Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-31

within eleven miles of Richmond, without
an engagement with Gen. Lee. lie might
have come up the Peninsula, perhaps TO
Fair Oaks, and Joined hands with Butler on
the south side, as some still expect him 10
do and this he will doubtless proclaim, In
the end. TO have been the object OF all his
circuitous route. BY each of these ways 0f
advance he would have brought Gen. Lee
from the Rapidan nearer to Richmond. lie
did not take them, because there were dan
gers and defects. He preferred the hrst
and the second before the third, and tnis pc
fore the fourth. That he abandoned, aiter
trial, the two first is due to two clear ue-
feats in battle.
SO far from losing ground Lee has gained
manifest advantages by each change OF Inc
lines. 1t Is easier to defend that portioh Vi
his line which is near to Richmond tllan
that which was far removed from it, He Is
far better situated now than at SpottsyiVa-
mia Court House, and that was better than
the Wilderness. In either place MS sup
niles. stores and reinforcements had to come
nm from Richmond. The country has been
long since scared and beaten into desert
hv the drums and trampings of three in
yssions. From the railroads to his camp
weary miles of red mud were always inter
nosed bv every shower. His cavalry is no,
foriously defective, and has always proved
inefficient to protect his communications at
those moments when they were most need
ed. While operating on the lower rivers
all of these troubles are over. Jew hours
give him his supplies. The ROADS Sc can ~ no
longer be severed with impunity., Ine olI-
fculties under which he has laporeu are
transferred to the score of the enemy.
Perhaps a conviction that it would be SO
was the reason which made Grant prefer 10
| encounter Lee in the Wilderness, instead OF
coming straight to Milford.
Considering the whole facts we think the
| time has come when the Confederates may
; exchange congratulations. No renectlng
4 man can doubt that the general SITUATION Is
/ very much improved since the day when
j Grant crossed the Rapidan and Butler iand,
ed at Bermuda Hundred. That was indeed
a critical moment. The Confederate Gov
ernment had been well warned OF the con-
/, centraton against Richmond. lt was hali
convinced OF its reality. But it was only
half belief; an idea rather theoretical thaI
FENDER il active i'm recruiting the divisions
which Lee had with him on the Rapidan.--
II was not SO satisfied of the truth as to col
lect all the divisions of Lees army in their
place, or even in the State. 1t made no un-
usual collection of material in Virginia.
But through the winter the enemy marched
ND his men from every quarter OF the Uni
( ted States to the outer lines of Virginia.
I Fullvdetermined to make the blow decisive
he SPARED no cost or means-acted without
I regard to future campaigns. Uninterrup-
( ted by any disturbing cause, he placed ms
/, armies in positions whence they could Dc
brought upon vital points OF attack
/ in few hours of movement. When all was
quite ready, and the roads entirely dry, the
signal was given, and the two masses o.
| destructive material struck us, warned, Du'
| i'll prepared, at the same instant. That was
| indeed critical moment. But the ship had
an original strength sufficient to stand tht
shock. Lees thin army beat the chief force
of the enemy in the Wilderness; the second
blow was deadened by the Notifications
near Drury. Every moment since elapsed
has been gain to us. Time was, all we
wanted to bring up Beauregard, and we goo'
time. When he forced the enemy from ms
intrenchments and reopened communities
tions, and when Lee had given a final an
swer to the question whether he was able
to stand up against the full weight OF Grant
the chief danger, the danger of being
crushed under the rush OF an avalanche
ceased to exist. 1t is true that the chance
of battle may yet some day, fall against us
but it is certainly far less probable now
than then; and, therefore, we think there
is convincing solid reason to believe tha'
the military situation at this moment Il
much more favorable to us than when Grant
crossed the Rapidan.