The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-09-27
Tn Adverttnnrn.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 81. 1854.

A DAnV AFTERNOON NEwsPAPER.


THE WAR NEWS.
General SHERIDAN continues In pursuit Of
EARLY down the valley of Virginia. 1t is
evident that the Rebel leader cannot halt this
side Of Lynchburg. This will give SHERIDAN
possession of Gordonsville, Charlottesville,
and Staunton-all Of which towns are import
ant posts, and are well fortified. just in this
region base Of operations against Lynchburg
might be at once seglected. This place once
in our hands, It would be impossible for
LEE 70 secure any sort Of a line Of retreat, as
SHERIDAN's right would be put promptly in
communication with the left wing Of the
Army OF the Potomac. General LEE could
not hope 10 crush SHERIDAN All he could
do would be to desert the Rebel autho-
rites, organize a trusty and heavy corps, and
leaving Richmond and Petersburg to the care of
subordinate commanders, march at once upon
Washington. He could gain nothing by this
except a prolongation of the war by a series
Of temporary successes; and we believe,
therefore, that the Rebellion may be said to
be in the grasp of our armies, and final victory
just beyond them.
While General GRANT has been largely re
inforced, both on the James river and the
Shenandoah, LEES army remains what it was
at the beginning of the campaign, minus his
continued losses. 1t would seem, therefore,
that the destruction OF EARLY's army would
4 leave him no alternative but to sit still until
MERIDIAN on the west and southwest, and
ANT on the south, shall have COM
BeYy broken his communications with every
n kource Of supplies, or else come out and
endeavor to break through our lines.
IL Is not impossible that he may, If he
acts promptly, cut his way out in the
direction of Danville, and thus escape
into North Carolina; but any considerable
delay viii prove fatal to him. 1t will give
opportunity to General GRANT to hedge him
in and confront him at every available outlet,
and especially to overtake and destroy him
while crossing the Roanoke or its tributaries.
The Roonake runs athwart LEES line OF
retreat southwardly 1t is a large stream
and when the bridges shall have been
broken at two or three points, escape
In presence of a powerful foe in hot pursuit
would seem TO be impossible The bridge
at Weldon is Immediately south of General
GRANTS position; and it is not to be sup
posed that LEE, when compelled to retreat,
would venture to make a detour to
the southeast, since he would thus infal-
llbly enable GRANT to overtalle him. There
is, or was, also another bridge at CASTOR, ff
teen miles above Weldon. The railroad from
HiclEsford to that point has for some years
been disused; but it would not be safe to
assume that the Rebels have neglected its
repair at time when they have had much
reason TO fear the destruction Of the Weldon
bridge. Above CASTOR, we believe, there is
no bridge across the Roanoke, which is formed
OF Clarksville by the junction of the Dan and
Staunton. Each of these streams is crossed
by the Richmond and Danville railroad, on
bridges. There may be also one or two other
bridges of very irall construction, for com
mon roads. at other points. But the destruc-
tion OF the Richmond and Danville road and
bridges, now that GRANT holds the Weldon
road would be fatal TO LEES army.
bIr. JEFFERsoN DAVIS has arrived at
Macon, and has ordered General HooD to
move out towards the Alabama line, south
west from Griffin, and observe any movements
which General SHERMAN may deem necessary
tosecure Columbus or AndersOaville or Mobile.
General FORREST has captured Athens aud
Pulaski, Tennessee, and has destroyed a por-
tion Of one OF General SuER,1AN's rail-
read lines Of supply. This does but little
injury to SHEyAlAE, and General Rousseau
viii make it a dear prize TO FoRREsr in the
course OF a few days.
The Rebels are making fresh raids in Kansas
ard Missouri. These predatory movonent
have nothing to do with the general plan o
campaign. Generals A. J. SMITH, FRED
STEELE, and others, have taken the offensive
and win send us news of victory before long.
GOING DOWN.
Gold is going down, stocks are going down