, 1864-06-20
Correspondence. OF the N, r, World ]

WAsu1SGroN, June Is, 1851.
The last private adyices received from
Aichmond represent General Lee Us having
been completely taken by surprise by the
movement Of the Union forces toward the
J1mes-an event for which he was In no
why's prepared. His hope was that Gen. Grant
Wonld remain on the Chickahominy, and di.
rect all bis efforts in that direction. This
sudden change base having upset all the
calculations Of the rebel leader he has been
forced to give up all bis preparations, and to
tr9nspose bis system Of defense elsewhere.
This explains why our troops have been
enabled to accomplish their change of base
within sight Of the rebels without any at
tempt on their part to hinder their advance
another reason more potent yet. ia that their
forces are 50 much reduced by the various
battles in which they have been engaged,
that they can hardly afford at present to fight
In the open field. They must necessarily
nave line OF rlde pits and earthworks Ia
This has been strikingly Illustrated in the
present advance Of our own troops through
bottom land and the Long Bridge. IN oDeTa-
tton which 1t was in the power Of Gen. Lee
enough to do it,
Since General Grant has safely reached the
James, the impression in Richmond is that
the shore OF the river Or perhaps aynll him
self Of that already prepared By General
Butler, and march from that point in the
direction OF Fort Darling, which It is his in
tention, they say, to take BY storm. Once in
possession Of that fort, be will advance on
Petersburg and proceed from that city, in the
vicinity Of which General Lee is likely to
give him battle, straightforward to Richmond.
The uneasiuess Of the rebels Ia not, how
ever, caused 90 much by the fear OF having
battle, as by the apprehension Of seeing iii
the communications connecting Richmond
with the Interior cut and destroyed. They
know well that their cavalry IS incapable Of
competing with ours, mud to protect ef1l-
cieutly the roads through which they draw
their men, their supplies, md their ammuni.
ton; and that their capital may, ut any mo-
ment, be insulated and deprived of the means
by which 1t has heen hitherto enabled to
resist,
This is one Of the most perp1exing prospect
of the rebels, one which they are now dis
cnssing with that earnestncss and glow of
feeling which they bring In all their dis
cussions. Many nre Of the opinion that If
Gen. Grant succeeds In completely sevcriur
Richmond from all It's lines of 'communica-
tion, the evacuation Of that city becomes g
military necessity which It Is impossible
bibcd,. to prevent. 1n other words, Rich
mond deprived Of provisions and aamuni-
tions Of war, Richmond isolated aud Invest
ed, cannot stand thirty Days and must be
evacuated. ThisiB the gloomy conclusion to
which the rebels Lave arrived since the
transfer Of our TROOPS from the CAlckaho-
miny. At the same time Richmond, repre-
sented By some writers rs being well stock
ed with Ill kinds Of fgratn, has hardly enough
to subsist two months to come, and the IN
habitaDts are no waiting for the new ave-
nues to replenish their eX Xhau6ted eranaries,
circumstance which makes still more pro-
bable the fall OF that city, and the complete
success Of the expedition under command OF
Gen Grnnt