The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-04-26
The Different Campaigns against. the
Rebel Capital. .

Rebel Capital.
Richnend, the great hot.bed of &c.
cession and 'Rcbeldom, has fallen. Af.
ter the long md weary months Of apx-
ious expectation through which We have
passed, it is difficult to realizo that the
skiIlful plans and maneuverings Of the
lirdomitable Ulysses" have at length
been crowned with success. And at this
! important stage Of the war, with the cap
ital of the enemy in our hands, and his
main army broken and scattered, it may
rot be improbable to cast cursory
glance at the campaigns heretofore cou-
Quoted against the rebel capital.
At the first outbreak Of the Rebellion,
flushed with the cowardly firing on the
national standard at Fort Sumter, and
over. confident Of success, the popula:
cry of "On TO Richmond was raised.
and our legiors were hurried into the
disastrous battle Of Bull Run in July.
1861. With its dearly bought expert
encc ended the first campaign against the
beeagucred city which now lies at the
mercy Of our colored troops.
Then it was that Mcclellan was placed
in charge Of our panic stricken forces,
and, after organizing and discipining
them, once more they werc led son to
Richmond" The "Scvcn Days Bat.
tlcs," the famous series Of engagements
presenting the strange military anomaly
of seven distinct victories, combining to
constitute q defeat, followed, cuding in Il
second disastrous retreat in July, 1862.
The enemy then assumed the offensive,
and so continued forward movement
nor,hward until his check ut Aatetam
in September Of that year. The cam
paigu which was ended BY that battle
showed Mcclellan to be 80 entirely out.
generated by Lee that he was removed
by the Government, and succeeded by
General burnside. ,.~.'
On the 18th day Of December, 1863,
the new commander commenced, the
third movement against the Rebel capi-
tai. Defeated in the memorable battle
of Fredricks sburg on the 18th of Dccem
bcr, Burnside was replaced by Hooker,
who after the terrible battle Of Cbuncel.
lorvillc, May = and 3, 1868, was in turn
superseded BY General Meade. When
the LITTER, under the orders Of the Presi.
iIcnt, took command, ou the 2Sth OF
June, 1868, his army was mainly con.
ccntrotcd at Frederick, Md. The enemy
were supposed to be advancing on har'
risburg, Pa, then garrisoncd by raw
militia. or course he Was obliged to as.
sumo the defensive. until by his brilliant
victory at Gettysburg, tho lst of July,
the enemy were sent whlrllng back
from whence they came. 1t was moi
however, until the 1st Of December, thai
Meade crossed the Rapidan and inau
gurated the FIRST campaign against Rich
mond.
Little was done, however, until carly
in March, 1864, when Unconditional
Surrender Grant," who had Just been
commissioned as Lieutenant General OF
the Army Of the United States, assumed
command Of the Army Of the Potomac.
Activity at once became the order C" the
day, and on the lth Of May he moved
against the enemy. Then it was that
the great series Of movements we're in.
auguratcd that have just culminatcd in
success whose magnitude has almost
rrcnzicd with JOY the loyal people Of the
land. 1t is unnecessary to rccapituIate
tho great events that have transpired in
the working out Of the Lieutenant Gen.
erals plan of advance. The great bat.
ties Of the Wilderness, in May, satisfied
the Federal Commander that it was BY
slow and gradual advances that his end
was to be gained, and not by hasty or
prccipitatc movements. His stragctic
operations commenced, and nov, after
four long and weary years Of conflict for
the nation, he has the satisfaction OF an
uouncing to his Government the capture
Of the hitherto imprcgnable rebel strong
hold, Richmond. All honor to him and
to his gallant band Of heroes. Long
will their deeds Of patriotism and drring
be remembered, and imperishablc will be
the record they nave inscribed on the
pages of the book of fame and national
glory.