New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-14
TIE CAMPAIGN.


dated & o'clock yesterday morning, announce
that Lee abandoned his obstnately but vonly
defended position on the pO-abandoncd il dur
/ ing Thursday night, and was rctrcating with hi'
whole army. 1t is difficult to say whether tht
brilliant victory Of Hancock on Thursday, OF
thc movement Of Sheridan on Tuesday, more
absolutely compelled this retreat. The material
fact is that Gen. Grant found himself in condi
ton for instant, ptilcss pursuit, and at the
date of this early dispatch on Friday
morning two divisions had been long enough on
the road to oyertake the rear guard OF the
enemy; and the whole Army of the Potomac
was already in motion. IL is terribie-thlS de-
youring, unwearicd, cold energy with which
Gen. Grant presses the enemy over whom ne
has obtained an advantage. Not moments
rest-a battle in the morning, victory, a re-
treat, pursuit-cvcnls succeeding each other
by law as irresistible as grayitation-thc law
which the will of giant imposes on the day.
Whether Lee means 10 fight again, says the
War-Ofcc dispatch, il o question to have been
answered yesterday; but it hardly matters.
The issue of the campaign grows visible to the
dullcst, to the most unwilling, incredulous eyes.
There may he another battle, or two, or three
il il difficult 70 set limits 10 the obstlnaey oil
a General who has fought six days since he
knew his defeat had become certain-but we
apprehend that Lee is now closely confronted
with this appalling question: How he shall feed
his soldiers the next twenty-iour hours
for il now appears that it Is the Virginia Cen
trail Railroad which Sheridan had broken IN two
on the 10th May, and that Lee therefore re-
tanned his communications with no other source
of supplies than Richmond. Itappears further,
by a dispatch which though not official has all
the air of authenticity. that Sgel has burst
upon the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad at q
point twenty-sx miles southwest OF Charlottes-
Vile, and upon the Virginia Central at keswicll
Station, between Charlottesville and Cor
louisville. There is therefore, no remain
ing railway communication between Rich
nond and either Gordonoyille or Charloitcs-
vile. aud no communication between Rich
mond ard Lynchburg except by way OF the
Petersburg and Lynchburg and Richmond and
Danyile Railroads, by their junction at Burkes-
Vile. Nor do we know whether ~ this moment
even tha, solitary link remains untroken, for
Gen. Kauiz has been sent by Gen. Butler TO cut
the Danyillc Road at the crossing Of The Apo
mattox, and if that is accomplished both Rich
mond and the army of Lee are isolated from the
II l.. /. .,.g III IL H..
from every depot Of supplies and every possible
line Of retreat Therefore, borne down in front
By force which he can no longer hope TO de-
feat, which it is doubtful whether he can even
delay; with half his army killed, wounded,
and prisoners; with The rest dispiub
bv accommodating disasters and weakened by in
sufficient food; with hi means Of supply limited
to the scanty stores of be.ieged copital--there-
fore. we repeat II matters nothing 20 the result
of the campaign whether Lee is rctreatng
straight upon Richmond, or once more stays his
retiring columes and narshals them on the
banks of the Anna for another struggle. II he
ha q few days food he may yet have strength
To contest each advantageous position as he re-
treats, but the interruption Of the Virginia
Central destroys the strategic value of the
North Anna line, and reduces It's value to that
of defensive position ntrnsically strong.
The succession of events is so swift that
comment can scarcely keep pace with victory.
The retreat of Lee supersedes the interest
which attached yesterday to the splendid sue
cess Of Hancock, but cannot quite make us for
get that he bore away the most palpabe fruits
of victory since the campaign began by the
capture Of whole Rebel division, two general
officers, and thirty guns. Gen. Grants dis
patch closes the eighth day of battle-half past
6 in the evening of Thursday his cool head
counted the prisoners of that day alone at
from three TO four thousand. Here at least
was battle to which no badge of
victory was wanting. Followed Us it was by
the retreat Of the enemy at night, il deserves to
be rcckoned among the most decisive OF the
war. Yet the really decisive battles We're fought
last week on Thursday and Friday, for it then
became clear to any one who knew the course
of Lees tactics that his best effort had failed,
and that the offensive strength OF his army was
spent.
From Gen. Butler we have official news down
to Thursday at half.past three in the afternoon,
at which time he was near Chester Station, n
point on the railroad just half way between
Petersburg and Richmond, and close in the rear
Of Fort Darling The condition of the enemy
may be judged quite clearly from the excellent
letters of our special correspondents this morning