Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1864-03-07
.aiIg GmpIre.
The Armies OF the sOuth--POsi-

The Armies Of the SOuth--POsi-
tlOn and Force OF General
Lee.
The Washington correspondent Of the
World says:
"0n information derived from high quar-
ters in Richmond, that the rebels have now
in the Geld but three regularly organised
armies-Lee's Longstreets, and Johnstous,
As to Polk, his forces consist chiefly OF indie
pendent bands-most cavalry--and do not
present the character peculiar to superior
commands These three armies extend upon
an area OF about six hundred miles in length
and four hundred miles in width. OF these
three armies the FIRST in strength and in pres
tiRe is Lees army. Il supplies not only men,
but enerRls, for all the departments Of the
South and may be looked upon as a nursery
from which ali the other rebel military organ.
izatons are fed It's efficiency is greater aud
its morale higher than any other, and although
there may be as skillful officers IN other corps,
it's organization, ensemble and discipline are
undoubtedly superior Lees lieutenants are
men of unquestionable merit, and his men,
although considerably reduced by repeated
losses, and particularly BY the great defeat at
Gettysburg are veterans Injured to privations
and perils by the brunt oftwenty battles and
BY the still more trying test of several difficult
retreats, The future movements Of Lees
army are q mystery which no one can have
the pretension to solve All private and pub
hc information received from Richmond are
perfectly silent on that point Il is obvious,
however, that he is preparing for a desperate
conflict His ranks are filing up rapidly
with recruits, and the general impression is
that he will have from eighty to ninety thou
sand men at the opening Of the spring Thirty
thousand mechanics, the last remnant of the
declining industry of the rebellion, have,
AN told been compelled to shoulder the mus.
ket and to march in the direction of the RApi-
dan now defended from Morton's ford down
TO Fredericksburg The works on that line,
although Of not very formidable character,
are, however, Of sufficient strength to pro.
tract our advance in that direction and render
the march to Richmond dangerous to our
troops The rebels are now building in that
locality three military roids-one beIweeu
Mine Run and Orange Court House tho
other ON the Orange pike, and \ third between
the two named These roads are constructed
with planks obtained from the saw mills loea-
ted in the vicinity, and occupy already an ex-
tent of about fifteen miles in length. Once
finished, they will cover q space Of about sixty
miles, and will add great deal to the rapidity
OF the rebel movements within the line they
have selected for defensive operatons-A
line in the limits Of which are located the
sArthworks and intrenehments to which |
have just alluded IfAny inference eonld be
drawn from these preparations, they would
naturally lead one 10 believe that Lees nten-
tions are TO remain strictly on the defensive.
and TO keep during the next season inside Of
the points he is no fortifyinR-points which
he could not abandon without exposing
Richmond to certain fall All appearances
are, then, that as long rs no movements will
be made on his front or on his rear; Lee
will preserve passive attitude and divert the
surplus OF his forces iothe armies which Ars
in need Of them.