M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1865-03-23

| tN'''N Nu' "p5clN OorreSpnntent
WAsnISOrON, March 5, 1865.
tne elements appear detern to
intarpose u formidable obstacle to the
prosecution OF any aggressive scheme
that General Grant may have in con.
templation. The mud in the region
around Petersburg is said to be the
tpeepest ever seen in Virginia, and il
is lair to conclude from this that such
a depth of mud was never seen else
where on the globe, for the soil of
Virginia stands un.ivaled as a prolu
GER OF an adhesive mixture OF yellow
Clay and water. Virginia mnd has
certain peculiar properties which ren.
der 1t a terror to those whose destiny
pr duty requires them to explore its
treacherous and uncertain depths. 1t
obstinateIy refuses 10 release shoes
that disappear beneath Its surface; it
declines to be sounded by persons de-
rsirous to fnd terra tirma; it SUCCESS
fully reSists the efforts OF mules and
teamsters to extricate wagons from its
elcntless clutch, and it imparts to ali
who force their way throug b it an ap
pearance suggestive Of wallowing
after the manner of certain animals.
ln fact, when Virginia mud is ia sea
son il puts q veto on comfort. celebrity
OF movement, and ever the remotsst
approach to pedissrianism.
Gen, Grants army was said 10 he
bound by this deoctablo mixture dur
ing tho greater position of the week.
and there ia at present no prospect OF
an early release The dry weather
that followed the inauguration, has
been succeeded by alother ranstorm,
and it is probable that the crust form.
ed on Sunday and Monday has been
rednced to tha consistency OF tie un-
derlying strata Of soft mortar. In the
present condition, OF the roads it
would be Simply impossible to move
ten miles from camp with trains and
artillery. 1t is now very we'll known
that Just prior to the St6r.n OF last
week Grant had made preparations
for forward movement. All the
civilians not Immediately connected
with the army were ordered from the
lines, and th1 order was promptly
obeyel J, as the densely crowded boats
arriving from City Point amply testi
fed. All the sick were sent to the
hospitals near City Point, until they
could be transported North. All the
animals were shOl for march. All
the trains were inspected. Forage
was issued tor the cavalry and artil-
lery horses and the ill-uSei aud COCA
sionally exasperated mules. The
men were supplied with rations; arms
and gnns were inspected; luggage
was packed by those who possessed it.
and the only thing that was not is,u
ell was the order To march.
This was not Issued because it
might have provoked ironlcal con-
nen's When an order is issued to |
troops theg arc expected to obey it. 1t
would have been impossible to obey
a amarchiug order at the time mon
toned, Jupiter Pluvus WAS the on
ly PersOnaga, ancient or modern, lea
or imaginary, whose authority had |
any force, and his viii was respected |
alike by General and wivate. H.
showered his drenching favors or
:ent ami hut for sixty consecutive
hours, and when 1t pleased his mSjeS |
to "dry up" the roads were in an
exceedingly liquid and unfathomable
llis interpositiou nnlnuSt
edlY saved the Confederacy from
dreadful smashing, for all the loyal
men OF the country (and the judgment
of such men ia intail.ibie) said that
Grant had only to strike one OF his
giant blows to demoish the whole
Confederate concern, and annihilate
it, bag and baggage; lock, stock and
barrel. But Jupiter Pluvius issued
his moist mantle over that part OF
Virginia in which Grants army had
taken up it's winter residence, aud
that invincible host was obliged to
toregoit it's humane and patriotic iuten
tion Of crushing into infritesimoi
atoms the enemy that has had the |
sudacity TO return, Oh several occs-
sions, the blows Of its assailaut.
1t is not prob,il, that the forward
Of the forces on the south
side OF the james, will be much long
or delayed. Tne rains of the last
month were very heavy aud frequent
and 80 moistened the sol. that during
their pre- valence it was impossible to
inau gerate an active campaign. But
the sod Of Virginia does not long re-
tain moisture, and one week OF dry
March weather will restore the roads
10 a yaS;ab,u condition, We msy