The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07

| This problem was further embarrassed
by the fact that it was of eqaul Importance
that he should be at each of these diverse
points. If he shoull 20 towards Char
louisville and Gordonsville, and thence to-
wards Richmond, he exposed Lynchburg,
and it is conceded that the possession Of
that point by US would be the determine
ltion of the fate of Richmond. '''-., ~
|. But in withdrawing on that line, to cov-
er that all important point, he threw HIM
self OFT excentrically from communicating
with the main rebel force under Lee. This
fact seems to have determined him to
move toward Richmond. tfs
/ Notwithstanding the paucitx of our in
formation from 6heridan's force for some
days past. ell indications q to show that
Early has made his way Lue eastward. to
Charlottesville, and from thence. if, fol-
lowed up, he must fall back on Lee. D'7''
In adopting this course, the rebels were
doubtless in part governed by the consid-
GRAFTON that the enormous difficulties of an
advance by the Union force to Richmond,
or rather Of keeping up so prodigious an
extended line Of supplies asit would have
to maintain, might be relied on to prevent
Gen. Sheridan's going there. s..a.-,.; J.. -
II this reasoning on the part of the
rebels be sound, we shah doubtless find
Sheridan advancing after Early by the
same line the latter has adopted asihis line
OF retreat. Now, what will be observed as
the result of the following out of this de-
sign is, that it will place him in more ad-
vantageOus position, whether for blow at
Lynchburg, or for direct cooperation with
Grant in an attack on Richmond. ST. .-,,r
7 Charlottesville, it will be noted, is on
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, which
oYill afford him means of supplying himself
,ih any operations on that line. On the
other hand, the holding of Lynchburg
would necessitate the -wagoning of sup
plies. ..
h Now, the latter line Of communication
is nearly $50 and the former near 200.
miles long. . a ',', s..,.,
sGen. Sheridan would selve q new prob
lem in the Quartermaster's Department if
he could keep up such line. It is obvious
that from any point on the Orange and
Alexandria railroad, whether Oharlottes-
vile, Gordonsburg or Orange Court House.
ne could operate to far greater advantage,
from Harper's Ferry, or Gauley Bridge,
on the Kanawha, as base.
Turning now to the work Gen. Grant
has under his immediate eye, we find him
executing one of those brilliant, complex
and secret moves, into which be loves to
rack and bewilder the enemy. Two corps
have been transferred to the north or left
bank OF the James, and have gained
point and front of operations from which
Richmond can be securely invested.
Grant has twice before attempted this
same operation, but in each case has
failed. The object aimed at in every in
stance was possession Of the commanding
heights at Chapin's Farm on the left bank
OF the James, and nearly opposite Fort
Darling, which is on the right bank.
In neither of the two previous attempts
were We able to gain the position. 1t has
now been woD. Gen. Ords command on
Thursday carried this position with its
strong line of Notifications, and at the
time Brneys Corps held the approach to
Richmond by the Newmarket road. A
front of battle is formed near Richmond
from the South, and but six miles distant
from the rebel capital. The heights at
Ohapin are within shelling distance of
Fort Darling.
We may now fairly look to see that
stubborn element eliminated from the
problem of the capture OF Richmond.
This done the left Of the line can be
thrown across the Petersburg and Rich
mond Railroad, which will cut off the
rebel supplies quite as effectually as our
hold on the railroad below Petersburg
Besides these moves, there are those of
Warren to day on the Weldon Railroad
and OF Meade to the Danville Road, of
both of which we have just read news, but
without details Whether under these
circumstances, Lee can hold Petersburg.
is question of momentous import, (which it
will be necessary for him very soon to de-
termine.
1t is certainly difficult to see how he can
at once do 80 and repel an advance by the
north side of the James. We are, there
fore, hourly looking for the announcement
of the evacuation of Petersburg. In with.
drawing from this point Lee will throw his
force into the Notifications perof Rich
mond, and the siege of that city will begin
to form,
That Lee, with his army reinforced by
Early's column, will be able to present a
stubborn resistance to the advance of the
Union army, may be readily believed, and
we need hardly look for the probability of
carrying Richmond by a coup de main
In this state of facts the public mind
may be pertarbed by the vision of bloody
assaults, but look for no such results.
Richmond will be closely invested, and
operations on the other lines will shake
Lees hold on the rebel capital, cut off his
supplies, and bring before him the neces-
sity Of either fight or fight.
If he attempts the offensive, it will be
precisely what the army has most at heart.
While if he attempts to retreat he will find