The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-06

Active military operations west of the Mississippi
commenced IN the month Of March, 1861. The principal
rebel forces beyond the Mississippi concentrated
der General Kirby Smith at Shreveport the Red river
Against this force expedition undertaken by Ma
jor Genera, Banks, with large army from New Orleans
10 be coopeated with by troops from the department Of
Arkansas under General Steele 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 Goth Of
March. Advancing thence towards Shreveport series
Of disasters commenced that ended the failure of the
expedition with heavy loss Of men and material The
Of this failure is still subject of discussion,
material TO the present report. Although by this mis-
hap the enemy was enabled TO occupy the attention of
large force dese ned and that might have been employed
in other fields he was himself kept in check and hinder
ed from taking part in the great campaigns of the
Mississippi.
The campaigns in Virginia opened on the 9Th day of
May by simultaneous movements the army Of the po-
tonac crossed the Rapdan and City Point, the south
side OF the James seized and occupied by General
IlGer. The crossing Of the Rapidan effected with
ont resistance from the The enent against
city pon, took nun by surprise The array Of the Poto
mond was the objective point of the army Of the james
Minute details Of the subsequent campai yns are given
in the accompanying reports Of the Leue General
and other distinguished commanders so that thing
more than cursory view of the resn Its a here re-
quired.
fct Mine Run on the 9Th day OF May Forty three
days of desperate lighting marching by day and night
forced back the rebel army nom the Rapdan to their
trenchcnts around Rct mond and carried the army Of
the Potomac to the sonth side Of the James river The
strength the enemy force when the cam aie oDeed
the extent OF his loss is not known this de part
ment. Any inequality Of numbers between Lees army
and the OF the Potomac fully coInps nsated by
the advantage Of position. Resodre purpose and DIES pc
valor exhibited on 10th sides Ia thu battles
of the Wilderness. spottsyyana Court House Jericho
Ford Hawes Shop and Cold Harbor many brave soldiers
and gallant officers persisted Among them were Br,,
der General Wadsworth, Bigadier General Iiays and
Major General Sedgwick. Lieutenant General Ora in
his report observes:
The battles al the Wilderness SpottsyIyania North
anna and Cold Harbo bloody and terrible as they were
side more damaging to tn. enemy and
crippled him 10 make him wary ever fter M
the offensive His losses in were pro onblv nor a.
great owing to the fact that we're save in The "a ter
ness almost invariably the atac king par ~ and When he
did attack ii, il was in the open field"
Although expectations OF destroying Lees army ON \
the speedy capture OF Richmond and Peteisbure sar
disappointed and the enemy had foud rafrige behind i'm
pFegnable forticaiions the campaign still prose
cuted with determined purpose towards The same Che,
While the rebel army sheltered in his entrcnc,
the national forces busy work outside strngh
ening and and advancing their positioI brealing a.
mmnnicati0ns Of the enemy, cutting off and
his supplies, narrowing his limits hafassng mir, h
raids aud occupying his att ntion to preyso, da.aG
ments or requirements being sent to operate else
where.
Active operations also going ON in thu vaI,av M
the Shenandoah. On the first of Nav nm exneiitiou
under Generals Crook and Averi was sent out by eu
eral sige which reached WytheviIle and comnsbeI
the destruction OF much rebel property General sgel
advanced on the eth day Of May with his force from
winchester to New Market, where met by the enemy
under General breckenridge he defeated and fell
back to Cedar Creek General Hunter was then placed