Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-01
From the New York Worlds Correspondent. !

From the New York Worlds Correspondent
BALTIMORE, June %
THE RFPULsE OF GENERAL HUNTER LYNcHBURe.
There are two accounts of the repulse of Gen.
Hunter in town, both from southern sources, and
both agreeing in the main facts but differing in
some minor particulars. The affair occurred on
the 18th inst. One account came. in the frs: in
stance from Governor Smith. at Lynchburg, and
i dated June 10 II states that General Hunter
with sixteen thousand troops, had been joined BY
General Crook, with eight thousand men, by
Pope with four thousand. and by three thousand
of Averill's cavalry making his whole force 30 :
900 strong With this force he advanced on
Lynchburg on the 18th. and demanded the uu-
conditional surrender of the place. stating that
he had an adequate force to compel compliance
with the demand Lynchburg defended by
an adequate force The account does not state
the number of rebel troops there. but it is stated
that the reinforcements expected from General
Lee had not arrived General Nichols replied to
the demand for the surrender of the place that
he able to defend it. and intended to do so
and that If General Hunter wanted it, he must
come and take it, On receiving this reply Gen
Hunter commenced brisk cannonade, evidently
not directed at the town, but at the Notifications
defending it. A few shells fell in the town. and
several houses were damaged by them; but no
had no effect on the works General Hunter as
saulted them in four columns. The assault was
repealed at each point. The loss of the Union
troops in the assault is said to have not been
very great as two OF the columns were under
cover until within a very short distance of the
works Only one assault was made. After it
had been repnlsed General Hunter withdrew his
forces and retired in good order to Lexington.
and afterward, as has been ascertained, to Staun-
ton. The Confederate loss in the affair was very
light; but no attempt was made to pursue the
Union troops after they had retired No appre-
tensions were felt at Lynchburg that the attack
would be renewed. Ii was believed that General
Hunter had convinced himself that the fortifca
tons were too strong to take by assault. (which
indeed" the account states. 'is the fact Re
Inducements from General Lees army, too, had
been promised, and were expected 10 arrive daily
The regular trains on the railroad to Richmond
by way of Burkesyille and Amelia. continued to
run up to the 18th.
LrNcHBURG PROBABLY BEYOND THE REACH or
CAPTURE At PRESENT
The other account states that Gen. Hunter had
been Joined by 5000 troops under Crook. but
that he had no cavalry, and that Pope. with 00C
men, was at Hauisonburg.
| Ii also states that Gen. Hunters assault only
amounted to IA close Reconnaissance and that the
evident strength of the works made il apparent "a
| Gen. Hunter that it would be impossible for him
TO carry them, and that. therefore, he retired as
above.
The reconnaissance If it was only reconnois
| sance, was attended with considerable firing or
both sides, but the casualties were few on either
| This account states that Gen Hunter was await
| ing the arrival OF Pope and Averel at Staunton
aud that he might renew the assault on their ar
| rival. But it must be remembered that he had
81 600 troops on the 18th. and that Pope and
Averell together would ONLY give him 1000
more So that it is doubtful whether he will
feel justified in doing
wHxS LrNcHBuRG MIGHT HAVE BEEN TAKEN.
Probably Gen Hunter had an opportunity to
take Lynchburg when he first superseded Sgel
At tina; time the place was comparatively de.
fenseless. The troops under Hunter, Crook and
Averell were then practically united. and
amounted 10 % 900 men. There were not more
than 5000 rebel troops at lynchburg then, and
the Notifications. although begun. were not in a
state 10 make much resistance But General
| Hunter permitted that opportunity to slip from
| him and probably il Is now too late
The success of Gen. Lees plans for the de
Tense of Richmond depends so much upon the
safety of Lynchburg that there is no doubt the
rebel commander will see 70 il that Gen. Hunter
is confronted BY superior force. and that strong
attempts will be made 10 defeat him. and cause
him TO retreat to Winchester.
RELATION OF LrxcHRUEG To rHr CAPTURE or
RICHMOND.
Both of these accounts 60 far toward showing
what difficult task the capture OF Richmond is,
and that the success of the campaign against the
rebel capital depends quite as much upon the
highest species OF strategy as upon hard fighting
OF the latter there has been abundance already,
but II i nothing to what still lies between our
| gallant army and the coveted city. But. on the
| other hand the events that are now Transporting
day by day. AZ points remote from Richmond
a. Lynchburs and Gordonsville show how deep
| a game the rebel General is playing. and how
absurd II was 10 suppose that Gen. Grant would
be in Richmond BY the 18th of July merely be
cause he had reached the James river some ten
DAYS ago. Ii Is safe To say tina; during these ten
days he has accomplished literally nothing. excep,
| 10 demonstrate 10 his own satisfaction that Pc
tersburg cannot be taken: and TO find out that il
was a mistake. after all. to commence his opera
,ious against Richmond so far of as a point
| south Of the Appomattox.
! HAS GkS. GRANT MADE NIsTAKE ~ ATTACKING
PErERssrRGy
Whether true or false. the rebels have the i'm
preston that he Is like the man who ran mile in