New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-17
TIE CAMPAIGN.

II is necessary to correct the reinstatement
hitherto credited without question: which repre-
scented the movement of Lee on Thursday night
as a retreat from the line of the PO and an
abandonment of SpottSylvania Court-lIouse.
The official dispatches since received do not
afford the means of detecting this error nor in
dicatc the position assumed by Gen. Grant
subsequently TO Thursday. But from other
sources it may be gathered that on
both sides a material change took place
during Friday and Saturday in the general
direction Of the lines held by both armies. The
movement of Lee was not a retreat TO the south
of the Pc, but it was nevertheless a compulsory
abandonment of chosen ground in consequence
of Hancock's inroad upon his lines aud also,
We infer, from tho necessity of contracting
them. We adhere to the opinion Of yesterday
that the change is an evidence of weakness, and
that the front Of Lees new position is consider
ably narrower than that which he held during
the battle of Thursday last 1t appears proba-
bic, moreover, that Lee VIII speedily be forced
20 indicate the line of his retreat and
that the option of selecting the direct road to
Richmond will not be left to him much longer,
supposing him to desire it. Gen. Grant has
succeeded in compelling him to withdraw his
right wing certain distance-so much seems
TO be clear-and if it be possible TO collect a
clear notion of situations out of the extremely
tangled topography Of conflicting bulletins, we
may place the two armies still between the Ny
and the Po, with Gen. Grants headquarters on the
Spottsylvania and Fredericksburg turnpike not
far from the Ny. The two lines have so swung
round by the steady pressure enforced upon the
enemy's right that they are nearly parallel to
the turnpike along so much Of its course as lies
in n. n. eastcrly direction. Not any part Of
Lees force is south of the Pc, nor has he yet
been forced to surrender bis control Of either OF
the roads leading south Of the Courthouse.
Fronting northeast of the angle, his line pro-
tects the important junction Of roads south Of
Spottsylyania, while on our side the corps have
been so rcdistributed that Hancock has the
right, Burnside and Wright the center, and
Warren the left.
There was no fighting Of consequence from
Thursday night to Sunday morning at u.
Tie time was occupied in the toisomc marches
necessary for the establishment Of the different
corps in their new positions in constructing
and repairing roads, in throwing up new in
trenchments, in clearing away the wreck Of the
lost battle, in getting supplies forward, and in
the hundred different preparations Indispensable
TO the steady and successful continuance of this
tremendous struggle. We do not consider the
DELAY wholly favorable to the enemy, but, so
far as it may enure to their benefit it is one Of
those advantages inseparable from the attitude
of defense, and one which no amount of eager
ness or energy on the part of commander
who has assumed the offensive can deny to his
adversary. But in the present condition of
Lees army this unrelenting storm beats more
heavily on him than on us, for it immensely en-
hances the difficulty Of keeping up bis supplies.
Roads which are dfIcnt for our artillery are
more difficult for his trains, and he has now TO
transport every ounce Of food over not less than
90 miles from the nearest railway station. Every
day presents him with a more imprachcable
problem, while on our side the abundance of
resources is more than competent to overcome
the distractions even of Virginia roads. And.
it is aptly suggested that General who has
been used to handling great armies amid the
lowlands and swamps Of the Mississippi Valley
will not long be hampered by the sponge OF
Virginia soil. There is no cause for Impotence
there is rather cause for constant admiration
of the unmatched steadincss with which the
campaign advances. IL is but fortnight to-
day since the first step toward the Rapldan was
taken, yet not in the three years OF ITS
existence has tho Rebellion reeled under
such irremediable disasters as in this fortnight
have befallcn it. That there is hard fighting
yet to do no one doubts, nor cares to doubt.
What We cherish As an unalterable conviction
is that We have an Army and General capable
and Jealous TO do it, Up to this point we view
the progress and the promise of the campaign
with unmixod satisfaction and gratitude.
There is news from Gen. Butler down TO
yesterday. The siege of Fort Darling goes on
steadily, and with daily successes. Another
line of exterior defenses, Oh Proctor's Creek,