The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-02-13

2 dwfP Parry To OF fSe Coasiit1ton. % .ne

We begin to have glimmering of the
real meaning Of the recent mysterious
movsmentofa portionofthe Potomac ARMY
across the Rapidan. It was not movement
direct on Richmond, but one manifestlyude-
signed to distract the attention of the enes
my from the Peninsula expedition, under
General Wistar, projected by the brilliant
/ genius of General Ritler, witha viewtoths
capture of the Confederate Capital, by a
grand coup de main, and the liberation of
our prisoners in the Libby Prison and Cas-
tie Thunder. The World says:
.Hc attempted to cut the Gordian knot
ofdiffculties into which, the exchange of
I prisoners question had BEEN entangled by
the cunning of Ould and the obstuness of
Merdith, with the sword. The Rebel Gov,
ernment at Richmond" he argued, "treats
me rs an outlaw, and won't give up the
Union prisoners Why not solve the pro-
blem by capturing Richmond, prisoners,
Rebel Government and all?' Big with this
brilliant idea, B utler rushes upto Washing
ton and seeks an interview with Gen. Hal.
lsck; but that officer "don't see it." Seere
tary Stanton is then waited upon, and he Of
Z course is delighted, as moving upon the
enemy's works without preparation or ade
quate force is his favorite strategy, Final
ly Mr.. Lincoln is seen, and as the scheme is
ingeniously absurd, he cordially gives it his
approval. After much delibsration, it was
decided that the Army Of the Potomac
shoald make fsint across the Rapidan to
keep Lee employed, while the real attack
was to be made by an army moving briskly
up the peninsula. But then the question
aroSe, where this army was to come from
It would not do to nd troops down from
< JWashington, as their movements would be
noticed BY the enemy, and Butler had bare
) " enough in his own department to guard
his lines. At last the bright idea was hit
upon of raising the siege of Charleston, and
with the troops taken from Morris and Fol-
"" Islands to capture the Rebel capital -
This accounts for the new from Charleston
which has so disheartened the country. The
troops were brought up to the peninsula,
snd sent upon tho FOOLS errand to Richmond
and-back again. Gen. Sedgewick, in
temporary command oftte Army of the Pc
tomac, did all that could be expected OF
him. He crossed the Rapidan, and kept
Lee employed, while the raid upon the pen
insuls was made; but the Richmond part OF
xhe programme failed, becauseit was absurd
to suppose that a city which has been me-.
nacsd for three years is not all times proof
against the attack o. a1ything less than
great crmy. :,
All such schemes to capture Richmond
by q stratagem are based upon the theory
that the Rebel Administration is composed
Of q set of improvident fools.
m So ends this last "On to Richmond" the
most unmiitary and sorry exploit of the
war. We do not believe this scheme re-
ceivsd the Endorsement of any competent
military commander, or that it ever bad
thu remotest chance of success. The story
that the Rebels ~ere warned OF their late
bv Yankee deserter is an after-thought to
excuse the failure" y i,
But this Butler Peninsulsr Expedition,
which the Tribune yesterday pronounced
.'crsditable, we may add,-receives en-
comiums from no other quarter. The Jour
nal of Commerce says Of it
ssThere is scarcely man in the army
with less military experience, and there are
a half million with more military ability
What could have been in the minds OF the
men at Washington in intrusting move
ment of this importance to be planned and
s9isec,ed by q man who never saw sue
.ce.,ful skirmish (? It is simply trItiing with
the great national trusts which have been
committed to them to jeopardize the most
important operations by placing them IN
der such conduct. Among all our generals
who is there more thoroughly unfit for dl-
r,scting the march of an army to Rich
nd !? Scores of generals are in the army
wno I've been over the whole ground, ana
who who Lno,v every tree and stream. every
h;II .nd va uey of the Peninsula, aud whose
srner;ence n I'd knowledge would have been
of nrioeless value in this, expedition But
The Administration selects man who Is ut,
terlv ignorant OF the whole, who never led
an srmy to victory, scarcely ever anywhere
s,.s and allows him to plan, and attempt
TO execute ths plan of entering h'cnnonu
I by, the Peninsula route Of course he
failed. 1t was foolish experiment ana
no one knew that it was going forward
could have anticipated anything else.
- eoos spyeraI things