New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-17
THE CAMPAIGN.

Dispatches from the James give rather hints
than positive intelligence of the operations on
Sunday. Reports of the capture OF Fort Oar
ling, circulated yesterday, tended to confuse
The public mind as to the real object OF General
Grants movement. So far, we have no &C.
count Of any demonstration by our forces
except on the north bank of the James. Han
cocks corps, employing o similar Stratagem to
that by which General Butler deceived the
Enemy at the outset of the campaign, embarked
ON transports in broad daylight on Sunday, and
started down the river as if bound for Washing
ton. At night they quietly returned, debarked
On the left bank of the James, joining the
Tenth corps, and on the morning Of Monday,
the 18th, moved rapidly against the Rebel works
above Dutch Gap.
On the face of it, this movement means CO.
operation with General Buffers forces now
engaged in cutting the canal across that PENN
sula. The James makes an extraordinary bend
at point beginning seven miles below Drury S
Bluff, and forms q peninsula of which the river
Circuit is six miles, while the neck OF 1T is less
than third of mile in width. That neck Is
Dutch Gap The peninsula is known as Far
rar's Island, and its situation and Importance
will be seen by glance at the map which we
Srint this morning. Under the Ice Of that
ISLAND have been stationed the Rebel gunbOats,
End at various points of the rivers course about
it are sunk the Rebel distractions to the chan
mel To cut canal through Dutch Gap will
Seaye the Rebel feet high and dry in the old
river bed-supposing they choose or are forced
TO remain--and will open new channel beyond
the distractions. 1t is said that above this
point there are no obstacles except Fort Darling
TO the passage of our feet up to Richmond.
We infer that Hancock's operations have ref
erence to this canal project. If they have ano-
ther purpose it will be developed in due time.
1t is clear, at any rate, that considerable Rebel
force was intrenched in the vicinity of this PEN
7nsula, and has been surprised, routed, and IN
good part captured with loss of six or seven
guns. But it does not seem probable there can
have been any demopstration near the Rebel
DOntoons which cross the James close to Fort
Daring. That bridge is strongly protected, and
not likely to be carried OF destroyed by sud-
den assault.
The renewed activity (which this enterprise
betokens, is very unexpected to the Rebels ant
their Northern allies. Richmond papers have
been exultingly declaring that the. siege o
Petersburg" was raised. and that Gen. Gran
had found il necessary to withdraw the mali
body Of his troops for the defence of Washing
fon. Copperhead papers in this city unwilling
BY. and TO their deep chagrin on now discover
= ing it, have aided to spread this belief-Swif
y announcing and eagerly reiterating eve
Ian not take Richmond" They have pro
claimed the campaign failure, and given the
rebels to understand that they need expect
no more trouble from General Grant on the
psmes. Those journals desired nothing sc
much as to make their predictions come true,
knowing that every victory of the Union arms
diminishes their chances Of success in the
poming elections. Conceive their emotions on
learning that they have been made to play into
Cen. Grants hands and delude their Richmond
Friends into hopes that told only Asttering
tale. They may both begin to understand that
The campaign is not abandoned nor ever will
be till the Rebellion goes under.