The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1865-02-15
The Army Of the Potomac.
BEFCR PBTERsBuR5. "a,
Jan. 2sth. 1865.


keep q sharp eye on the news. for - thing
90 il is impossible to determine q day il
advance what may occur on tie fAoBing
The grand march of Gen. Sherman through
the Confeleracy, his occupation Of Savaa
nah, the overthrow or Hood, anI the cap
ture Of Fort Fisher while Gen. Butler va,
demonstrating 10 Congress how it could not
be taken altogether make up series q
events thatsmay well make Us feel hopeful,
and satisfy, for once. the morbid appetite
Of the Northern people for forward move
ments.
For the frst time IL the history Of tlis
rebellion, public attention seems TO be
drawn away from the Army OF the P0to-
mac. Correspondents Of the Associated
Press" see nothing worth the trouble OF d
letter. Operators are thrown out Of en-
plOyment, and their wires lelt % rust. The
great Ulysses lounges about City Point
carelessiy smoking his cigar perhaps wait
Ing the resulting Of tie "B,air mission 90
Business and domestic cilclcs a. home have
ceased 10 be disturbed By our doings. aud
all IS quiet
This position, TO that par, o. the army
/ comprising tie 9th corps Is q new one
! To lie Tor months together without an op-
/ portunity for making a sensation" is
something to which we have not been ac-
customed, and il may be an interesting
question 20 know how a corps that Won SO
much glory by fighting ard starving last
winter can feel over this lapse Of public in
terest az tie present time. Il is due 10 our
constituents TO say that it is borne with be-
coming cOmpOsure, and doubtless. II ces-
satiOn Of hostiities were decided on. the
chagrin naturally to De f,lt at being cheat
ed out Of another campaign would be met
with fOrtitude. Leisure 10 see how other
parts Of this great game are being played
IS luxury, and the army consequently set
ties down into winter quarters with FEEL
ing Of thankiulness-it having been the
fortune of this army 10 operate against
Richmond, over & field only about one hun
dred miles in length. and 70 he, n the same
time, the cats-paw Of Cabinet and Con
gress. which has made its career active and
more checkered that that Of any army
that has done so much fighting with so few
apparent results.
But II is well enough TO remember that
this army. into which Mcclellan blew the
breath Of life, that Hooker said was the
''best IN the world" that has proved equal
to the most infexible theories Of General
Grant, that in its time has suffered an un-
paralleled pani0 and afterward won seven
successive victories in as many days that
has Led forlorn hopes, Travelled through fire
and flood, and been hurled against breast
works year after year. is contented with It's
pause, and stands not "aghast7 al the per-
formances OF Thomas gallant army" or
ShermanS "heroic legiOns." The sixty
thousand individuals that compose il have
each particular pride in his own share Of
its history, but can look beyond The glory
/ of its achievements 10 those other great
events that give heart 10 our people and
prestige to the American name All the
States may justly feel proud Of their volun-
,vers, so far as conduct upon the field IS
concerned, and each take lis share Of the
honors, whatever they may be. In so DO
ing the General Government cannot have
much claim to distinction, for this war has
effected so great changes in the military
art, that the regular army is out of date
and almost out Of name Since the first
pull received by them at Bull Run, they
have only been heard Of in general terms
Clusters Michigan brigade long ago threw
the deeds Of the best regular cavalry into
tire shade, and so far as private may Judge
the superiority Of the regular artillery may
well be questioned. But there IS so much
Of learning, strictly scientific, relating to
that branch Of the service, that may only
he learned by study and experiment, that
it will probably always make them more eff
cient than volunteers. II is 4 fact quite
apparent, that the distinction, as between
regulars and volunteers, IS fast diving ont.
and as the latter must be the reliance of
the Government in any general war, so we
think the latter is gradually coming up to
the former in discipline, while that is let
ting itself down TO suit the times The the
Ories Of West Point cannot be perfectly
maintained. for tie theory that the soldier
is not supposed to know anything, is explo-
ded. The Federal soldier will not pMloso-
phize deeply on his relation 10 the State,
but he will accept certain facts, weighed in
his balance Of common sense, that will
make him fight with the stubbornness Of q
Roundhead. In an active campaign, YOU
will see the Federal army marching and
! lighting. In winter quarters. you VIII see
the American people acting in q military
capacity. il such = distinction IS admssa-
ble
Many visiting the army this winter, are
amused at seeing the variety OF ways men
seek 10 pass the time and drive dull care
away, when not on picket. In this respect
the army presents picture OF flourishing
/ Northern city. with all its departments OF
business exhibited on a small scale-trade.
arts, literature, law, medicine, and theolo-
/ gy. Much OF the business Of an army has
10 be transacted during these seasons Of
quiet Courts-martial are established with
full dOekets, men who had begun TO think
their rascality buried under the rubbish Of
a long campaign. now soon find that a char
/ acter is Invested with new interest.
Military commissions are examining ca
ses Of deiinquencies. 10 be carried up" II
Of sufficient importance; the Christian Com
mission have regularly c0nsecrated church
with porch and spire where divine services
are held in home-style; those covering
sufficient territory" give dinner parties
while officers or lower grade call on their
brother bars and leaves, to take a nip
and a few games OF ''old sledSe."
Ii you could 20 with NE along the line OF
our brigade, could show YOU. OF almost
every evening. quarters where = few had
gathered together for prayer. anu nearby i
band OF bold bacchanals7 singing negro
melodies-side by side Dr.. Watts and Geo.
n