The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-06-17
AMERICAN AFFAIRS.
The Richmond Campaign--.Grant
and Lee.
From the London Times, May "a.

From the London Times, May "a
Our recent anticipations of an important
campaign in Virginia have been confirmed by
succession of the most obstinate and sanguin-
ary battles which have signalized even this age
oi war From the 9th to the 10th of the pre-
sent month the two grand armies were inces-
sanity engaged in conflicts so fierce as to sur.
pass IN carnage all former encounters on the
same ;: ground, and yet so indecisve as to render
vbHncu ! 10 say at the present moment to
Malch sue the balance of success inclines 1t
was not until the morning of Friday. the 9Th.
that Lee accepted the battle to which CRAM
was pressing him. Then the Federal com.
mander advanced and fell upon the entire front
OF the confederate line with an 0nslauobt "a
straight, as impetuous, and as stubborn as that
OF lilly on the Swedes at Lepsic Like Tilly.
however, he was repulsed with dreadful loss
nor could he by repeated assaults succeed in
changing the fortune of the day. So manifest
had been his failure that Lee discerned The
opportunity OF assuming the aggressive him.
self, and advanced in his turn upon the Fede-
rails, but without any material success lin
night was closing in, when he turned the rioht
OF Grants army and drove it back upon the
center with loss of nearly seven thousand
men. That the advantage at this time rested
rather with the COnederates than the Federals
is not denied, but however, on the night of the
9Th Lee retired once more, and took up new
position at Spotsylvania Court House. To this
and, after some sharp skirmishing On Saturday.
he again assailed the Confederates with unmi-
tfgated fury on Sunday morning. All through
that Sabbath-day all through Monday. and an
parently all through Tuesday, the battle ragged
with little intermission but what the darkness
of night and physical exhaustion imposed upon
the combatants Still, however, there was no
decisive result When the last dispatches lett
the field Lee retained his position and was said
to have been reinforced, while the aggregate
losses of the Federals up to the evening of
Tuesday were reckoned, in killed. wounded
and missing, at forty thousand. At this critical
point we are left to wait in suspense for fresh
intelligence. Never did American mail bring
information more Important than may be look
ed for ~ the next arrival. On the side of the
North, it must be owned that the expectations
entertained of Grants proves have received
more confirmation than has usually attended
the sanguine calculation 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
command. He Las fully justified his reputation
tor logged and uncOnquerable tenacitv. After
once breaking up from his camp he has march
ed straight on, necessarily closing with his adj
versary, ALWAYS offering battle, never declining
it. undismayed by losses, undcterred by immi
nent danger. For the first time in the history
OF this war, great battle has been followed
by an immediate pursuit. bringing on an
other battle equally obstinate and bloody.
General 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 suspending the operations
of the campaign. 1t was this stubbornness of
purpose which gained him his success at
Ficksburg and his favor with the Northern
people. They never thought Aim a military
genius, but they believed him to be most de-
termined mana man who would bring every
l. 90 <I,o n.
and who might either beat or be beaten. but
who would never be hestating or inactive
This estimate of his character he has fully JUS
tilted. He has fought increasingly and has
chung like BULL dog to his work. Nor can it
be added that he has fought altogether in vain
for he has advanced as he proposed to advance,
and IS actually few miles further on the road
to Richmond On the other hand, it now ap-
pears beyond all doubt that the successive re-
tirements of tie Confederate commander were
but SO many judiciOus and precOncerted opera
tions OF the campaign. The whole road to
Richmond be it remembered. is a series of
position which have long been studied and
strengthened by the Confederates. termin-
ating in a capital fortified by all the de-
fences which modern art could devise
through period of three years Lee, if he
falls back. is only falling back FROM one strong
post to another. till ne finds himself in the
strongest post of all. Grant, if he falls back
persists in advancing he discovers harder worl,
than ever before him at the end of each DAYS
march. and separates himself from his supplies
in the same proportion. Already. we are told
he has found his communications intercepted
by the confederate cavalry. and been compel
ed to change the base of his supplies: and it is
intimated, indeed, that the action of the 10th
was not sought by him, and that he had in
tended to postpone it for few hours until his
supplies had come up. Undoubtedly Grant
is in a more difficult situation than Lee for if
he falls back, which, if he cannot dislOdge his
adversary, he must do it Will be under disad-
vantage; and if he advances. either by force or
upon the retirement of the cOnfcderates, it
will be under disadvantage still. But he is in
vincby obstinate, he has uncontrolled COM
mand, he has eXacted the unreserved support
of the government, and he has seen the south
ern general retire before him. He will, per-
haps, renew his attack upon Lee. but if he ever
reaches Richmond with an effective army he
will have achieved a miracle of military sue
cess.
From the Ondou Globe, Lord Palmerstons organ.
The Geographic reports of the great actions
which have been fought in Virginia not only
leave us in doubt as to the advantages gained
by either side, but as to the actual occurrences
in a district, the topography OF which is so
little known. -Four or five combats and battles
had been fought between the 9TH and 18th;
very considerable losses were incurred by both
sides; and the net results appear to have been
that Gen. Lee had fully succeeded in barring
the road to Richmond through Spotsylvania,
while Grant had, at great risk, brought his
forces into position which secured to him the
road to Fredericksburg in his rear These
were the results of weeks marching and
fighting among the woods and swamps about
the MattapOny. which is the great northern
branch of the York river estuary.
From the Morning Post government organ
Much blood has been split but no appreeia-
BILE advantage appears to have been gained by
either side. The consequences OF Datties such
as these are not, however, immedlateiy appar-
ent.
From the Morning STAR liberal:
If the federal losses have peen correctly re-
ported, Grant has paid too dear TOR his victory;
but even if the advantages gained had been at
a moderate cost, the result, though great,
would have been an indecisiye success.
The Morning Herald (Derby's organ) thinks
II knows almost enough of the campaign in
Virginia. to declare Grants advance on Rich
mond a failure, and to express Confident
hope that the first fiery trial of the Southern
Confederncy has been safely passed. 80,
The Morning Post of the 24th feels. conyinc-
ed the federal arms have sustained crushing
defeat. 81 at1lgt r -
The Globe thinks that Lee has fully succeed.
ed in barring the road to Richmond.