Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-09
TIN THOUSAND TROOPS EHouaH FOR rHH
VALLEY


vsnia before the movement could be stop.
ped; perhaps before it could be discovered.
The rebels who captured New Creek were
certainly there before it was known that
they had left camp; and they had done
their work and vanished, before any pur-
suit was organized to head them off. Once
in Pennsylvania, or even in Marylsnd,
force of this kind could create as much
alarm and CONSERVATION as Early did last
July, when he laid siege to Washington.
La It doubted that such a movement could
be made as a surprised Why then, was
Rosser's late movement to New Greek not
discovered in time to be checked Ros-
ser's cavalry left Early's camp for New
Greek, in broad daylight, although under
cover of fog. This movement could be
commenced under cover of a dark night.
TEN THOUSAND MORE OF EARIY's TROOPS SENT
TO RICHMOND.
do not know whether these considera.
tions have presented themselves to the
minds of the rebel leaders, or not What
l do know is, that since the 26th of NoVem
ger, nearly, if not quite, ten thousand more
of Early's troops, in regimentsl orgauiza-
tiona, have arrived at Richmond from the
valley SO that ell the troops Early has
now left in the valley is about eight Ihous.
and, or possibly ten thousand men, of
whom three thousand or four thousand are
cavalry. Where did get this information
From the rebel sympathisers in Baltimore.
the american would say. But would the
rebel sympathisers in Baltimore tell me
what would be of direct injury to their
cause7 Would they tell me, for nothing,
what the War Department ought to be
! willing to pay good round sum to learn,
and what, 1 will venture to say, General
Sheridan does not know now? Be that as
it may, the facts are as l have stated. The
! 10000 troops last sent away were not
wanted in the valley. They lOsTe wanted at
Richmond. What General EARLY is ex.
pected to do with his 5000 or 5000 troops
do not know. know that New Greek
and Piedmont were captured by part of
them; and that expedition, daring and sue
cessful as it was, was probably undertaken
in order TO convey the idea that Early's
force was still 16, 900 strong.
BARIY WILL CONTINUE TO HOLD THE VALLEY
can tell, however, what Early will not
do. He will not leave the valley, and
| Lynchburg will not be left uncovered. He
will continue to cover Lynchburg and
GordonsVille; be will continue to hold the
valley he will continue to threaten at least
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, and the
line of the upper Potomac. He may do
more these things he will certainly do
The rebel leaders seem to think that 5000
or 5000 troops are enough for these pur.
poses, but it more are required more will
be sent to him.
HOW THE REBELS ARE CALCULATING Rich.
HoED.
Your readers, of course, will not believe
for moment the reports that are preva-
lent here, and that may reach New York,
that the rebels are making active prepare
tions to svacuate Petersburg and Rich.
mond; that they are preparing to abandon
the whole of Virginia; indeed that they
have already begun to evacuate Richmond
for the west, the fact is undoubted. But
they were sent away for the same reason
that the last 0,0oo troops were brought
away from the Valley. They were not
needed on the lines of Petersburg and
Richmond-they were needed in Georgia
and to Georgia they have been sent. AS
regards the number 80 sent thsre is less
certainty. My information places it at
Is, 900 or 10000. and among them some
brigades from EWell's corps, and some
from that of Gen. Hill. Your reader5 will
remember that General Lee received a very
strong accession to his army during the
months of September and October, in the
shape of some 25, 900 new recruits, and
that he has been Joined since the 18th ult.
by $4,000 troops from the Valley. This
would make his whole force at Petersburg
and Richmond 50, 900 strong, and ii he sent
10000 men to Georgia he sull has for the
defence of those two cities $4,000 troops.
There is not an intelligent officer in Gene
raj Grants army who believes that he has
less than that.
THE SALVATION OF RICHMOND DEFENDS ON
THE DEFEAT OF SHERMAN.
Confederate leaders expect of General
: tack on Richmond, but that it will not be
made till General Sherman is in position
to cooperate with Grant; aud not at all,
unless Sherman's army, in an effective con.
, .dition, does reach some point where it can
, cooperate with Grant. Everything, now,
therefore, according to their view of the
subject, depends upon General Sherman
If they can defeat him, or cripple his army
before he reaches the sea, they feel sure
, that no general assault upon their lines at
Richmond will be made by General Grant.
To defeat General Sherman, therefore, OF
to cripple his army is the great work which
the Confederate leaders are striving to 40.
complish. The papers of this morning
state that General Grant has made re.
connoissance to Stony Greek Station, to as
certain whether General Lee was sending
} off troops on the Weldon railroad. There
must be some mistake about the object OF
that reconnaissance. The troops were sent
to Georgia from Richmond, on the Dauville
railroad, by way of Burkesville; and even
if any were sent direct from Petersburg,
they would go thence on the Linchburg
railroad to Burkesville, and thence to Dan
vile and Columbia.
Important Circular from General
Crook.
HEADQUARTERS, DEPT. WEST VIRGINIA,
lnmharland MI Dnn 9Th IGA Z