The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-07-09
Saturday Morning, July 9, 1854.
From wilkes Spirit Of the Times.
The Military Situation.
GRANT AND LEE.


The disloyal elements which flourish in this
city, New York, are jubilant over the fact,
that Secretary Stanton has discontinued his
war bulletins, and they translate this pause as
an acknowledgment by. the Administration,
that General Grant has recently suffered Sc
ries OF defeats. Along with this rejoicing,
new claims are put in for the superiority OF
Lee, and a disposition is eyinced by his admir-
ers, to accord him genius superior even TO
the most renowned commander of the Euro
pean world. To us, however, the temporary
cessation of the Government dispatches coa-
yeys different lesson; while the recent reve-
lations OF the military problem in Virginia,
are far from changing our frequently express
ed opinion that Robert Lee should rank third
among the Confederate chieftans, and that he
will 60 upon the record of the future, scored
with errors, that would disgrace the reputa-
tion Of a corporal. That Grant is his superior
In strategy as well as tactics, stands proven
by every step which has been made since the
last crossing OF the Rapidan; and by none has
the superiority of the federal comman63r been
more clearly manifested, than by the mastery
maneuver by which he withdrew our whole
army from the rebel front, and conveyed it
without molestation TO the south side of the
James. That previous flank movements, by
the LETT, which had crowned the battles OF the
reaches towards our objective point. could
have been reduced in brilIiancy only by an ex
plot like this; and the looker-on, who does
not detect In the Northern soldier the master
OF the scene, must be utterly besotted with
treasonous hopes. That he will remain the
master 10 the end, we do not doubt; and we
have equal confidence, that, while he explodes
the pretentions Of an inferior In arms, he viii
relieve the country of its long perplexity, by
the utter destruction Of the rebel host under
Lees command.
The reputation which Lee has acquired as q
general, has been obtained mainly through the
deficiencies and INSTRUMENTATION of certain Of
our commanders. II was his fortune to be
confronted for a long while, by man of ir-
resolute purposes and feeble nature: and il
was his still more marvellous luck, when that
incubus upon our martial energy was set aside,
to have our army still emasculated of its vigor,
and distracted in its efforts, by the sullen and
jealous partizans whom the discarded chieftan
left behind. Throughout the whole campaign
OF the Peninsula, (which Lee was allowed TO
prepare for, by the amazing pause at York
town. he was never vigorously or consistent
ly confronted; and II is in proof upon the
records OF the Government, that, on more
than one occasion, our overwhelming numbers
were clumsily divided, once even by river,
10 receive the condensed assault Of the entire
Confederate force. 1t is in testimony, also,
on the oaths OF generals, whose patriotism and
veracity there will be none to question, that
the simple downright valor OF our soldiers,
under such desultory leadership as they could
get, would have carried US, on three separate
occasions, into the rebel capital, had they been
permitted to improve their hard-earned yieto-
ries. The most memorable Of these opportu-
mites was that of Malvern Hill, where Lee
tod md ,hf laa .3,.;,,
en- headlong into and out of Richmond; but
our troops, instead OF being allowed to follow
their success, were suddenly recalled by
commander who had been absent from the
fight, and who preferred the refuge OF gun
boat TO the perils of the field. Upon our side,
then, fell dependency and gloom, while the
bells of the Confederacy peled ioyfuIly for
Lee, as the saviour of its fortunes.
At the second battle of Manassas, the COM
binations formed by Pope would have ui-
umphed in the destruction Of the Army OF
Virginia, had he been seconded ia good faith
by the legions of the Peninsula, which the
vigor of the War Department had brought TO
his assistance. Instead, however, of march
ing TO his aid, the minions OF Mcclellan re-
manned sullenly upon the road, and one of
them even, who had reached the front, act
ually walked his divisions IRON the field, TO
render Pope's defeat more certain. Lee was
thus again made victor, when, by every law
OF opportunity and combination, he might
have been thoroughly defeated. Intoxicated
with his marvellous success, for he had set out
after Pope entirely alone, the rebel general
had the audacity TO march his columns into
Maryland, with the whole Army of the Poto-
mac grouped directly in his rear. So unwise,
nay, utterly reckless, did this movement seem
to military men, that some of them laughing
ly declared, they supposed he had an assur-
ance from the federal authorities, that he
should not be molested in his enterprise.
The truth was, doubtless, he had ascertained
the dissensions and insubordination which
existed in our camp, and knowing also the
timldity and irresolution Of the fed eral COM
mander, he felt certain always OF margin
for retreat. We have seen that he was fol-
lowed at the rate OF about five miles day,
and after nine days of ravage, was drought
10 bay" In the vicinity OF Sharpsburg. A
battle was then fought, in which our forces
were led to a decided victory by Hooker
nevertheless, the beaten enemy was allowed
the glory OF sleeping on the field, and per-
mitted to retire from 1t, on The following day,
with all his plumber. Though he had river
behind him, and could not have escaped had
Mcclellan yielded to the advice of some o
his corps commanders, to pursue, he was
suffered to go off, unmolested with his booty
1lCOlcllal, dCCOIQiuk 10 CublOul CldikuCt
victory, but the outside world, which look
ed on without knowledge OF the interior
facts, lauded Lee as great general, aud ac.
corded him high credit for successful termi
nation Of his raid. Any vigorous command
er, however, could easily have terminated hi:
career, and made him the laughing stock o.
the military schools.
He was next saved from defeat at Freder
icksburg, by Franklin tying up the services o
forty thousand men, whom, against orders. ht
withheld from the support of Meade; and al
Charlottesville he was thoroughly disgracet
by having his position turned in broad day
light, by an army which lay direcly under
meath his eyes. He had boasted his position
on the nights of Fredericksburg was entirely
impregnabIe; yet Hooker, swinging his army
in manner the world has never seen equal
led with such host before, landed in his rea
SO that his battlements were walked over b,
our soldiers on the third succeeding day
The history of Lees generalshfp, and the ca
reer of the Army of Virginia, would the
and there have been wound up, had not tn
same motives operated to the betrayal of tll
federal commander, which had previousl
struck the ground from under Pope an
Burnside. We need not recapitulate the Gil
cumstances. 1t Is enough to say, that hayin
peen baffied for want of cooperation an
obedience, Hooker returned to his camp wit
his army, after having occupied Lees stron!
hold, and inflicting on MIN such punishmei
l. n