Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-20


doned. and that no Is now trying 10 reach the
ames river with an army that has lost in killed
aud wounded, since that date. fully 40 600 men.
This does not imply that he has not large army
vet: nor does il imply that the attempt 10 capture
Richmond by some meaDs has been abandoned.
With the reinforcements that have been sent TO
him, including the corps OF Badly Smith but
not counting either Buffers, or tiilmore's. or
Hunters troops lac must have at least 100, 900,
perhaps even lbs 900 troops now-certainly not
more than the latter number
Tho series of engagements and actions that
eliminated in the terrible Iba,tle OF June ID
demonstrated 10 Gen. Grants complete satisiac
ton the fact that he butting his head against
stone wall, and that, the sooner he stopped that,
the better lie had been irving, for three days.
20 force passage Ia the Chckahomlny through
the line OF rebel works on the ridge north of that
stream. By the evening of June 81 he had con-
WINGED himself at an expense OF the lives OF
IL 900 of his soldiers, that that line OF works
was impregnable. aud that he could not reach the
Chickahominy with them in his front. He had
discovered, however, that those works did not
extend below Summers Bridges, and, that he
could approach the stream in the neghborbood
OF Bottoms Bridge. Warren corps. according
w. was withdrawn from his right, at Coal Har-
Dor, and sent around his rear Ia his left. and
then pushed forward 20 bottoms Bridge This
was on the Ith
The period succeeding the Sd OF June
critical one 20 the rebels. Ii there Is any weak
point in the triple line OF forts that surround
Richmond 1t will be found alone by an army
which crosses the ChickahOmny at Bottom
Bridge, aud advances on the city by the Will
liamsburg stage road. Ii Richmond l. ever
attacked successfully il must be by an army al
yancing from the east; and an army advance NJ
tkaf OBJ bnr
Now. lust in the neghborhood of Bottom ;
Bridge or perhaps a little lower down, Is til,
point, of all Others where the crossing could
have been most silly effected The stream j:
not perceptibly wider there than at Mechanics
Vile or New Bridge while the banks are hrmeI
aud drier. and there is scarcely any morass ol
swamp on either side And the Confederate
had made less preparation To resist the crossing
of Grants army Ghere than at any other point
III General Grant had been successful IN the bat
tie of June 3d.-it he had forced the Conleder
ate line west of Coal Harbor, and had advanced
to the Chickahominy by way of Gaines Mill, ant
attempted TO cross at any point west OF where
Summers upper bridge was bult,-he would
have found the progress OF his army barred by
insurmountable obstacles The right bank .
Chickahomiuy, as far down Summers lowe
bridge, il hilly and wooded, aud the trees arr
now covered with the deusest foliage. 80 nu-
merous and close together are the rebel forts anG
batteries that the whole of the right bank of th'
/ stream. from the Brook Run Bridge. north o
/ Richmond, to Summers Bridge, may be said t'
be strongly fortified The stream itself woulC
| have answered the purpose of a wet ditch. AnC
no troops in the world could have forced it, pas
sage, in the face OF such hail OF grape sho
and shrapne as would have been poured int
them at point blank distance, both from forts anC
concealed batteries The strength of the line
| which General Grant found improbable on thu
Sd OF June was rs nothing compared with the
strength OF this line of works south of the Chick
ahominy. Yet against these General Grant hat
fully determined TO hurl his gallant men. it b,
had succeeded in the affair of the Sd.
But this line of works like that north of tn
stream) did not extend below Summers Bridge
From that point down to. the mouth OF W hit'
Oak creek the ground on the south side OF the
Chickahominy Is Hat and level although dry ant
firm. Ii, Immediately after his repulse on tn
Sd, Grant had rapidly moved his whole arm,
from Coal Harbor to Bottoms Bridge, and hat
| made vigorous and determined effort TO throw
/ his whole army across at that point. he wOu
have succeeded beyond doubt. There were
few rebel earthworks and rifle pits, to be sure
but they would have been no obstacle to Gen
! eral who can speak of 3 700 soldiers killed ant
wounded in one action as mot serious loss
! An easy march Of two miles farther. over har
/ and smooth roads would have brought our arm,
to the point where Heintzelman and keyes IN
| trenched their two corps on the 10Th OF May
/ 1862 These ntrenchments still in pertec
/ order, and Grants position on the south side o
! the Chickahominy would thus have been rendere
absolutely secure for the present. This woul
/ have been flank movement, by which, for IN
/ first time in his campaign, he would have tianke
/ something He would have turned, and rendere
utterly useless to the Confederates, their two lon
/ lines of works ON tile Chickahominy DE woul
have been in precisely the same position TIA
/ Gen. Mcclellan army occupied after the victor
of Seven Pines he would have had no othe
obstacle of any kind IN bis way until his arm
] had marched to within four miles OF Richmonc
when he would have encountered the outer I'm
of the defences of the city. On the very Ga
that Mr. Lincoln nominated at Baltimore
Gen. Grant could have summoned the rebel can
ital 10 surrender
But Gen. Grant did nothing of this kind. y
that he did DO. NAV not here relate. But, 81
days after hi defeat at Coal Harbor. he began {
tear mp and DESTROY the railroad between Whit
House and the Pamunky. Ii is now said that b
, Il seeking a new base the James rive
Seeking for a new base on the James rivel
when that base was ready for him a month age
when he might have reached IL month az
Z hithout tue iVN> ~ Il uth WY uiu Ht IN
do sol
This is WHY: After the adjourn ment OF tn
Baltimore Convention. and after Mr.. Lincol
bad been informed OF his nomination. selee
party of his especial friends were assembled
a certain room in the White House, not the on
which Mr. Lincoln told the preachers that b
was waiting for God 10 reveal his will 10 him.
The bottle went freely around Mr.. Lncol
was in his best vein. and anecdote aud ''smu
" Joke" followed each other in quick succession
And then the second Washington alluded 10 Oh
war .Geutlemen said he. I'VE are getting o
bully now-bullv. | Determined TO tab
Richmond in my own way, or not all; and Gran
was the first teller that said he would try, an
failed; Hooker said be would DO his best, and
failed Meade said it might be possible. aud b
failed too: but Grant Welded his plan to min
at once and sand. Give me the men, and
will 20 to Richmond by the overland route
I and believe he means To do IL
We have tue testimony OF the Chief Magistra'
OF the nation. therefore that Gen Grant had
plan for reaching Richmond-and 10 soidie
can doabt what il vas: and that he gave Il u
and adopted my PLAN. knowing what It ~oui
cost Ii has cost no more Than zen. Graf
knew il would COS, before he adopted Il An
now he has had TO abandon it. and the lives tha
il has cost have been sacrificed in vain. and simpl
/ TO CRAFTY Abraham Lincoln X
Ma EDIroR:
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