Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-09
Tne situation before Petersburg and
Richmond.

issue that we think evinces much good
sense as regards the present military stu
alton in front ofaPetersburgh. 1t calls on
the people in the first place for patience,
and for the reason that there is danger in
the continual looking forward TO Victori-
GUS assault by Grant on the enemy, of a
premature disappoin tment and acOnsequent
unreasonable depression. The Times ig-
nores all expectations and all prophecies
that proceed upon the idea that Grant is
getting ready for a grand coup de main -
Toe fighting for the present is at an end.
Grant has got to the end of his line-the
Ilue on which he proposed "to fight it out"
if it took him all summer, and having got
to the end of it he intends to accomplish
the result aimed at from the start, viz-the
destruction of the rebel power. he is now
with his main army south of Petersburg
and across the Weldon railroad. He
has large force of we'll drilled and
we'll equipped cavalry. His infantry and
artillery are strongly eutrenched and ma
king themselves stronger every day. They
cannot be successfully assaulted by any
part or by all OF Lees army. Grants base
is firmly established. What then, these
things being SO, is his programmed Sim
ply this: to keep Sheridan aud Wilson,
and Gregg and Kautz at work on the only
remaining connections which Lee has with
the South. "a soldiers pluck lies in his
stomach" said Frederick the Great, and
Grant appreciates the force of the remark
just as much as ever the renowned Prus-
sian warrior did. He knows that Lees
immense army, together with the other
population of Richmond, cannot be fed by
two lines of railroad continual raided up
on and torn up. The rebels no doubt have
accumulated pretty large supply
of commissary and quartermaster's
stores at Richmond in anticipation
they will strain every nerve to keep
the supply from growing less. But the
thing is impossible. No two lines of rail-
road, situated as the Danville and South
Side lines are, can begin to supply the
numbers now concentrated at Richmond.
Our cavalry have just returned from tear
ing up sixty miles Of track. They have
blown up bridges and culverts that cannot
be replaced Tor weeks, and before they are
replaced new raids will be projected and
executed. Grant will keep the roads cut.
That is clearly his strategy. He is going
10 make Lee come out and fight him, Just
AS the gallant Kearsarge made the pirate
Alabama come out from Cherbourg and
fight her. And Grant will sink Lee just
as effectually as Wiuslow sunk Semmes.
The state OF things around Richmond is
not wholly unlike that around Vicksburg.
Virtually the rebel capital is being to-
vested. The enemy cannot help them
selves. They must either come out and
fight or lie still and reduce their ratiOns
day by day, while our cavalry are oil the
while busy right under their noses twist.
ing the rails on their two lines and render
ing futile all their efforts to keep open
their communications. The result will be
that in the last extremity Lee must come
out and assault Grant in his trenches and
behind his strong breastworks.
alt all, then, comes to this: The.Army OF
the Potomac is now planted in a position
which is secure against all attack posi-
ton which relieves il from all the risks OF
delivering battle, aud a position which
gives il the command of means of commu.
nication absolutely necessary to the cue.
my's subsistence. What then is wanted
for the capture of Richmond Nothing
absolutely nothing but Time. AS surely
as .e's army aud the population Of Yir.
giniA cannot live on air, just so surely
their means of subsistence must be con.
tinuaIly diminishing from the time the
present limited crop is gathered. Thai
crop, so tar from sufficient to carry them
to the harvest of next year, cannot subsist
them, short of starvation rations, even &c
the end of the present year. But few
months at furthest are necessary to COM
pei Lee either to abandon Virginia, thus
isolated from the rest of the ICON fedsra-
cy," or surrender. If he attempts TO aban-
don il, without railroads to aid him, IL is
hard to see how it will be possible for him
TO get the necessary transportation indis-
pensible to any great army movement
The attempt even, at best, would be an ex-
ceedingly difficult and dangerous one
With such General as Grant on his
TANKS and in his rear, Lee could hardly
get through to a new base of supplies
without general Reorganization.
alt is tor the Northern people to main.
tain their patience and confidence, and lei
Gen. Grant manage this business in his
own way. If be prefers TO operate by slow
and sure methods, as at Vicksburg, instead
of by constat attacks of doubtful issue aut
involving great sacrifices of life, all true
men will cheertully recognize its wisdom
and calmly await the inal triumph, even
though it comes not for many months yet
When 1T does come it will be the more
complete aud decisive" tEt
i'll. II. CURRx, of the confederate SEN
ate, lately made speech at TAlladega
Alasams, iu which he confessed that the