The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-04
The Progress OF the War fn Virginia.
The End Near at Hand.

another column for quotations.
The Progress OF the War in Virginia.
The End Near mt Hand.
AS we continue to receive the details of the
fighting on Saturday and Sunday in front of
Richmond, the repulse Of tho rebels and the
general advance Of our army indicate more and
moro positive and important Union victory.
1t is proved again that, in bringing his troops
to the practical use Of tho bayonet, General
Mcclellan, for active fighting in the woods, has
secured an immense advantage over the rebels.
Behind trees and bushes it is difficult to dislodge
an enemy with bullets or bombs; but dashing
bayonet charge does the work at once.
It will be seen that our troops performed
some very brilliant and decisive operations
on Sunday last of this description; 80 very
decisive that on Monday morning, the rebel
officers being unable to rally their troops, they
all retreated back towards Richmond, leaving
"Fair Oaks" the original advanced position Of
General Casey, again in our possession. Gene
raj Porter meantime, to the northward, has
cut off the rebel communications between Rich
mond and their forces near the Rappahannock.
so that those forces against General Mcdowell
are disabled from calling up rcinforcements
from Richmond, and from retreating there to
assist Johnston, except by very long, incon-
venient and roundabout journey. We have no
doubt, however, that Johnston's want of provi-
sions is such that no is not over anxious for re-
Inducements of consumers, and that his sortie
of Saturday last was enforced from the necessity
of opening, if possible, passage through the
lines of Mcclellan to the back country, upon
which the Richmond rebel army has mainly
depended for its support Tho city, be-
ing now cut off from its principal sources Of
supply, and having but very limited
quantity Of subsistence on hand, cannot much
longer hold out. The army of Johnston must
fight, fly or surrender, and one Or two Of these
alternatives have become the question of to-
day or tomorrow.
Meantime, according to the latest reports
from the valley Of Virginia, the combined
forces Of Shields and Fremont have been
making short, sharp and decisive work Of the
rebel forces of Jackson and Ewell. Whatever
may be the precise facts in connection with
these reports, it is very evident that for some
days past Jackson and his supporting detach-
ments under other rebel leaders in the valley
of the Shenandoah have been maneuvring
not to fight, but to escape our enveloping COM
binations His recent triumph has been very
brief, and his late bold dash for descent into
Maryland will be apt yet to end, and that very
soon, in the capture Of the bulk of his forces.
It would appear from our last accounts that
JEFF Davis, tho embodiment of the rebel govern
ment and the rebel cause, still sticks to Rich
mond. We apprehend that, if left to his own
discretion, he would prefer to be much nearer
the Mississippi river, but that he is constrained
to "die in the last ditch" or run the hazard of
being captured in order by his presence to
prevent the Generalization and dispersion Of
his army of the East which seem to have be-
fallen his supposed invincible army of the
West. Steadily and surely General Mcclellan
is enclosing him In his iron grasp, and from
hour to hour we anticipate the news Of the last
despairing and useless struggle Of the rebels
for their Confederate capital, government and
cause; or the march Of our forces into Rich
mond, close upon the heels of the evacuating
army Of Johnston, without further lighting of
any moment
We place no reliance whatever in the rumors
that the women and children of Richmond have
been moved of, so that the rebel army may
dispute with us its occupation, even in the
streets, and as last resort leave us only in
possession of . city reduced to ashes. If in
their cruel desperation they have been debat-
ing any such barbarous expedient Of savage
warfare, they have doubtless rejected it, as
proceeding which would be ruinous only to
themselves and the innocent sufferers falling
under their control No. The rebels, If rout-
ed from Richmond. will leave it to our protec-
ton and if compelled to fly, and time be al
lowed them, their work Of destruction will
probably be limited to the military stores and
materials which they cannot carry away, and
to the bridges Of the James river. We await in
confidence and patience the browning achieve
ments of the war under the army of General
Mcclellan.