Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-09-29
rns Campaign agasnst RichmOnd.


Amid all the Union victories over which
the loyal North in e1ulting, there is q
constant looking-forward to the prospective
capture Of Richmond. Since the beginning
Of the war, the capture of Richmond and
the overthrow of the rebel armies in Vir-
cinia have been the ambition of many
leading military chieftsins. Now again,
the hopes of the pc pie are turning toward
The robel stronghold and anxiously wait
ing lts downfall. And this not without
reas6e Everything points to its speedy
capture. The army Of the POtOmse are
receiving abundant reinfOrcsments, and,
under and influence Of its recent
triumphs, Is wrought up to high state sf
enthusiasm and determinati N The oc-
cupation Of the Weldon road and the de-
feat of Early in the Valley, are sure to
bring destruction on the rebel army. The
occupation Of Lynchburg last summer
would have cut of the only means now left
sustaining the rebel army in Richmond.
The capture Of that place, and the control
Of the DanviIle road to Lynch3urg, have
been in view ever since the crossing of the
james BY Grant. The withdrawal of Early
from Richmond to the Shenandoah Valley,
about the same time, was for the very pur-
pose of preventing the loss Of Lynehburg
Lee knew the value of it, and hence, not
withstanding the great loss he suffered in
their absence, he has maintained force of
twenty thousand or more to watch the en-
trance to the Shenandoah Valley. By do
ing this he was obliged to attenuste his
lines 80 much that he lost the Weldon
road, and, after Grant had sufficiently for
tilted his position on that road, was again
subjected to a terrific defeat in the Valley.
Grant has thus gained two things
necessary to the capture of Rich
mond. In the first place, ne has
established strong line Of attack and sv-
fense, running from Dutch Gap on tbenorth
bank of the James, through Bermuda Hun
dred, along the AppOmattOx, in front of
Petersburg, south of it and west of the
Weldon road to the extent of several miles.
This line of defense or attack, but chiefly
of attack, as viii yet be proven, confines
the possible escape of the rebel army to a
circuitous route by the way Of Lynchburg
and the north bank of the James. Bnt
the second condition of success is attained.
The Shenandoah Valley is in Grants hands
large portion of the army of Lee is left
shattered, and so far as can be seen, the
possession of Lynchburg and the Dsnville
road awaits Sheridan in his southwark
movement. After the sore defeat of Early,
it viii not be possible for Lee to detach
another large force to occupy the Valley
or repel Sheridan, lest he shall further
weaken his attenuated line and enable Grant
with all his reinforeements, to snatch sud
den victory from the rebel embarrassment
Theobjects aimed at in Early occupation of
the lower part of the valley, have therefore
entirely failed. If in addition to the fore
going, we add the hypothesis that Sherman
might detach two corps from his army and
move them to Lynchburg by the way of
Knoxville, junction would thus be eff
feeted with Sheridan, which viii enable
the combined forces on both sides of Rich
mond to move down upon the doomed city
like an avalanche from the mountain sides
! 1to the valley below.
The present strength of Lees army in
Virginia, all told, is not moro than 7O,J0O,
and the great alarm and dependency at
tsnding their recent defeats, taken with the
foregoing considerations, furnish ground
FOR the belief that not many weeks at the
utmost, can elapse, before the stronghold
of treason and rebellion must be surrender
ed. Lee will make desperate effort to
avoid the impending ruin, but it is written
in the deerees of God.