Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-06-04
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The entire disbursement Of the Com
mission from May Ist to May Gath for its
work in the whole country, East, West, and
South, is Os,74141. ....f ~ Il
The Strategy Of General Grant:
For three long years the army waited tor
| leader. 1t has not waited in vain. &C.
neral Grant stands head and shoulders above
all other commanders who have distinguish
ed themselves in the war, and, judged rot
only by his successes, but by the means he
has used to obtain them, must unquestion-
| ably be recognized as one of the great sol
| tliers of the age The country is astonished,
| and it has good reason to be, a. the mastery
| development of the campaign in Virginia.
| Every day brings new proof OF the sound
ness and briliancy of the plan and the
energy of its execution. No American ge
neral has ever maneuvred an immense army
with the ease and skill with which Grant
has handled the forces in Virginia. 1t has
| been we'll said that he controls the Army
of the Potomac almost as easily as if it were
a brigade The history of the campaign. thus
far, conclusive shows Grant to be not only
the hardest fighter, but the finest strategist
of the war.
On the 4th of May General Grant placed
his whole army on the South bank of the
Rapidan, sixty miles on the direct line from
Richmond, and in the same week hurleG
his entire forces against the enemy. This
was a terrible reconnaissance in force, which
settled at once the question OF relative
strength, tested the spirit of the army, and
justified Grant in moving with the rapidity
daring, and confidence which have marked
his subsequent operations. A campaign
that does not begin with great battle Is
not likely to end with victory, and Grant
displayed the genius of great soldier IN
taking the offensive at once. The enemy,
after these fierce battles, were compelled to
retire to The stronger position at Spottsylva-
MIA. 1t was there that General Grant began
those brilliant and sound combinations
which have given us more confidence in his
military skill than all his other victories
combined He refused to hurl his troops
upon the strong works at Spottsylvania, but
by sudden movement forced Lee to choose
between the surrender of his lines of CT m
munication or retreat. Lee fell back to the
South Anna and Grant again declined to
attack the enemy in his chosen position and
in Notifications upon which the best enGi-
! neering ability of the South has spent two
years, at least, of labor. While the cnu-
my spread there lines, like vast tan, be-
tween him and Richmond, and yainly await
ed an attack Grant, on Thursday night,
recrossed. the North Anna, moved Southerly
on Lees right flank, with his own right Sc
curely protected by the river, crossed the
Pamunkey at Hanoyertown, and is now
, again confronted by Lee, who was forced
to leave his chosen position and throw him
self between our army and Richmond, upon
} the line of thu Chickahominy. All tins was
done by Grant without wasting either men
or time. 1t is the result of pure strategy.
; What then is done Three weeks ago
he was sixty miles from Richmond, with
three rivers to cross, and the best army OF
! the rebellion before him, resolved to dis
putc every foot of ground Now, without
losing wagon, without sevcring his COM
munication with Washington or leaving it
unprotected, without any loss which is not
exceeded by the loss of the enemy, he stands
or rather moves, within fifteen miles OF the
rebel capital, and has driven Lee to posi-
ton which he would gladly have fought a
hard battle every day Of the month to avoid.
Such campaign is unprecedented in Nir-
|, ginia When General Mcclellan advanced
; up the Peninsula he met with little opposi-
tion. Beyond the Rapidan no commander
has ever led the Army of the Potomac ten
miles. Our fighting has been done in what
we may call the front OF Washington. Even
i'll offensive movements the necessity OF
caution has been SO extreme that the army
seemed actually always on the defensive,
Grant, by u less expensive and tedious route
} than the Peninsula, has placed the war di-
) rectly before Richmond, and relieved all
Northern Virginia of everything but the
, annoyance of the guerilas. Ills movement
is absolutely and efficiently offensive, and
when We remember that he controls the
: Puninsular advance and consider the i'm
portant part which General Butler will take
in movements which will now be strictly CO.
: operative. it is almost impossible to con
, gratulate the country too much upon the
, glorious progress Of the greatest OF all our
} campaigns. The two great armies of Meade
! and Butler are virtually under one practical
direction Richmond is attacked, as it never
was before, from two sides, and General
Lees forces are, in effect, no longer an army
, but u garrison. The severest battles are yet
} to be fought, but we are positive that Grant
; will not attempt to take Richmond by
storm, nor by u whole summers siege Ii
) his future progress is to be prOportionate to
his past, that city chould certainly be our
own before July PhiiddeL,hia Press.
The Siege Of Richmond.
The Army oil the Potomac is ON the
threshold OF the great battle. 1t is but a