New York Times, September 7, 1864
From Our Own Correspondent.
CITY POINT, Va., Monday, Sept. 5, 1864.
The extraordinary quiet which has prevailed along our whole front ever since I came here, would render a correspondent’s position at this place a perfect sinecure, if it were not ten times more irksome to spend a day in fruitless search after matter to write about than to sit down and commit facts to paper. Last evening, about supper-time, the old familiar booming of cannon came borne through the calm air, and continued for some hours during the night; but this morning it turned out to be nothing more than the usual favors which we have been of late showering upon the doomed City of Petersburgh at intervals.
Doubtless, the North is, with characteristic eagerness, chafing at this delay, and wondering why Gen. Grant does not proceed at once and give the final blow. He is proceeding; but precisely in his own way. He knows too well the tremendous issues devolving upon him, and he is not going to peril the destinies of the country now placed in his hand, and his own lofty and dearly-earned reputation, by any untimely “on-to-Richmond” goadings. Without venturing to hint even as to their character, no observer can watch the preparations and movements going on throughout the army, without feeling impressed with the certainty that Petersburgh will soon abate the fate of Atlanta. When that occurs, all the concentrated forces of rebellion cannot prevent us from seizing and holding the Richmond and Danville Railroad–their only communication with the interior–and when we do that Richmond is ours, even If we do not strike a blow for it. None know this better than the rebels themselves and their sympathizers north; hence this terrible hurly-burly about an armistice, by some strange coincidence coming simultaneously both from Richmond and Chicago.
The news of the nomination of McClellan and Pendleton fell very flatly upon the army; and the only effect I could preceive was that of positive joy among all true Unionists, who are far crushing out this rebellion, and for listening to no bargains or compromises that can barter away the life of the nation. They consider that, however good the intentions and plausible the promises of McClellan himself may be, the platform upon which he is made to stand, and the bare fact that he is supported cordially by the Vallandighamites, will tend more to show the entire people the hideous abyss that lies before them than anything else that could have happened.
Nor are the soldiers and sailors to be cajoled by the few artful but transparent words of flattery dealt out for their especial benefit. Fine words cannot make them forget who those are that have been constantly opposing every measure that could tend to their benefit; who wanted to take away from them their inalienable right of voting as citizens, and who –even at this last hour–while patting them on the back, would compel them to lay down their arms ignominiously before an all-but-conquered enemy.
Besides, a very strange illusion seems to exist respecting some magical affinity between the name of George B. McClellan and the armies of the United States. Those who imagine that the very mention of that name is enough to kindle the enthusiasm of our soldiery, as it once probably did, must surely entirely forget the enormous changes that have been wrought by time and circumstances, since that General wielded a trust never before confided by a great nation–under such circumstances–to a single individual. Take this very army, for instance–the Army of the Potomac–with which his name is more immediately identified, and how many of that glorious and hopeful band which once fought under his banners are now left to extol McClellan? What with the awful mortality among the swamps of the Chickahominy, the losses since then by disease and by war upon a thousand battle-fields, but very few, comparatively, can be now remaining; and of those few how many must have since fought under other Generals whom they have every reason to love and respect quite as much as they did their former leader. Of that vastly preponderating portion of our armies who never fought under McClellan, why should his name be so revered, when they remember Grant, Sherman, Rosecrans, Hancock and a dozen others, who have done far more to exact genuine homage from their countrymen.
No. Whatever power Gen. McClellan may now hold among politicians, it is absolutely false to assert that he wields any especial influence among our armies, beyond the few boon companions and officers who fought with him. Within an hour after the New-York papers arrived here, confirming the nomination of McClellan as President, the joyous news came flashing to us across the wires that Sherman was in Atlanta! If the two names could at that moment have been launched among our soldiers for their suffrages as President or anything else, I think the gallant hero of Atlanta would have carried the day unanimously. J. R. HAMILTON.