Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-07-21

each case terrible defeat Now, however, they have
given us defeat and rolreated safely
From the Chicago Tribune.
correspondent writes To that the whole country
will rejoice that Washington is safe" SO far
coacerded-and speak not only for the Tribune. but
other peopwe beg to DO tbought not disposed to
lot on any rockets or 10 give way TO pecal hlary
that account We 90 not intend to cherish any unpat
otto feeling to be thought carele of the dshoDor
the sa0n would suffer by tho loss of s capital aud tho
scattering of lis Government but do confess to temp
taton to great Indifference as TO that city called Washing
ton. Wedo feel however, avery poignant griefa to
The pigs turkeys hens horses steers shoes and
oeres the rebels have out Of Maryland 1t
the heart the should have gotten such booty
their raid. Wha be sympathy fer those who have
pst these things it matter OF profound that
Lees army will taste beef and pork his cavalry
will get horses, aud the Rchmondtes will have
lease OF life for two months Over that we grieve.
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
We suppose the intelligent public is by this time able to
estimate the performances Of the troops in the Val
ley of Virginia and the Upper Pc omao by what could
nave reasonably been OF such force expected and apply
correctly the for aurei there shall be any to be
appied-Which has hitherto been being based
chiuerca idea Of the general plans Ii could not
have been expected that the troops under Spes conn
mand TO form column to join Grant in HIS march
upon Richmond, or to form cooperative movement in
any way except by rapid raids upon the enemys
ncati0ns falling back whenever threatened by superior
force which the rebels from their central pos on could
attack at any time except when general action mm-
nent
If any thing more an this was expected of force Of
such dim nsons, operating line toward the enemy's
base and isolated from the support of main body it
ecation not credabe TO the military judgment
or common sense of those who entertained it.
Sge attacked by Breckenridge with superior force
and driven back Had he fallen upon Crook Aver or
both combined they would have met the fate. These
three divisions combined operation to destroy
mnncations As the enemy were in force in the valley
sufficient To beat either OF them and perhaps all three
if they had been together one had to sacrificed for the
a
ment achieved by ALL and the dscredit of the defeat
onef it discredt to be beaten by superior force
belonged equally to all
Crook and Averi made their raid on the railroads ana
reiterated to West Virginia. Sgel driven north The
valley temporarily clear of any threatening movement
and Breckenridge Joined Lee with bis forces, leaving the
protection of the country chiefly to the local militia and
home guards
Sige was superseded by Hunter, who marched vgor-
ousy forward and captured Situation He joined by
Crook and Ayer. and they marched on Lynchburg. 1t
probable that bat for delay he might have entered that
place and held it long enough for destructive purposes
But the very night that he lay before it heavy reinforce
ments from Richmcnd reached it by railroad. In the
time he became OF heavy force marching
north in the valley that he found it necessary to retreat BY
way Of the Gauley.
Thus the valley left entirely open to the Potomac
and into Maryland and Virginia. Sge having bat small
force at MaItnsburg, whc would have been captured If
bad not anticipated the march OF The enemys main
| lumn
1t is generally known-the Secretary of War has taken
care that all should know it-ihat the Upper Potomac
Maryland Baltimore and Washington have been stripped
Of regular troops 10 Grants army the James
and that their places have been suppledas far sup
pled-wth militia and hundred day drafted men. There
fore of tho commanders 10 Maryland Pennsylvania
the Uppe! Potomac, nor all combined, had force
fit to take the field against invading column Of ten
twenty thousand troops therefore all denuncaton of them
because they Id not ia senseless.
They might by combining all their troops have had
enough to take strong natural positions and hold them
the defensive by Of entertainments But the rebel
advance consisted of parties of cavalry spreading out
the country gathering in cattle and other supplies evyng
upon the towps and rsvsgtg and burning La advance it
beittled by the headoDg censorship into in
/ significant raid, and it mperatvely demanded why
mbece Generals did not pounce upon it and sweep
/ from the face of the earth
We know not how far the military authorities at Wash
ngon participated in this ase diagnosis of this invasion.
But General could withstand this pressure and choose
the line of prudent defence Raw militia and hundred day
men, drawn from their homes for the temporary holding
of Notifications, hurried into the field before
brigsded upacquainted with their field officers, and
pabe of maneuVe to meet superior force of veterans
from Lees army Many of the flower of the young men
of Ohio thus sacrificed, and know not to whom
Their friends can more justly charge their blood than to the
reckless newspapers who howed 10 on.
We have not TO Learn in this fourth year of the that
while the Shenandoah Valley is unguarded by adequate
force, the way Maryland Pennsyvan Baltimore, and
Washington is open to the enemy We have that too
often before to need this repetition to teach as.
In these remarks we have opinion to express ST.
gels capacity a General He thorough military
education That system held an nfaibe quaif.
cation for rsship We place confidence in IT, He
is thoroughly acquainted with the practical details of
army but as to his capacity general it is not
| sary Tor us to express ANY opinion.
The President appointed him to a command in the val
ley from fsnced political necesstyto conciate the
Germans who supposed to be growing disafeced
toward him. We know of such necessity, and believe
that tho safety Of the country should not be sked for the
sske of party trimming Gen. Haeck believes S;ge ut
ery incompetent and refuses to treat him with cvity in
their official intercourse Its said that Gen Grant has the
opinion of Sigeis capacity Under such conditions
the appointment ought not to have been made. The
tbores would naturally embrace the first to get
lid Of HIM 1t is bad policy to have such occasion de-
sired when the parties who desire it do much to
bring it about
II gel fit man to be appointed, bis being driven
back by Brecknrldges superior force for
removing him. His removal before the authorities at
Washington knew any thing about the force he had met
the conditions Of the fight the of the two de-
tachments which had been attained through his exposure
shows how eagerly they sought the opportunity But,
have said, these forces at that time accompl shed all
that could reasonably be expected them Perhaps under
Hunter they somewhat short of it, but not far
Nothing decisive OF The campaign could have been
ably expected Of such force, and the glory blame Of
its result must accrue to higher responsibility.