Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-06-10
THE EVENING STAR.
Yse Richnsnd Csmyaisp- Grant an
From the London Times, May sA.l

From the London Times, May aA]
Our recent anticipations Of an Important
campaign in Virginia have been confirmed by
culinary battles which have signalized even
this age of war. From the 9Th 80 the 10th of
ne present month two great armies were In
sessantly engaged In conflicts so fierce a. to
surpass In carnage all former encounters on
TIE same ground, and yetso indecisive - to
render il difficult to say ct the pressn. moment
to which side the balance Of sn1cess inclines.
vas mot Sa the s.s 81 Friday the
Grant was pressing him. Then the Federal
commander advanced and fell upon the entire
front OF the Confederate line with an onslaught
a. straight, as iInpetuous, and as stubborn as
that of lilly on the Swedes at Leipsic. Like
TiIly, however, he was repulsed with dread
full loss, nor could he by repeated assaults sue.
coed in changing the fortunes Of the day. So
manifest, indeed, had been his failure that in
the afternoon Lee discerned the opportunity
Of assuming the aggressive himself, and I'D.
vanced in his turn upon the federals, but with
out any N aterial success till night was closing
in, " hen he turned the right OF Grants army
and drove it back upon the center with s loss of
nearly 1000 men. That the advantage at this
time rested rather with the Confederaees than
with the Federsls is not denied, but nevertne-
less, on the night Of the 9th Lee retired once
ns AID TOOK up h a. It's iva
hour In following him, and, after some sharp
skirmishipg on Saturday, he again assailed the
G Sg win , nnmisga,ea fSsg on sun
All through Monday, and apparently all
through Tuesday, the battle ragged with little
inttrmiss sion bat what the darkness OF night
ard physical exhaustion imposed upon the
G en- batants. Still, however, there was no de-
fisfTe result. When the last dispatches left
Are field Lee still retained his position, and
was said 70 have been reinforced, while the
aggregate losses of the Federals up to the eve
ming of Tuesday Were reckoned, In killed,
wounded and missing, at forty thousand. AT
this critical point we are left in suspense to
wait in suspense for fresh intelligence. Never
did American mail bring more important in
formation than may be looked for by the next
arrival. On the side of the North, 1t must be
owned that the expectations entertained OF
Grants prowess have received more confr
nation than has usually attended the sang uine
calculations of the Federals. If he has not
achieved absolute success. he has bid for it
more desperately and approached it more
nearly than any of his predecessors in COM
mand. He has fully justified his reputation
tor dogged and uncomfortable tenacity.
After once breaking up from his camp he has
marched straight on, fncessdntty closing Nth his
ddrersary, alpays Offering battle, nerer decliaing
Il, andis5sayed by losses, undeterred by the most
Issmirsnt danger. For the first time in the his
tory of the war, great battle has been followed
by an immediate pursuit, bringing on another
battle equally obstinate and bloody. Grant,
though slightly worsted in the actions of the
9Th, refused to quit his hold upon the enemy,
or to plead any OF the obvious excuses for sus-
pending the operations OF the campaign. 1t
was this stubbornness ofpurpose which gal ned
him his success at Vicksburg and his favor
with the Northern people. They never thought
him military genius, but they believed HIM to
be most determined mana man who would
bring everything to the immediate issue of hard
fighting, and who might either beat or be beat
ell. bnt who would never be hesitating or mac
tive. This estimate OF his character he has fully
justified. He has fought increasingly, and has
chung like a bulldog to his work. Nor can it
be added that he has fought altogether in vain;
Tor he has advanced as he proposed to ad vance,
and is actually few miles further on the road
10 Richmond. On the other hand, 1t now ap
pears beyons all doubt that the successive re-
tiIements Of the confederate commander were
but 80 many judicious aud preconcerted opera.
tons of the Campaign. The whole road to
Richmond, be it remembered, IL series OF
positions which have long been studied and
streng thened by the Confederates, terminating
in q capital fortified by all the defences which
modern art could devise, through a period of
three years. Lee, If he falls back is only fall
ing back from one strong post to another, till
he finds himself in the strongest post of all.
Grant. il he falls back ever SO little, gives up
The game, while il he persists in advancing he
discovers harder work than ever before him at
the end OF each days march. and separates
himself from his supplies in the same prop or
ton. Already, we are told, he has found his
communications intercepted by the Confeder-
ate cavalry, and been compelled to change the
bsse OF his supplies, and il Is intmated, ind eed
that the action of the 10th was not sought b y
him, and that he had intended to postpone it
for a few hours, until his supplies had come
No. Undoubtedly Grant Is in more diff cult
situation than Lee, for If he falls back, which,
il he cannot dislodge his adversary, he must
do, il viii be under disadvantages; and II he
advances, either by force or upon the retire.
ment OF the Confederates, il will be under dis.
advantage still. But h. is inrincibly obstinate
ne has uncontrolled command, he has enacted the
FRrtserred support of the Government, and heh1s
seen the SontheTh general retire before him. He
will, perhaps, renew his attack upon Lee, but
II he ever reaches Richmond with an effective
army be will have achieved miracle OF mill
tary success.