New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-09
THE CAMPAIGN.

last week are an GSSuraDce Oh H1aI succcSS'
There seems to be no doubt that Gen.
Grant has fought two general actions.
The first was brought on by Lees effort
to crush the advancing columns of Gen.
Grant before they were in position, and
within supporting distance of each other. That
was the battle of Thursday, and it resulted in
the rcpulSe Of Lees attack-the most that i'll
the circumstances could be expected The sec
ond battle was on Friday, and was the choice
Of Gen. Grant. Having his whole army in posi-
ton, he attacked the Rebel army in It's position.
1t does not seem that there was a perfect victory
on that day, but the evidence is that the Rebels
lost ground, were compelled to leave many
wounded in our hands, and had much the worst
of the fight On the following day there was
probably no battle, and it may be presumed that
neither army after two such conflicts, felt eager
to renew the struggle.
But therein lies ultimate victory for us. Gen.
Grants passage of the Rapidan is not the sole
effort Of this campaign. As the objects Of the
campaign, the capture of Richmond, and the
defeat of Lee, lie before him. Either probably
insures the other. When, therefore, he is able
to transfer his army across the river and TO
force Lee to give him battle and when stimuli
taneously Gen. Butler advances on the Rebel
capital with force granted him surely larger
than any remaining to the Rebels for the de-
Tense of Richmond, the work of Cen Grant is
accomplished by holding Lee fast on the banks
De-. ftr.. gfslh hoff rs
fought on Thursday and Friday he has made il
certain that Lee shall spare no troops to
Richmond. lie has taught Lee that his every
soldier is wanted TO preserve his army on the
Rapidan from destruction. Yet, unless Rich
mond is reinforced, it may fall into Buffers
hands. II il is reinforced, Lee may fall into
Grants. The choice OF alternatives, perhaps,
is with The Rebels, but whichever disaster they
prefer TO accept, the other follows in ITS train.
Richmond is helpless without Lee, but
/ if Richmond falls, what refuge has
the Rebel army that cliugs to desc
late stronghold far to the North With
its communications severed its source of sup
plies interrupted anditS morale destroyed by the
loss of the capital in defense OF which It's men
cared most to fight, they could then have 10
hope but in retreat, and no place to which Sc
cure retreat would be possible. We believe,
therefore, that while Gen. Butler makes good
progress--as no clearly has-tho presence OF
Gen. Grant on the flank OF his enemy is an as
surance Of has triumph
The battle Of Thursday will be found clearly
described in the letters Of our special correspond
ents. published this morning. 1t is evident
that Lee once more attempted the tactics which
so often have proved successful-the simple ex-
pedent of interrupting an incomplete move
ment, and destroying in detail the forces which
ATTEMPTED it. While Grants forces were
but lust over the riyer-indeed before
Burnside had reached its northern bank
Lee marched out Of his intreuchments,
and meeting on Thursday morning the heads o.
columns pushing forward into positions for bat
tie, dealt his blow with all his gathered force.
The advancing Fifth Corps Gen. Warren, came
first into conflict, and the battle began little
west of Wilderness, and before any open
ground had been reached. The line Of Waucn's
advance was along the Orange County Turn
pike to the west, and the line Of A. J.. Hill's
east, and on the morning Of Thursday
the two came in collision. From o'clock the
action became general and desperate. Warren's
true position was the center Of Meadc's line,
but, being in advance, he became engaged long
| before Hancock, who should have formed the
/ left wing, could come up, and for a while
there was great fear lest the enemy, heay-
lily outnumbering Warren, should turn
his left flank before Hancock succeed
ed in connecting. To extend our line,
Getty's division of the 9th Corps was hurried to
the front, and Hancock's brgades, arriving soon
after, successfully were put in line and straight
forward into the battle as they reached the
ground.
But it appeared that the fear of flank
ing movement had been thoroughly well
founded. for Oh Hancock's brigades, thus
successfully coming TO the front, fell the
sudden weight Of concentrated masses of
the enemy, and each reinforcement was no
more than sufficient to bear up under these
accumulated shocks. Hancock's line was well
forced back, but again grew steady. Warren
held the center without break, and when the
battle reached its crisis, both Warren and
Sedgwick-who formed both the right wing
and the reserve-were ordered forward. |
They in turn caused Hill TO be alarmed
for his own flank, and though Ewell
= III Dch