The Placer Herald

Notwithstanding all the surmises of newspapers, and the constant and persistent lying of reporters; that important battles are about to be fought within the next twenty-four hours, as has been the burden of the news brought us by Pony for weeks past—it seems pretty clear that no forward movements or battles of great magnitude are to be undertaken before the meeting of Congress, or perhaps until August. This of necessity must be true—as a large majority of the troops now in Maryland, the vicinity of Washington, and those sent into Virginia, are three-months men. Their terms of service will expire about the 1st of August, and their places must be filled by those who have volunteered for the war. It will take until the time named above to bring a sufficient force of the latter to the line of operations, to replace the former for certainly Gen. Scott will never attempt to withdraw a large force from his line of operations in front of his enemy, without having new men on the ground to fill their places. Neither could he undertake active hostilities against Virginia with three-months men, as the campaign would scarcely commence before their terms of enlistment would expire. Many of the three months men will re-enlist, but their present regimental organizations will be much broken up, and new ones required to be formed—but these changes are not likely to be made at the front of the line.

It will be recollected that the three months volunteers in the Mexican war were not advanced farther than Matamoras and Camargo. Gen. Taylor did not advance into the enemy's country until his army was composed (beside the regulars) of volunteers for twelve months and the war.

Organizing the Commissary and Quartermaster's departments of an army is a work of considerable magnitude; and the manner of their management is an important aid or drawback to the movement of troops. Until these important auxiliaries are systematized, it is useless to expect rapid or important advances. These departments cannot be well organized in a week or a month, and without them an army would be almost as helpless as without guns. The information from the East is not very flattering so far in reference to commissary management, and until improved it will be a check upon important movements.

There may be skirmishes and minor engagements, like the one near Hampton, through the months of June and July, but we repeat, that the great operations can scarcely commence before August; and until that time impatient news readers must wait for the great clash of arms to be commenced by the Federal Government, unless in the meanwhile Congress will listen to the voice of reason and humanity, and give peace to a distracted country.