The New York herald., 1865-12-06


PANKs RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
Active military operations west of the Mississippi CON-
menced in the month of March, 1854. The principal
rebel forces beyond the Mississippi conccnrat ID
under General Kirby Smith, at Shreveport, the
Red river Against thus force an expedition
.rre a4my FROM Ass Ssw qsaas Banks % be "s
operated with by troops from the Department
Of Arkansas under General steele and from the Division
OF the Mississippi under General A. J. Smith. and also
large naval force under Admiral Porter General Banks
with his forces reached Alexandria about the o0 Of
Of disasters commenced that ended in the failure Of the
expedition with heavy loss Of men and material Tho
cause Of this failure is still subject Of discusion not
material TO the present report Although by this mis-
hap the enemy enabled to occupy the attention OF
An other fields, he himself kept in check and him
dered from taking part in the great campaigns east Of
GRANTS CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA
Tho campaigns In Virginia op ned the 4th Jay of
Nay. BY simultaneous movements the Army of the
Potomac crossed the Rap dan, and City Point on the
south side OF the James, seizod and occupied by
General Ber The crossing OF the Rapidan effected
without resistance the enemy The movement against
directed ut Lccs army whilc the city OF Richmond
was che objective point OF the Army Of the James
Minute details Of the subsequent campaigns are given
In tho accompanying reports Of the Lieutenant General
and other distinguished commanders that nothing
required
THE BArrLEs NORTH THE JAMIE.
The anagonistic armies of Meade and Lee met In
Aict Mine Run tho 5h day OF May Forty-three
days Of desperate fighting marching by day and night
forced back the rebel army from the Rapdan tkeir
1ntrenchments around Richmond and carried the Army
Of tho Potomac to the south SIDE Of the James river
The strength Of the enemys force when the campaign
opened, the extent of his loss is not known this
department. Any inequality Of Iambers between Lees
army and the Army Of the Potomac fully compen-
and desperate yaIor were exhibited on both sdes
IN the battles Of the Wilderness, Spottsylvania
a Cor House Jericho Ford Mawes Shop and
ofncors perished. Among them Brigadier General
Wadsworth, Brgadier General Hays and Major General
Sedgwick. Lieutenant General Grant in his report OBJ
scrves:-
ssThe battles OF the Wilderness spotsylvana North
Anna and Cold Harbo bloody and terrible they
on our side, were even more damaging to the enemy,
and so crippled him to make him wary after OF
saking the offensive. HIS losses in men we're probably
NOT great owing TO the fact that were, in the
Wilderness almost invariably the attacking party and
whom he did attack II was in the open field. +"
RAIDING ON THE ENENY's hsuSicAnoM.
Although expectations of destroying Lees army and
Che speedy capture OF Richmond and Petersburg were
disappointed and the enemy had found refuge behind
Ampregnable fortcations the campaign was still prose-
outed with determined purpose towards the same object
While the rebel army was sheltered IN his ntrencmcnts
the national forces busy at work out
side strengthening and advancing their position,
breaking the communications Of the enemy,
limits, harassing him by RAIDS and occupying his atten
zion to prevent deachmeuts reiniorcemen,s being
sent 70 operate elsewhere.
THE SHENANDOAH OPERATIONS or HUNTER
Active operations we're also gong on in the valley Of
che Shenandoah. On the LIST OF May expedition under
Generals Crook and Averil was sent out by General
Sge. which reached Wythevle and accomplished the
destruction OF much rebel property General sgel adj
vanccd the Sth day Of May with his force from Win
chester to Newmarket where met by tho enemy under
General Breckinridge he defeated and fen back TO
Cedar Crock. General Hunter then placed in
ynand OF the department He marched with strong
force towards Staunton, and in brilliant engagement
Piedmont defeated the enemy with severe lose Ad
vancng to stanton, he joined there by Crook and
Averli and moved against Lynchburg Reinforccncnts
from the enemy having arriye before him. Gen Hrntcr
fetrcd by way OF the KanaSha. Meanwhile, in order
repair tho losses of the army Potomac chief part
81 the force designed to guard the Middle Department and
front Taxing advantage OF this OF affairs in ,hc
absence Of General Hunters command tho enemy made
large detachment from their army at Richmond which,
under General Early moved down the Shenandoah val
ley, threatening Baltimore and Washington Their ad
vance checked at Monocacy whore severe engage
ment was fought by our troops under General Wallace
reinforced by part OF the Sixth corps under General
Ricketts,. After this battle the enemy conlnued 70 al
vance until they reached the ntrenchrncnts around
Washington. Here they were by troops fron, the
Army OF tho Potomac, consisting Of tho Sixth oorns
under General % wright part OF the Eighth sorps under
Just arrived from New Orleans under General Emory
by these troops tho enemy driven back from wash
ington and retrcatcd hastily TO Virginia. pursued by
forces under General Wright
THE SHENANDOAH OPERATIONS SHERIDAN
On the 7th day Of August, 1894 General sheridan was
placed In command Of the military division comprising
the Department Of Washington tho Department of West
Virginia. the Department Of tho Sngquehanna and the
Middle Department In two great batcs at the ng
OF the Opequan the 10th Of September and Fsho
Hin, on the 22d OF September, tho rebel army under
Early routed and driven from the valley with i'm
loss Of prisoners artillery and stores despe
rate effort by the enemy to their posi-
aion. Early strongly reinforced and the morn.
lng OF tho 10th Of October Ia the absence OF General
Sheridan. his lines surprised his position Turned
and his forces driven back confusion AT tho
when great disaster impcniing, Sheridan appeared
upon tho field, tho battle restored, aud brilliant
Eicory achieved The routed forces Of the enemy were
pursued Mount Jackson where he arrived without
organxed regiment OF his army. All his artillery and
thousands Of prisoners fell into sherdans hands These
successes closed military operations in tho shenandoah
Nuey and rebel force appeared there no more during
che war;
THE CAMPAIGN ATLANTA.
Major General william 7. sherman began the brilliant
0ees OF his campaigns carly IN May The first objective
point was Atlanta To reach that city hs armies mast
pass from the northern limit to tho centre OF the great
Btats OF Georgia. forcing their way through mountain
denlos andI great rivers. overcoming turning