Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-05-04
Tho situation Orths Union and Rsb-
el Armlon In NlrrlnLn

sl Armies IN YlrgInIa.
1t is well known tothe rebels that the
old Army Of the Potomac is concentrated
near CuIpepper; that Smith has force ut
TOrktOWn; that Burnside is moving some.
whsre-buL il Leo can understand Granite
intention, he is sharper sighted than any
one in Washington. BurnsIde's movement
TO Alexandria has upset all the calculA-
tiOns Of the wise men, who would have 1t
that ne was gOiGE to North Carolina. or
up the James, or up tue Peninsula Ev.
ybody thought last week IbEt7 Urbanna,
on the RAppAhannock. WAS The place APP
pointed for his landing. ME advance Of
the feet to that port gave color to the idea.
The rebels thought lhat that was the route
OF Bnrnside,s, advance. The. Richmond
papers published the fact aud said his aim
was Hanover Court House. But all spec.
nlations, rebel or Union, as 10 where he Il
to go. or what he is 70 do, amount TO
nothing. The latest speculation is quite
as reasonable 40 any that hesis to be- the
reserve. Tue Moth Corps has had hard
time. lthas just arrived from Knoxville,
while the corps on the RapidAn have had
40 hardship since the adYauce on Mine
Kun siA months ago, II any one corps ia
entitled 10 rest it 10 the Ninth, but when
the order TO advance 10 given there will
be little rest for any portion Of the army
without doubt the rebel army is Ms large
as It ever has been. The Temorseless con
scriptlen has filled the rsnks, but the new
soldiers,a are boys and gray haired men,
Lee has more men, under him than he led
into PeRusylVRuia, but his line is Long
reaching ttom Petersburg to FrederiCks.
burg, and from fredericksburg to the
brow OF the Blue Ridge-oue hundred and
twenty i've miles The main portion OF
bis army is on the Rapidan. EiIey, CON .
handing Picketrs old division, which was
badly cut to pieces in the last attack al
EredericksburGh, is at Hanover Junction
TO resist Smith, II he advances up the pc.
ninsulA. The twenty Thousand men me-
nacing Newberu can be rallied at Peters,
burg 10 resist an advance up the James
and 70 hold the railroad TO WeIdon-lhe
only connecting line to the SOUTH over
which Lee receives his ordnance stores,
furnished by blockade runners al vii.
mingTon. 1t will show an unusual mill
tsry strength and genius iG,he can hold a
Ilse SO long-vulnrrable as it is on both
tanks as we'll as In the centre. General
Grant, l believe, hss the power to turn
either flank or pierce the centre.
Sigel, with a considerable force at his
disposal, is at Beverly, in WeSt Virginia,
three days march IRON Harrisouburgh or
SlAuntOn, With no formidable force OF reh.
els TO oppose his march TO that place. flo
would menace Lees lett flank, compel that
General to change or extend bis present
line, aud thus weaken him. Or, if not
this, with Burnside 10 reserve, as nova
BILE column, his centre can DO pierced by a
sudden stroke across the RIppahauuock,
nehr the bloody field of OhancelIorsvIIle.
Or Smith, With his troops on transports,
can choose in a night to strike Up the Rap.
Pshanuock, OF up the York, or up tho
James, landing 90 the north or south
side. 1t is not probable that Cen Lee
will attempt to hold all these points, bot
that he will fall back as Grant advances,
and concentrate his troops on the James,
IN The vicinity Of Richmond, where he will
have his supplies At land; whereas Grant
oy such q mareuVre will be obliged to
change bis base. Bot II this should hap.
pen, second siege of Richmond would not
ne like the fret. Then Lee bad the East
Virginia Railroad and ali the fertile Shen
Sndoah, aud all the rich upland counties
north of the James for foraEing ground;
tut Il he falls bsek to Richmond, his TO-
raging country will be confined to the
country south of the James Can he sup.
port bis cavalry and artillery deprived OF
that terriLory7 Doubtful.
There are some indications that Lee in.
tends to make a desperate sesistauce in his
present position, hoping to repulse Grant
IN any Hank movement. think that
Grant would like to have him decide upon
adopting tina; policy. Some Of the heavy
guns which have been in position in the
rebel works in front of Culpepper have
dtsaPpeAEed-troops have been seen mo .
wing eastward; but on the other hand new
camps are TO be seen from day 10 'day.
We shall know before many days what is
Intended on both sides.
'"-. % $500 49,.