BEFORE PETERSBURGH: The Military Situation Reviewed; Confidence of the Army in Certain Success (7/20/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 7/20/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Slightly Retrospective-The Inevitable Result of the Present Campaign-Incidents and Scenes Further North.

From Our Special Correspondent.

BERMUDA HUNDRED, Va., Friday Evening, July 15, 1864.

The date of my letter is suggestive. It reminds me most vividly of the excitement and exhilaration in which I participated on the 15th of June just four weeks ago to-night when those marvelously strong works in front of Petersburgh were wrenched from the rebels, and seized by the Union army with a determined and unrelenting grip, which must in time strangle the rebellion, or, at least, make the evacuation of Richmond a necessity. These are not idle words. The people, always steadfast in their hope of ultimate success, yet always impatient of delay, may shake their heads incredulously, and call this the view of an optimist. Let them do this, but it is a fact, nevertheless. Gen. GRANT believes it. So do his subordinate Generals. So must every thinking man in the army and out of it. Consider a moment. How can Richmond be tenable without supplies for LEE's army? These supplies are not in the city. There are not provisions enough in the rebel capital to feed the troops on half rations for two weeks. Such is a well-advised estimate. Now, whence is subsistence to be obtained? Our cavalry, by destroying the railroads south of Richmond, have either completely shut off the sources of supply, or have so seriously interrupted them, that LEE finds himself in a desperate strait. They now stand ready again to swoop down upon these roads like a hawk upon its quarry. All that is required now is to keep the cavalry branch of the service in an effective condition, and starvation, grim, gaunt, and unrelenting, will do the rest.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

https://www.freerepublic.com/tag/by:homerjsimpson/index?tab=articles

To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to previous New York Times thread

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4252590/posts

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Before Petersburgh: The Military Situation Reviewed – 2-4
The War in the Southwest: Another Expedition by General Slocum– 4
Another Rebel Raid: Forrest Moving upon Gen. Sherman’s Rear – 4-5
Gen. Sherman’s Army: The Advance upon Atlanta – 5
Guerrilla Outrage in Missouri: Huntsville Robbed of One Hundred Thousand Dollars-One Man Killed – 5
Southern News – 5-7
News from Washington – 7
A Chinese Trick – 7
Editorial: The Military Situation – The New Draft a Decisive Solution – 7-8
Will the Florida Go to Europe? – 8
Editorial: Government Aid to Freedmen in Virginia – 8-9
The Wilderness Battle-Field: Gathering Up the Wounded-The Place Where Wadsworth Died – 9
A Patriotic Suggestion from a Lady – 9
American Telegraph Company – 9
Amusements this Evening – 9

[Ozymandias Ghost]

Apparently the staff at the “Gray Lady” didn't know there's no “h” in “Petersburg.”

[Homer_J_Simpson]

They stick an “h” on anything that ends in “burg”. Drives my spellcheck crazy.