Year: 1864




The Confederates are very active in all direc-
tions just now, and particularly in Virginia,
notwithstanding the deep mud and the still
swollen streams. 1t may be said with truth that
they are in virtual possession of the whole terri
tory between here and the Army of the Potomac.
OH the Rappahannock River, distance of sixty
five miles True, we have line of Railroad be
tween here and the army. But we have not the
free use even of that. When its utility is not
destroyed by the elements (as it is full one half
of the time), locomotion on it. except for large
bodies of troops at time, is positively danger
Gus. No attempt is made to guard il. because
to guard il properly would require 20, 600 troops.
The consequence is. that every train that passes,
either up OF down. is at the mercy of the Con-
federate cavalry under Colonel Mosby, who are
continually in motion, not only all along this
road but also in every direction near this city,
Manassas, Wauenton, and the Bull Run Noun
tains. 1t has only been a few days since General
Grant himself came very being captured,
between Manassas and Wanenton junction.
And on Saturday long wagon train. returning
from the army to Washington, was captured by
the Confederates near Fairfax Twenty eight
large wagons. all nearly and in excellent
order, and of course very valuable, were delber-
ately broken up and burned by the Confeder-
ates; and the horses, l10 in all. were all
carried off Such occurrences are taking place
constantly. The loss to the government IN this
way is enormous; and what makes it worse is
the fact that il all mig Just well be avoided
The pecuniary loss thus suffered (and the gain.
too which thus accrues to the Confederates.) is
result of the obstinate persistence of Mr.
Lincoln in the overland route to Richmond No
man living can point out a single advantage
which has been gained by keeping the army or
the Rappahannock during the last four months
The expense alone of keeping the army there
has been four times as great as it would have
tto E.1 al fl,a
heights OF Centrevile and the line of Bull
Run. In the latter position, % miles from Wash
ingtOn the capital would have been covered Just
as well indeed much better; and the rebel army
could not and would not have advanced north OF
the Rapidan, because of the difficulty they would
have experienced in getting supplies 1t will be
very strange if General Grant permits the army
to remain so far away from Washington. to no
purpose, any longer. IL, as soon as the roads
become moderately good, the army should be
ordered to fall back TO Centreville and the lineof
Bull Run, it would give occasion for the exer-
else of some good tactics on both sides If the
Confederate army followed ours, say far to
Brentsville aud Manassas, it would put them to
enormous Inconvenience and expense to feed
their troops. If they attacked us, we should
have such an advantage in position that 5O, ,OOO
troops on our side would be amply enough to
repeI the assaults of twice that many.


do not say that this part OF Gen. Grants
plan for the spring campaign, for as yet no man
here knOweth what that plan is. But | do say,
in the light of our past experience, that some
such movement as this on our part would give
the Confederates ten times much annoyance
and trouble as TO keep the armv on the Kappa
banLOck will 20 lurIher Such movement
would demonstrate. in two weeks after it had
been m1de, the utter useleSsneSs of keeping any
large army ut all at any point between here and
Richmond. Gen Lee might make feint of
following our army towards Washington. as he
did last al. But no man knows better the IN
tiiity OF attacking strong position like that of
CentreviIle. defended. the latter would be, by
an adequate force The result would be- that
Gen Lee. after making some demonstrations to-
wards Washington in order tn draw our forces
away from their vantage ground at Cehtreyille,
as he did the lst of September. 1862. would,
il he failed to do so, (as he would fail now lead
his army back to their camps on the Rapidan.
He would not dare to attack Washington with
Grants army at Cenireville, ready to fall upon
his fanks and rear; and he would not invade
Pennsy yauia, for the time Tor the invasion of The
North has not yet arrived.


This movement would, then, leave the whole
Of the Army of the Potomac at liberty to move
on Richmond by way of the Peninsula. For
Washington now, surrounded as il is by Gordon
OF 80 forts and redouts, all bristling with long
range guns. and manned by corps OF experienced





certainly would be so until 50 900 of the trained
militia of the adjacent States could rush to its
defence.


If General Grant wishes TO make the Army OF
the Potomac available in an attack on Rich
mond. he must adopt some such course as this.
Kept where it is now, that fine and large army is
worse than useless; and any attempt to reach
Richmond with il by the overland route, will be
attended with disaster and defeat.


The alat ming crisis which the country has
reached, in the disordered state of the finances
ought TO open the eyes of the people to the reali
ty of the danger towards which we are fastening
The recent visit OF the Secretary of the Treasury
to New York il said to have had in view tbs
discovery, If possible, of some means whereby
the rapid depreciation of the national currency
may be averted Both here and in New York
butter sells at 81 to 60 cents beef, 25 to 80 cents
white sugar, 90 cents: white muslin yard wide
40 cents. In other words, to buy $50 worth OF
the necessaries of life, we have TO pay $50 AZ
in MIR. Chase's paper money And the matter
has only been made worse 10y Mr.. Chases recent
movements. There is no doubt in the world that
the volume of paper money with which the
country is already deluged. will be still greatly
increased. and The prices Of everything that We
need to eat and wear will become higher and
higher, and very gold will be quoted at 200
Then. perhaps. the geople will see where this Ad
ministration is leading them to.


The first false step which led to this utter de
raDgement of the monetary affairs of the natior
was the authorization By Congress Of the green
back currency, currency without any basis a
all This bad enough. But the legal ten
der act was another false step, still more rulnou
in its results. These steps must both be retraces
before the country can expect any return TO IL
former prosperity. But there is no hope tha
this will be done under this Administration. Or
the other hand, not satisfied with the headlon,
pace at which we are going towards ruin. Lin
coin. Chase and Stanton are urging upon mem
bers of Congress the adoption of other measure
which they hope will advance Lincon's prospect
for re election but which will certainly cause
still higher rise in gold. that il shall be quoted
not at 300. but at 250i With SIS greenbscl
then, We will Only be able to buy 81 worth of th
necessaries of life. Will that be enough TO ope
the eyes Of the people. and to make them ACT
stick N PIN There.


The tax bill was under consideration in tn
House on Friday last. Mr.. STEVENS. the Re
publican leader of the House. in commentin
upon the action of the two Houses, and the ia
congruous legislation heretofore adopted. mad
the following remark:


1--WE have lost 81. 600 900 by the course here
tofore pursued on this subject"


| Both Houses have decided Republican work
ing majorties. The responsibility of this loss
| thus easily 6xed.