The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-03-27

Vne War-Tho strategy or scattering
and tho Strategy OF Concentration.
The promotion of General Grant to the
active command of all the armies Of the Union
has inspired In the public mind the largest an
tcipations of successful campaign. We think,
too, that, with the earnest cooperation of the
government and the loyal States, our armies,
East and West, under the guidance of the hero
Of vicksburg, cannot possibly fail. Our con-
fdence arises from the belief that the disastrous
policy of the Washington Directory policy
of scattering our forces-will now be super.
seded even In Virginia, by General Grants in
falible strategy of concentration
What budget Of blunders will the future
historian present against President Lincoln and
bis Washington board Of military advisers
chargeable to this persistent folly OF scattering
his armies to cover numerous points Of possible
danger, whereby the vital point which COM
manded them all has been lost How brightly,
in contrast, stand the victories OF Grant
aud the Napoleonic idea Of concentration
through which they have been achieved. AT
the nrst battle Of Bull run we had some
eighteen thousand troops engaged against some
twenty -seven thousand when, by calling in all
our scattered detachments from the Potomac
and Shenandoah valley, an army of fifty
thousand might have been moved upon Beaure-
gard. A reinforcement to General Mcclellan
Of twenty-five thousand men at any time
during the seven days battles of the Peninsula
would have secured the capture of Richmond;
and all this time there were fifty or sixty thou
sand Union troops scattered about from Frede
ricksburg to the Shenandoah valley.
Again, by express orders from Washington to
General Pope, at Warreuton, to fight, his army
Of less than forty thousand men, against eighty
thousand, was shattered to pieces, involv-
ing heavy sacrifices OF men, horses, artil
lery, provisions and ammunition trains, when.
BY an order to fall back to Ccntreviile with
out fighting, General Pope, without loss of
men or munitions of war, could have
secured an overwhelming junction with
the forces OF General Mcclellan And,
yet again, timely order from Washington to
Gen. Miles at Harper's Ferry, instructng him
to evacuate that place and join his forces with
McClelan's, would have resulted in the destruc-
ton Of Lees army at Antietam. In the alb
sence Of such an order those twelve thousand
men at the Ferry, fifty pieces Of artillery, and
provisions and ammunition, equivalent TO q
heavy reinforcement OF Lee, were captured
And, yet once more, we charge the Washing
ton Directory that in permitting Gen. Milroy
to remain at Winchester when Lees whole
army was again advancing northward the
enemy, in the capture Of the town, were again
replenished with liberal supplies Of artillery
ammunition and provisions.
Such have been the results OF our military
campaigns conducted under the immediate
management Of the Washington junta Of law
ycrs aud politicians, headed by President Lin
coin. His peculiar notions of the art of war
have been sufficiently tried, let ua hope,
to convince him that he is perfect igno-
ramus on the subject lie has admitted
his inieriority to General Grant as a military
leader, and therefore we have reason to
believe. that General Grant will be permitted
to carry out his own plans and combinations
incomprehsnsible as they may appear to an
Illinois lawyer. II we could only have this as-
surance from President Lincoln and the an
nouncemcnt OF his withdrawal from the politi-
cal field, we should feel perfectly secure Of a
triumphant military campaign and apeaceiui
Presidential election. As it Is, with General
Grants promotion to the command Of ell our
armies, an immense stride has been taken in
the right direction. While awaiting, therefore,
the development Of coming events, let W. all
do what we can to strengthen the hands OF
General Grant aud rely upon his approved
skill, activity and discretion for the best re
suits.
A MucH NEEDED Reform IN CRY RALwAY
Cars AND OMSrBrsEs.-We are glad TO learn