peculiar
difficulties, and also peculiar faCilites. In the
care Of Richmond there is an embarrassing ne.
cessty Of operating az 10 give the Rebel com
mander no opportunity 70 detach sufficient
force 20 obtain possession Of Baltimore and
Washington. But on the other hand is the ad-
vantage OF direct water communication TO the
base OF aggressive operations.
IL is not possible for the Rebels TO interfere In
any degree With the regular supplies Of General
Irant army. Again, an advanced position south
OF petersburg has already been secured, from
which the Rebels have no power to dislidge us
a position which will alike serve General Grant
eiher as point d0pDW for a combination OF
aCuNe aggressive movements in full force, or az a
secure socket for the cavalry arm in operating
against the two railroads upon which alone Lees
army has now to depend for the conveyance Of
its supplies
In t6e case Of Atlanta, our army has the pccu-
liar disadvantage of being Obliged 30 protect It's
own extended line Of suppes--a line Of not less
than one hundred and twenty miles TO Chattn-
noOga, its secondary base, and running throI Igh a
country Of thick forests, and OF inuumerable de-
files, which give great facilities for secret and
sudden attack. But on the other hand General
sherman, after weeks of splendid strategy and
fighting, has succeeded In bringing bis army iu
position close upon Atlanta, and the conforma-
On Of the ground in its vicinity Is such a. 10 ad-
nit of no effective terrifying. II General Sher-
man can keep his line Of supply clear, he will %
all appearance, soon be able either TO take Atlanta
by direct assault, or TO turn IT, as he has so many
other stronger positions, and compel is eyacua-
ton.
Ii this be a correct view Of the present milf
tary situation, it is evident that to guarantee
success, more men are needed in both of our
armies, General Grant needs them to prevent a
repetition Of such Rebel movements into Mary
land as that which has Just occurred, which
might have wrought, though il did not, pro-
digious harm General Sherman needs them to
protect his line Of communications, the Interrupt
u afaN Ir,pa afg,N
oblige him to retreat and might even produce
the destruction Of his army. II is not necessary
that veteran troops should be used to any great
extent for either of these purposes.
Properly oficered, and with proper protective
works at the right positions, the greater part Of
the force necessary to hold the valley of the
Shenandoah in Northern Virginia and the line of
the railroad in Northern Georgia. might as well
consist Of short-term recruits. We're they suth-
ciently numerous, no such thorough discipline
would be necessary for their defensive work, as
Is requisite when one of the grand armies Is
ptted in the broad field against the other.
As a fixed military policy, short terms of SER
vice are not advantageous, but perhaps in the
management of this war, thus far, mistake has
been committed in confniug enlistments too
much to the long period of three years. The
great difficulty OF obtaining recruits in sufficient
numbers has come from this cause. Tens of
thousands, we believe, in fact, hundreds of thou
sands, would promptly enough have volunteered
Tor six months, or even nine or twelve months,
WHO lClt IL 100 great saCTlnCe 10 leaVC their
business and their families for three years
Had they been called upon for the short period,
they would have relieved the veterans of vast
deal of work and care, exterior to the main cam
paign lines, aud have greatly promoted cOncen.
Tation. As u reserve, too, they could have done
effective fighting. There is good reason to believe
that Gettysburg, the most momentous battle that
has yet been fought, might have been lost to us had
IL not been for the numbers of nine mouths men
who were among the Combatanls; and the West
ern hundred days men now in General Sher-
mans advance, have been warmly cOmplimented
by the old general officers for the yigJr aud etf-
cheney of their assaults.
Under the terrible baptism of fire aud blood,
the American, however inexperienced quickly
becomes good soldier. Three years enlistments
ought ~ be kept up with an activity sufficient to
make good to the veteran regiments the heavy
losses which they have sustained since the present
campaign opened, and to till the places of those
whose terms are expiring. Beyond that, we be-
lieye that all effort should be confined TO the
raising of men for more limited periods.
Probably It IS not too much to say that ii
would be easier TO procure four or five men for
twelve months service than one for three years
service Inasmuch as one of the former is about
as good as the latter for guard duty and many
other sorts of service, secondary and yet none
the less necessary, the enlisting for short terms,
to meet the new call, will serve every practical
purpose of the Government, and at the same
time enable every State, we trust, to make up its
quota by volunteering, instead of the compulsory
draft