Year: 1864

iron the NOW YORK NeWe, May IL.


The Situation ln Virginia.


The stern teachings of the past three years
seem to have been lost Upon the greater part
OF the Northern press Our city Journals,
especially, have not yet learned to dstin-
geish between their too eager hopes and stub.
born facts II is true that for the first and
second day after the vogue and uncertain re.
ports from the great battle fields OF Virginia
reached us, the press generally were reserved
aud cautious in commenting upon the all-ab-
sorbing theme But the repression Of exul.
tation during that brief period, proved too se.
we're a trial of their patience; and although the
result Of the Virginiau campaign is now as
much mystery as ever the peans Of victory
have burst forth, and the people have been in.
viied to gloriy triumph that may be purely


imaginary or that may, at any hour, assume
the essence OF disaster


A stranger, reading the jubilant headings
that preface the given details of the late bat
ties, without reading the details themselves
would suppose that Lees army bad been an
initiated, and that no impediment lay be-
tween Richmond and the Federal forces The
facts, so far as known, but poorly sustain
these buoyant anticipatons.


There is many an uniought field between
Grant and Richmond, unless the experience
Of the past bears false witness The foe that
so stubbornly contested the first field of the
campaign will MT be less active or less de
ternnined in succeeding conflicts Apart from
the circumstance that Grant is advancing,
there is nothing In the actual situation that
denotes an advantage 10 the Federal arms,
and the result only will make known to phat
he is advancing The people, so far as we
have interpreted their mood, do not share the
apparent confidence of the press They have
too dearly earned their consciousness of the
Eckleness OF Belona when she treads the
booddyed soil Of Virginia, to accept fair au.
Jury from such terrible yet undeeisive strug.
giles as have inaugurated this the so called
last campaign of the war. Let us review the
striking features of the situation and Judge
whether grim doubt does not frown in the
face Of hope


The battle Of Friday was the mos. despe.
rate and bloody OF the series That the Con
federates had not been either morally or
physically worsied by the furious contests Of
the preceding days, is evident from the fact
that they resumed the offensive early on the
morning of the 9th. Our right wing is first
assailed, and then our left, and then our cen
tire; and throughout the day, the enemy hurl.
ed their leglons against one or other portions,
Of our line, never yielding the offensive from
the beginning to the end Of that fearful day
Il could have been no discounted or demor-
allied army that was handled so brilliantly,
and driven repeatedly from before the dawn,
till after the dusk against the most magnif.
cent and powerful army that the eaemy has
ever brought to the field


Even If these sp endid assaults had ell
been repulSed, that constituted no victory, for
the Federal forces, for an invading army TO
be victorions must do more than 10 repel an
attack il must itself attack, without being
repulsed, But the rebel onsauehts were not
at allrepulstd This close OF that day, wit.
messed the complete shRttering and discom-
Gture Of our extreme right wing. The Reb-
els pierced through aud through Seymour's
Brigade, ouihanked II, drove il back upon
Shaler's brigade, broke that too, and capiur.
ed Seymour and Shaler with the greater por-
ton Of their commands. And thus the battle
ended, within three hours Of the midnight.
Such is the record according TO Federal ac-
counts. IL does not look like Federal vic
tory


The next morning the Confederate general
did not renew the attack be withdrew his
army TO another position, aud subsequently,,
~ PotteNs oiNtA hHu Aoah OF any OF
his material OF war, his entire force took IN
the line OF march toward Richmond IL is
upon this circumstance that the claim of Fed
era victory is founded but il is somewhat
strange that movement so difficult and at
all times perilous In The iRee Of the enemy,
should have been earrietanto effect without
moestation in the face OF piciorious army
The truth is evident; General Lee having
failed to crush his adversary IN tbe'open field,
proceeded TO develop another phase OF his
strategy He had gained sufficient advan.
tage ia the proceeding 6ghtt TO enable hun TO
vancouver with impunity and the Federal
army was too much crippled TO prevent the
movement The last event Of that sanguin
ary series Of battles was the successful charge
upon the right wing Of our army, resulting
in the capture oftwo general and nearly al
oftwo brigades Il "a therefore absurd TO
claim that the retreat OF the Coufederates was
a consequence Of defeat or anything other
than slrategieal movement


The subsequent affairs NJ Spotsylyania and
elsewhere were no more than collisions be.
tween our advance and the rear guard Of the
enemy. Lee has reireated toward his re-en.
foreemenls and toward his Notifications on
the North Anna river. His reputation as a
cautious and provident commander Is too well
established 70 permit the supposiiion that be
would risk that vast isses Of this campaign
upon the fortunes Of the frsl collisions h the
open field, he is fighting the prudent as we'll


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