The New York herald., 1870-09-06
w AR CONTRAS rs.

Contrast Of tho Continental and American
War Struggies-Enslish Views of the Two
Great Military Epochs-Whnt will be the
End oi the Ffunco.(:crmau War s--Thc
Rapidun ard the Khne-king William
and General Grant.
LONDON, August 90 1870.
There has been from the first taking up or position
by the French troops a remarkable resemblance be-
tween the armies OF France and Germany in their
relative positions al the beginning and in their SUBJ
sequent movements and the forces OF Grant and
Lee IN the final campaign which terminated the re-
bellion III the United States
In the contest now raging the French were the
first in the field Oh the line or the Saar and might
have been expected at any moment to cross t and
drive the apparently unprepared Germans across
the Rhine and back to Berlin. In the American re-
beilion the Confcderates were the first IN The
field on the banks OF the Eapidan, and
evidently Intended to cross. and attempt to drive
the United States armies out OF Virginia and across
the Potomac hack TO Washington Delay on the part
OF Lee gave Grant time to make his preparations
and TO take the offensive. Delay on the part Of Ma
poeon gave the Prussians time to prepare so efYcc
tuay that they, ike the federals, struck the first
blow. 1 am counting out the attack on Saarbruck,
which was only an affair OF OutpOsts and, but for
the theatrical use which was made OF it by the En-.
peror Napoleon, as unworthy OF notice
GRANT
General Gran, passed the Rapidan, and engaged
the enemy at the Wilderness and at Spottsylvania
and, though lie met with heavy loss at both places
pushed on victorious to Gold Harbor where he
was again successful, but with the loss OF many
lives. So dearly did his success here cost him thai
but for tho timely arrival of reinforcements he
would have experienced cheek which would have
| been fatal to his further progress
KING WILLIAM.
King William advanced, and fought and conquered
| at Wissembourg at WOerth and at Forbach, which
places combined stand for the Wilderness. He pur-
| sued his advantage on to Metz the battles around
which, with the engagements in its neighborhood,
very much resemble the series OF encounters known
| as the battle or Spottsyvania.
The crossing Of the Mosee was like the cross.
| Ing OF the North Anne-a bold movement
| which, by its very audac,y had the erect
| OF paralSzng the enemy Like Grant again
King William, moving forward and concentrating as
he progressed turned all the strong positions the
French, and Is now advancing on Chaons his left
by St. Dizler his right by verdun. II great battle
should be fought at Chaons, was the case Cold
harbor the parallel in the general outlines OF the
| two campaigns would be complete so 1ar
IN the event OF tue Germans being victorious the
tssk before them or moving on Paris would be light
compared with Grants In moving on Richmond
Notwithstanding the accession to his strength which
| lie received at Cold Harbor, 80 obstinate was
the resistance or Lee that he was compelled
TO abandon ms Intention OF moving directly south
| west upon Richmond and leaving Cold Harbor.
AS he had left the wilderness and SpOttsyvanla on
his right, he marched through the swalnps OF the
Cnickaliominy, which had been fatal to McClol.
Ian, and throwing himself across the James river
laid siege 10 Petersburg TO the south OF Richmond
The result IL u matter OF history. At Chalons anu
Cold HarbOr the parallel ends. No James river or
Aupomattox in'erseoes between Chaions and Paris;