New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-30
THE LATE vICTORY.

We have this morning the cOngratulatory
order Of Gen. Grant upon the victory OF the
18th, and Lees official report Of his disaster
The latter is disingenuous and therefore char
acteristic of the Rebel leader-of whose bull
letins it is difficult to say whether they are
more remarkable for hypocritcal ind cantng
reference to the Deity, or for utterly perverted
and unmltary accounts Of his reyerses. In the
present case Lee says: .
THE lines were swept for distanceof four or five
hundred yards to the right and ie aId Two enort
handsomely repulsed--but 1t was found that the IN
closed works In the rear, commanding thc enemy :
main line could only be taken at terrible sacrince OF
life and the troops withdrawn to their original
position"
As if Gordon, after having captured Fort
Steadman and three adjacent batteries would
have withdrawn because further efforts involved
further Sacrifice of life" Since when have
hum Unitarian considerations entered into the
military policy of the Rebels The truth Is
Gordon's men after they bad taken Fort
Steadman dispersed to plumber, and
could not readily be reorganized by
their officers. Then the fire from other por-
tions of our line completed their demoraliHa-
ton, and when IIartranits charge came, Gordon
could do nothing but retreat. 1t looks more
over. AS if there was failure to support the
assauting column, and that it had no strength
to resist the rapidly gathering achievements
on our side.
Gen. Grants order has conspicuous merit. 1t
blames as well as praises. The enemy, with
a temerity for which he has paid dearly, massed
his forces, and succeeded through the reprehcn-
sible want of vigilance Of the Third Brigade,
First Division Ninth Corps, in breaking through
our lines" &c. If there had been
more of such plain speaking a. that
during this war, we should have been
spared many q notifying and unnecessary,
defeat. From the beginning the radical
defect in our army discipline has been reluct-
ance to do inexorable justice upon timid, neg
lgent and incapable officers in high command.
Seldom has blame been laid in terms upon q
brigade or division that failed in It's duty.
Seldom has any penalty been enforced unless in
subordinate and unimportant cases. We
should rejoice 10 believe that the exam
pie now set was 10 be- hereafter rigidly fol-
lowed. Let the army but once understand that
every such dereliciion will be unspar.ngly
punished, and every offender held up TO public
contempt, and there would instantly be re-
mark able and permanent improvement in the
morale OF officers and men. We remember to
have heard a distinguished General say IN the
beginning Of the war that he knew be ough, TO
deal sternly with his command, but he feared
that he would not be sustained by public opinion.
Perhaps the remark was then true il certainly
would not be now, and wo can """""''" 80 90"
reason why nj this late day officers should hest
tate in enforcing discipline. In a time of war,
which presupposes the disregard of sensibiities
and humanitics and respect for the feeling of
individuals, all considerations of lcnity are
opposed to and inconsistent With the welfare of
the service. We trust this order may put ali
end to them Hcnceforth in our armies nothing
but Justice 10 offenders,
Equally ought praise TO be given to the de-
seryng-but there never has been much stint of
that. We all note with pleasure that Gen.
Grant gives due credit to Gen. Parhc and Gen.
Hartranft for their recapture of Fort Steadman,
and TO tho officers of the Second and Sixth
Corps for their subsequent gallant and success
full assaults on the enemy's lines. The order
well concludes
1.-Two lessons can be learned from these operations
one that fortified position, however strong. viii
protect army from intrepid and audaeous enemy
unless vigilanty guarded; the other. that disaster
or misfortune is irreparabe where energy and bravery
displayed in the determination to recover what is
lost and 10 promptly assume the Offensive