Year: 1863

he shall consent to be unanimously reelected
by grateful and happypeople.


| The Good News from the Rappahan-
| nock-A Fine Opening for Decisive
Work East and West.


The neatly contrived and admirably accom-
plisbed victories Of General Sedgwick and
General French on the Rappahannock, in con-
nection with the supporting movements of the
| whole Army OF tho Potomac and other armies,
will justify the conclusion that General Meade
has entered upon a campaign which will soon
determine not only the strength of the rebel
army of Virginia, but the inevitable fate of
Richmond aud the exhaustion of the rebellion.
The battle of Chiekamauga has evidently
taught our War Office this important lesson:
that in order to prevent reinforcements going
from Lee in Virginia to Bragg in Georgia, or
ment to both Lee and Bragg at the same time
The government is acting accordingly. and, we
think, with every promise of the best results
1t is true that we have been warned of the dan
ger of formidable flank movement by Bragg
against Chattanooga. by way Of East Tennes-
see; and from the capture Of two exposed de-
tachments Of General Burnsides army 1t would
appear that this threatened design is in course
Of execution; bat we have no doubt that Gen.
Grant has troops enough to repel any move
ment Of the enemy on either side without
eadangering his central position on the
Tennessee river. 1t Is probable thai
the rebel forces detailed by Bragg to
operate against Burnside are limited
to few squads Of guerillas and forsgers; for
the rebel general il not il condition to hazard
tho loss Of any considerable column. from his
main army, with the army Of General Thomas
In his immediate front. At all events. we have
sufficient faith In the forces Of General Grant,
and in his comprehensive combinations, to feel
perfectly easy in regard 70 the campaign in
that quarter. Nay, moro, We anticipate some
telling blows against the forces and movements
Of Bragg before the meeting OF Congress.
We return, therefore, 70 the prospect in vir-
ginia Il has been demonstrated that Lees
| army has been materially weakened to
strengthen Bragg, and it is suspeosed that Leo,
| rely ing upon the inactivity Of Meade, has, In
falling back TO the Rspidau, detailed additional
reinforcsments 10 the rebel army in Georgia.
In this event the Army Of the Potomac will
soon lnd its way to Richmond; while. in any
event, it is impossible that Lee, since his re-
treat from Manassas, can have gained sufficient
accessions to his diminished columns to enable
him to hold his ground in q general engage
ment with the army now advancing upon him.
In holding the fortified line Of the Rapidan be
is in danger Of being turned by way Of the


Rappahaunock, below the junction Of the Ra-


pidan. In attempting to hold the river above


and below the junction he weaksns bis line 80


that it may be broken at any point. In fact, as


was said by the rebel General Sydney Johnston,


after his enforced evacuation Of Bowling Green


al there is no position in the confederacy which


cannot be turned.n


So the strong defensive line of the Rapiian


and Richmond itself may be turned. Tho


country between that city and the Rappahan-


mock has been exhausted by Lees army and by


the suspension of the cultivation Of subsist-


ence. Richmond now mainly depends for ito


supplies upon the country south Of the James


river. The cutting of the railroads, therefore,


on the south side Of that stream. in cutting of


the scanty subsistence of Richmond, would


now, we believe, preoipitate the capitulaton or


evacuation of the city by the rebels, includ-


ing their army, rebel and local authorities


and all. Never has there been since Stone


mans raid more inviting opportunity than is


now presented for an enterprise of this kind,


and General Foster would have been the


proper nan to undertake 1t. We Judge, how
ever, from the removal Of Foster and the an


pointment Of General Butler in his place, that


no such movement is contemplated by tho War


Office. General Butler, il we may Judge from
experience, 10 not the man to handle even q
I small army in an aggressive movement. The


only battle in this war in which he was the


commander Of the Union forces was the battle


OF Big Bethel, and Big Bethel was big blum


der and a shameful one, from beginning to end


But il Butler con do nothing, some other gene


raj and feet Of gunboats by way of Yorktown
or the James river may do much to hasten the
downfall Of Richmond, the dispersion of Lees
army, the fight Of JEFF Davis, the recovery Of
! Virginia and North Carolina, and the collapse
! of the remaining fragments Of the dissolving
kingdom Of King Cotton.


While General Meade Is advancing upon his
front, let Lee be harassed by q movement
| upon his flank and rear, and we shall soon have
the glorious results Of decisive campaign.
But, whatever may be the plans of the War
ONCE In reference to the rebel army OF vir-
ginia we are gratifed to hear that General
Meade has at last been instructed 10 "and Lee
and fight him." Meade and his army are
ready, always have been, and they may be rs-
lied upon. II Is to be hoped, however, that,
simultaneously with the advance of this army,
the enemy on the Richmond peulnsuls, and on
The south side, and at Charleston, and frota