Year: 1864

From the Richmond Sentinel, Sept s.


Grant is showing some restlessness, in
dicative of a renewal Of the attempts
which have brought him so little profit in
the past. The Petersburgh Express sup
poses his object is to extend his left and
make a lodgment on the railroad con-
Meeting Petersburg with Lynchburg, the
Southside Railroad, as it is called Such
an extension Of his line would greatly in
crease his hazards by exposing bis cOnnec-
tions with his base at City Point. But it
is reasonable to anticipate some early
movement on Grants part. His lodgment
on the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad
is seen to be of such insignificant conse-
quence that no glory attaches to it. That
railroad was already so near his lines that
our use of it was very precarious and liza
bic to be suspended at any time by cav
airy dash. 1t was, indead, question
whether it was worth the while, for pres
ent uses, to repair the inconsiderable
breaches made at the time of the Wilson
raid !; and this the more especially because
the Danville road and its Southern con-
nections rendered US completely inde-
pendent of the Petersburg and Weldon
road. So far from cutting off our sup
plies and starving out Gen. Lees army,
his commissariat was never in a more graf
flying condition.


Grant will not only feel impelled to
move, in order to wipe out, if possible, the
military disgrace of expending twenty
thousand men in killed, wounded and cap
tured, to gain a position which neither
profits him nor incommodes us; but the
necessities of the White House will require
successes, and will therefore coerce the at
tempt to win them. Lincolns hope of
election depends on the military results of
the next few weeks. If his armies shall
gain advantages sufficient to revive the
dead or dying hopes of his people, and in
spire them with the expectation of ultimate
triumph, he will be elected. Such mis-
givings OF conscience as tho Northern null
titude may feel, as to the propriety of the
war they are prosecuting against the Con-
federate States, will vanish with the least
prospect of success. With such result
as that in view, all questions of right, and
of justice, are given to the winds. 1t is
only when reverses or disappointments
cast their shadows over their hopes, that
calculation, taking the guise of reason and
conscience, begins to argue in behalf of
moderation and justice. 1t is sort of
thunderstorm repentance that disappears
when the skies smile again.


Lincoln knows all this; and he knows
that the sure and only way to destroy the
peace sentiment is to win victories; and
he knows, too, that if he does not thus
destroy the peace sentiment, the peace
sentiment will destroy him. If he can
present to his people such prospect of ul-
innate success as will induce them to COD
tinue the war, then he is sure of his cleo
ton. A war policy will call for war
President. But if military disaster, fail
ure, inaction or irresolution mark the Pc
riod of the Presidential canvass, the peace
sentiment will grow and will triumph. A
revolution in policy will be determined
upon in the popular mind, and this will re-
result in revolution in the administra-
ton. Lincoln will be dismissed the White
House, and "some other mans son" 4" will
occupy it.


We look, therefore, to see great activity
on the part of the enemy from the present
time until November. Such will be the
case, unless the orders from Washington
are disobeyed. Shermans retreat from
his advanced position will fill Lincoln with
dismay, and compel Stanton to indite an
other bulletin. Is the prestige of Atlanta
all gone in the very week of triumph? Has
Sherman indeed but won town and q few
miles of road, and is Ae afraid, that thus