The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-08-02
The Battles before Riciiuicnd
IFso,n the London Times July Ill


The "straiegecal motives" which have led u
General to retire after attack of the enemy from
position which he had occupied in order to make
an assault upon his capital purely u1intelligi-
rle. II Is quite obvious that a retrograde move
meat on the part of besieging army means an un
ttnatle position, "a confession of weakness ulea
sufo VI safety.
II tl,e Euglis, army before Delhi had thrown
tart right oeyeu3 the subsee Mundee aud then had
refined across ii after two hard fights agajnst q
a1rte of the Sepoys SO nat their right was obliged
to tJabie back and cover itself behind the LEFT on
tha Jumna. even Affection our hopes and our
fears, coud n0t deceive lis into the beitfthat the
rctrograde movement made III consequence of
any prenleditated strategy, aud that the attack
expected result which must lead to the strength.
errs- Of the pew position.
II Tor moment we take the Thames represent
ing the James river, aud then imagine deep aud
sluggish stream sweeping round the city from the
northeast, to fali INTO the Thames below Pias
tow marshes we may have rough idea of the re,a
tioa of the Chick anoniny with the James river
and Richmond To the east OF the Chcahomipy,
mus 19preSen'e ed, let Us Conceive river flowing
trnt, tue north west. al distance of 1! miles from
II. which is called the famnnkey, AID which turns
Of eastward into the ait point on the coast
OF Essex.
The Union General having advance betwee L the
James and the latter river tuls himself with the
CBickahomhiy in his front. He throws portion of
his army .cICss the river, and, having thus estab-
aisss bis aeft proceeds to pivot upon IL end to
tend his .giit by tho right bank OF the Pamunkey
has he dome when the enemy attack the lett
whcIl had crossed he river Chiekahoniuy, infict
it severe defeat, take guns and prisoners. and
only retire when Mcclellan throws a large support
ing force across the river.
4 small eayary razzia made by the enemy on his
right sweeps round il, destroys cornmssariat YES
sells IL tAe Pasnunkey, and encircling his whole
nly, crosses the Chick kahomny below his lett and
Returns to the 'oeicaguered city" The comrnuni-
cations Of the army situated have been mainly
dependent on the rIvefs and the sea- and while the
General has CetE preparing fer an assault the
enemy. th" corps which he has relied for some
demonstration on his extreme right suddenly
attacked by the Confe0-rates Iinfier "Stonewali
.iac1s0l $50 called from his tenacity in holding TO
an obstruction OF that natur III his fight with
Shields at Winchester last spring. and chased
across the Potomac.
Ar active offensive movement in combination
with Fremont forces Jackson to fall back into the
Valley of tde Shoaanfrab but suddenly turning
10 the east, lie crt the mountains ard marches
straight, with Lis victorious little army largely
reinforced" whether by Beauregards men not
il is impossible to say, aad joins the Confederates
at Richmond. The presence of this dashiIg leader
ana hi. invigorate the Southern lead
ers On the goth OF June they direct an attack on
the right wing Of the Unonists between the Chick
ahomny and P;smunkey in heavy force
Then comes official confusion. ''The Federals,
by order OF Gen. cCleiian. receded several miles,
holly pursued" iand therefore running very hardl
by the Corfederdtes." Two days hard gtlting
led tC the retreat of the whole of the Union array
now lie masaad 2etween that river on their right
and James river Oh their left. Now their retreat
has left open the whole of the country between the
Chckahonliny ard the Paraunkey to the Confed
crates.
West Point and White House have fallen ioto
the eacIays hands, and the head Of the York river
is once more their own. III Mcclellan had propriG
nota suddenly transported his army across the
river, after menaciBg Richmond on the north side
:, as 10 lead the enemy to throw up works and
prepare for al attack on that quarter leaving Rich
aoId. q. the side resting on tue James river com
paratveiy weak, we might understand the strategy
but such move .nent after serious attack hard
fighting for two days more, heavy loss, II hol
pursuit by the enemy, contraction of lines is al
least suspicious, s,rategieally considered; and
making for the James river looks like severe
reverse. The proximity 10 Richmond is gone--tht
maze OF the lines is for il General Nc
Cieau CT his successor makes the James river tht
base OF operations tho Union army must drop down
lower than Fof Darling unless their ginboats hay.
worked through the distractions, which has not YET
been asserted.