New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-11

RELY OF Lilt iOi ouppiC' @HN toA'A4'N-
cations, and to fall back slowly along its line.
From his old position, from Gordonsvile and
from Charlottesville by way of the Virginia
Central, he may draw supplies and keep open
communications with either point, and not less
with Richmond. And it looks now as if Lee
had resolved that no peril accruing to Rich
mond shonld induce him to hasten to its relief
or to withdraw any further from his late battle
field than Grant is able to compel him by his
following columns. The country through whlch
he is to retreat offers at every step facilities io'
defensive neutrality-suspicious. which an ihiefioi
force can hold with obstinacy against an a''ach
in front. But it remains to be seen how S'eaui-
" Lee can keep his army to such uhlaiiiiia''
dstasteful and discouragng Work. hi'hc''o
its strength has lain in warfare which, "na'-
ever might be tho course of the campaign mas
been on every battlefield asgreSSlVe-'he 'ac-
tics of attack. Lee was q cavalry colonel, and
he seems to have carried into the leadership OF
great army the maxims which attach dis
crace TO whatever officer Of mounted troops
waits to be charged in battle.
II is from Gen. Butler that the most insplrlt-
ing advices of actual progress have been re-
ceiyed. Three thousand cavalry under Cen
Kautz, marching from Suffolk simultaneously
with the expedition that moved by water, forced
the line of the Blackwaier, pushed straight
forward to the Petersburg Railroad, destroyed
the important bridges at Stony Creek, seven
teen miles below the city, and OF HicksiOrd,
twenty miles further, and by that operation di-
yded the gathering force of Beauregard,
whose expected reinforcement of Richmond
and of Lee the rapdty of this enterprise
has interrupted and brought to an end.
It appears by the dispatch that Beauregard
himself, with a large number of his forces, was
left south of the break in the railroad, and that
the portion north of it was subsequently at
tackled by Butler and defeated after severe
engagement. Unless, therefore, Gen. Butler Is
greatly misinformed, the whole command Of
Beauregard-a force on which there Is reason
TO believe Lee counted for new strength after
the defeats of the Wilderness-is disposed
of absolutely Gen. Butler is commonly
accorded the credit Of knowing what
he talks about and he telegraphs to the Secre-
tary of War that Gen. Grant will not be
troubled from this source. 1t must be under
stood, therefore, that Gen. Butler considers
himselfable to control the roads, other than the
railroads by which an army might be conducted
from the south of Stony Crock bridge to Rich
mond. Those roads, at any rate, if attempted,
are only to be trayersed by considerable
detour, and with such delay as must attend a.
change in the arrangements of al army which
set out by rail-
A still later dispatch from Gen. Buffers
expedition states that the battle referred TO
above was fought by portion of Gen. Smiths
corps against Rebel force under Beaurogard
in persons; that the latter were beaten and
driven three miles, and that the railroad is in
Gen. Buffers hands, both north and south of
Petersburg. So far, therefore, his success is
confirmed, and is more complete than at first
represented.
| In other respects the accounts from Gen
Butler are equally favorable. The operations
on the Peninsula by a brigade Of colored
cavalry IceuIltu III lolCiiB tHO hAo VI t"N
Chickahominy, and joining the main body at
Bermuda Hundred. That Gen. Butler is ain
trenching" his position is not to be under
stood as indicating dilatory operations, but
is simply the ordinary precaution Of Al
General who establishes base to which he is
to look in all future undertakings. The position
on the Appomsttox may be regarded as practi
cally imprcgnable and in no way liable TO in
reference so long as the navigation of the James
is left open--and Of that there can be no present
question.
TIE accounts from Gen. Sherman are con-
Sderably more vague than We should like, but
are wholly favorable A severe battle for the
possession Of Dalton was fought yesterday, and
movement if possible more important and
more perilous to Johnston, was in progress
under Mcpherson, TO the south Of Dalton, with
intent to cut the railroad to Atlanta. We're
that once done the destruction of Johnston's
army could hardly be long delayed.
Finally, We see no reason to recall or to
modify the opinion of yesterday concerning the
progress and prospect of the campaign. The
only thing against which it can be necessary to
suggest a caution is popular impotence. Sue
cess has come very suddenly. II the next is
slower, we can afford to wait.
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