, 1864-06-21
tFrom Our Regular Correspondent.]

WARRINGTON, Ja0e II, 1S64-
ARMY OF THE PoToMAC-THE SITUATION.
My letters, almost since the commence
ment of Gen. Grants movement across the
Rapidan, have prepared your readers for the
change Of base which that General has now
fully effected. Your readers will also re-
member that some months since I pointed
out the necessity Of an advance by the James
River, and the Investment Of Fort Darling,
as an almost absolute necessity to the reduc-
tion Of Richmond. That investment, i learn,
has been fully determined, and yesterday and
to-day heavy siege guns are being forwarded
from this city to be used In the operation
Fort Darling reduced, the gnnboats
must next force the James Riyer, aided by our
land forces. But as there are earth
works all along the river from the fort to
Richmond, and as the rebel iron-c1ads will
aid them ID repelllng the advance Of our YES
eele, some very serious lighting and arduous
la6Sr may BE- expected. The 1n s', army must Lit.
seyenn{les; that Is, unless our iron-c1ads,
after tGereduction or Fort Darling. can force
the remainder Of the river unaided by the
military. Once TINT is affected, however,
The ar%y fsn np anad the soat sS et the the
gunboats following then. and Smelling out
The rebels from their works. But it will be
seen that allth1s requires time, patience, and
great sacrifice Of life, all of which draw
backs, however, are the necessary attend
ants upon siege Of such magnitude as that
OF Richmond Is destined to be-,
It appears that Leo's army did not inter-
| ferc with ours at all in the late movement;
but that Just as soon rs Gen Grant commen.
ced moving off by Jones and Long bridges
across the Chickahomfny, Lee commenced
moving of towards Richmond as rapidly as
md aAV
| crossing the james river, they saw clouds Of
dust on the Richmond md Petersburg road,
| showing that Lee was throwing force into
\ the latter city to prevent its occupation by
Gen Grant. Baldy Smiths Corps. however,
having sometime previously left our main
| may have been ablo to throw bimseH into
| Petersburg before Lee could reinforce Its
| garrison. Indeed there was report In the
city last evening that we had occupied the
| place, but Secretary Stanton has issued no
confrmatory bulletin this morning.
Since the above report vas written IN un-
| official report has been received, to the elect
that our negro troops had captured the outer
works on tho south side of Petersburg, with
| some thirteen pieces Of cannon, and num-
ber Of prisoners. But even, suppo5tng this
report TO be correct, I fear that the arrival Of
the rebel reinforcements from Richmond,
will render this partial success Dugatory for
the present The report. however, Is pub
lished in paper, somewhat noted here for
its Sensational style Of getting mp news.
The blame Of former failure to capture
Petersburg is laid at the door Of Gen. Gil
more. Indeed, the Richmond papers admit
that 1t might Of been captured at that time
Many papers have been led into error re:
erecting Grants crossing Of the James, and
nll for want of little military knowledge.
They announced that Gen. Grant would cross
the liver above Ft Darling. This would BE- sim
ply m impossible feat. The rebel cunboat4
patrol tho river there, aud It Is lined Hitt