The Yankee army of the Potomac.
--It is evident that the
Yankee army of the Potomac is not in a condition to take the field.
It is believed that it has largely reinforced
Rosecrans, and that it is only threatening in order to its weakness.
The
Washington correspondent of the Chicago
Times assures his readers that its days are numbered:
No more long marches (it says); no more fatiguing campaigns; no more sanguinary battles; no more thinning of ranks to reinforce the great army of the slain, no more jealous rivalry for the leadership; no more political warring and, conspiracy; no more victories or defeats — the record is made up. There only awaits to be written the account of the death struggle, and the history of the proud and great Army of the Potomac is complete.
The ambition that has at one time and another inspired its successive chieftains; the relative merits of
Scott,
McDowell,
McClellan,
Pope,
Burnside,
Hooker, and
Meade, its different leaders; the true and authentic account of its unparalleled campaigns, separated from party bias and political purpose, leading to the exaggeration of this or the concealment of that important fact; the calm judgment of impartial witnesses as to the balance of advantage gained or lost in different battles, and the merits of different plans adopted, one after the other, for the attainment of the same end by different captains; all this, and much more, is yet to engage the pen of the historian, and the future will do justice to each and all of the
Generals whose names have been prominent in connection with the operations of this army.
This is not yet the time to pass judgment, or to attempt to arrive at the facts in regard to those interesting yet troubled points.
The power and influence of the army for good has been wasted by ambition and political jealousy, and the object for which it was created have been lost through the machinations of designing politicians.
Now, what is to become of the army of the Potomac?
Just here I shall drop the subject.
Circumstances over which I have no control forbid that I should enlarge upon this subject.
Other correspondents have announced that all the
Western troops have been withdrawn from this army.
The announcement has also been made that we were about falling back into the defences of
Washington.
These statements have appeared in papers having a pseudo connection with the Administration.
You may take them for what they are worth.
I will only say that we are still on the
Rappahannock, but that our fighting days are all told.
I verily believe the army of the Potomac will never fight another battle.
