The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-08-06
~ lIn. LOOK AT TIE CAMPAIGN.

Ertm the n'pes.
1tde month. of July, II seems, went out wkh two
military mishaps-one, cavalry affair in Georgia,
the other the more serious repulse before Peters
burg. What is done being now past recall, all
we care TO know of it Is it's effect on the grand
campaign though presently inquiry must be made
as 10 who Is in fault. Tactical mismanagement
appears to have been the cause of the repulse at
Petersburg. In Georgia, if report be true, it was
a want of discipline and of control over the men.
Our troops, IL seems, drank too much of the
liquor they captured, evidently holding the
happy theory of Burns, that fighting and tip
pling go hand ia hand. But why the officers
permitted this grand carnival within the eaemys
lines, the oracular telegram does not announce
As to their results on the campaign, these two
affairs will probably prove less influential than is
apt to be imagined. Sherman has now had an
experience In one respect analogous TO that of
Grant. Having reached the city which lies at
the extremity of his line of advance, be has bent
himself TO the task Of reducingit and its garrison
by the ntcrception of communications. The
nearest line of railroad, as in Grants case, was
easily cut. Rousseau's raid on the Atlanta and
Montgomery road proved perfect success.
There remained the Macon road, which bears
the same relation to Hood that The DAnvlle road
does TO Lee-it is directly in his rear, is essential
toshs capital, and is his natural line of retreat
General McCook was sent TO sever the NJ icon
road, as Wilson bad been sent to sever the Dan
vile. Like Wilson, McCook successfully burned
the railroad for many miles, like him was over
taken on the return, and, in a sharp engagement
lost contiderable part of his men. But II will
be remembered that, with all its losses, General
Grant declared the fruits of Wilson's expedition
10 be well worth the price they cost. Much more
readily could Sherman afford TO lose hat
to1achieve so signal q result. For now, Atlanta
has been absolutely severed from all railroad
communication with north, south, east, aud west
There was, indeed, as IL has seemed to us, one
misfortune resulting from Sheridan's various
raids, which did not disclose itself till later. II
was the exhaustion of the cavalry force at Peters
burg to so absolute an extent, that il could not
move out in season to checkmate Early, who,
soon after Wilson's defeat, pushed down the
Shenandoah valley. But, in Sherman's case,
McCook took wi him but 5000 men,
and much larger force of Stoneman's command
remains fresh and alert 10 protect our commun-
cations, should Forrest now take courage to
threaten them. At Atlanta then, despite this one
dark cloud, the skies are clear.
OF the check at Petersburg IL is only possible
to say, that it temporarily throws a porplexing
veil Of uncertainty over the military situation.
BY this it Is not meant that last Saturdays affair
could In itself affect the operations against the
city. IL was serious repulse, and quite as much
so in what IL indicated, as in its obvious aud i'm
mediate results. But any student of historical
sieges will recall frequent instances of triumphs
achieved after mishaps far more unfortunate
than this.
1t is possible however, that Grant may now
proceed in different method against Richmond
or rather, that ho may return TO his former admi.
radio ueInOQ. FOr tnere Is no evidence yet that
this offensive mine more than an interude TO
his plan OF campaign. lie had initiated the
policy OF slowly reducing Richmond by stopping
Its communications. HIS movements in this di-
rectlon wero too sincere and vigorous 20 be re-
garded feint
The failure of Hunter AZ Lynchburg did retard
this process; but all that could be remedied.
Meanwhile, suggestion OF the feasibility of
mining, from a subordinate, was made, and, as q
shorter aud perhaps more brilliant solution of the
military problem, was adopted. That solution
having failed, what Is there 10 hinder the prose-
cution Of the elder plani IL was a good pan,
and was never thrown aside, but only moment
ary intermitted or postponed. The pro Jabili-
ties are, therefore that we need expect no re-
newal of the drec, assault on Petersburg just
now, unless Lee himself shall force II by some
fatal move.
Ice, indeed, is IN position where he may
easily be guilty of an error Of omission or COM
mission. He will seek to take advantage of the
tpreseBt turn Of the wheel of fortune. But how
20 do h IL is Ihis which, more than Grants
position, wells the situation, as we said, ia uncer
tatnty. The most probable move will be the re-
enforcement OF Early In the Valley.
Hwi then be Grants policy, while still keep
ing his hold on Petersburg to circumvent with
strong force this invasion of the NOrih. rhere
are as good fighting grounds in Maryland as
elsewhere, rs Lee has already learned tO his cost
If open field lighting Is 20 be the order of the
day, So much the better for us. We may be
assured, then, that in Georgia thus far an is
hopeful. IL the Virginia contest seems for the
moment complicated, there is no doubt that the
resources of General Grants genius are sufficient
for the situation.