, 1864-07-14

THE WAR In VIRGINIA..
Bfshly Interesting Resume of tho
S1Luut1Ous
Correspondence Cincinnati GaEette.1
HEADQUARTERS, AnNT OF PoroxAc,

Correspondence Cincinnati GaEette.1
July s, 1864. /
TIE "s1EGE OF PETERSBURG"
There seems to be wide spread delusion
in the North us to tue character of the '-situ-
atlon' in front u Petersburg. Newspapers.
from all paris Of the country, come to us
with such headlines us the at we, and ella oo-
rate editorial discussing the progress of the
supposed Investment Of the "doomed city,
Those distant reviewers, who compose 1ite-
u turned phrases ahput the 'sgradn i tight
ming Of the iron grip" With which General
GrHnt hulds Petersburg, render themselves
simply ridiculous to every one IN this army,
who Knows the proper meaning OF the terms
*sstege" and s1uvestment" Tie position Of
onr forces In front Of the city Is far from
biting such Us to warrant the employment of
either In defping it correctly. While part of
our line Is 60 close to the place, Us to enable
it IL really no more invested than Vicksbnrg
woe, when Gen. Grants army held the west
bank Of the Mississippi, opposite the town.
or than was Washington. when the rebel
army held some Of the bills On the west
bank Of the Potomac, overlooking the capi-
tai, In the winter of 'U1-'G3.
In fact, up to this day. the question
whether an investment of the city IL to be
attempted or not bus remained undecided By
the Commanding Generals, Briefly, the po-
sition Of the amy is this: Our extreme
right rests on the Appomattox, two or three
miles north, or snther east Of Petersburg.
From it the general course Of the line fs
eouthward, with divergence to. the south
east on the left. The left Of the right and
the right Of the center-the former formed
by the 18th, tie latter By the 9th Corps-ap.
proachcs Petersburg TO within little over
mile. On this part Of tue line, our .n'rench-
mtnts are within few hundred yards Of
nd a14 al
batteries play upon the city, and our pickets
keep up an almost continuous lively ex.
change Of shot with those Of the enemy,
General Smiths lines stretches acrcss the
railroad from Cit: Point to Petersburg, and
his batteries command the rai1read bridge
across the Appomattox. From the left center
10 the extreme lett, formed respectively by
the 5th, I'd and 9Th Corps, our line dtyerges
beth from the city and the rebel line,
which curves around the suburbs to
the west, and on the extreme left q
distance Of some three miles ,intcryenes be
tween the two lines. It is plain that, as
formed ut present. our line is not meant SO
eIde, as TO cover the different roads leading
to our base ut City Point To close IN upon
Petersburg, would require considerable
swinging around Of the lett center and le!t to
the Appomattox, and place the right and left
relatively to each other, east and west, with
11e letk and right center IN cQrFe.
i presume do not go amfss IN supposiDg
tbet since the appearance Of rebel force on
che Upper Potomac, there is an intense pub.
lic anxittY as to the effect this diversion for
the relitfot Richmond is likely to have upon
The fortunes Of the Aruy Of the Potomac.
There need not be the slightest apprehension
that the Oppressive spectacle Of 'G3 Of a
1e1rograde movement iu the direction of
washington will be re.enocted this
summer: General Grant vii not In
any Imaginable event, give up our
present line Of operations. No movement
the enemy can possibly undertake viii make
him abandon the object, to realize which,
such Vast sacrifices Of life and limb have been
made. The demonstration On the Upuer Pa.
tomac was not unexpected By him But bis
information as to the strength Of the forceg
masking It was such as to excite no fears OF,
bis part Of any disastrous results. Even If
Lee, with the main body Of his army. should
take the desperate chances Of re-crosstnp the
james for anotherwest ward expedition. q en-.
ttul Grant would be found to command
mtahs both Tor thWarting Lees designs nnd
following up his purpose Of forcing his way.
sooner or later, into the rebel capital.
lne country will tlnd that he will cling to
hie line OF operations south of the James
Will Tue same pertinacity with which be
fought tue Army ot the Potomac.