New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-16

lecture on Sucl subject Is toItidpif Ha"n'u""''
Still. in view Of the destruction of the Virginia
Central east of Beaver Dam, it seems that be-
fore rejecting the line of the Pc it fell upon Lee
TO decide whether be would make one more
effort to keep the field by retaining his commu-
ncatons with Gordonsyille, and to that end
marching by the more westerly road OF
whether he should still interpose his army be-
tween the enemy and Richmond in the hope that
the fortune of war might prove changeiui
enough to inhct an improbable disaster upon
Gen. Grant, and arrest or delay his pursuit.
And as we have said repeatedly that Tor Lee 10
allow himself to be forced back on Richmond Is
to submit to near destruction, we incline 10 pc-
lieye he has avoided it, has turned sharply away
from the line of the Fredericksburg road ana
has sought to renew his railway connection
with Gordonsyille-now his only possible source
Of supplies.
There is O rumor contradicting the statement
above given of no battle, and asserting that Ill
an action OH Saturday Gen. Meade took many
prisoners: but it needs confirmation. The delay
of Gen. Grant to resume his attack is not on any
account surprising and il is sufficient to suggest
in expanation-one out of half dozen reasons
that there has been a great deal of rain. In
present circumstances it is Lee who suffers from
DELAY for every day reduces his supplies, and
adds to the difficulty of renewing them. Gen.
Grant has only TO press closely enough upon his
enemy's front to make sure OF his continual
presence in unreduccd force, and, being sure OF
that. may choose his own time for recommending
his assault
The cavalry raid of Gen. Sheridan on the rear
of Lees army and on his railway communi-
cations, has been very thoroughly accomplished.
His official report announces the destruction Of
the Virginia Central, near Beaver Dam, for
eight miles, and Of tho Fredericksburg road,
near Ashland Station, for * miles, including at
both great quantities of stores and OF rolling
stock. Gen. Sheridan twice attacked and de-
feated the Rebel cavalry under j. L. Il. Stuart
and the second action caused the death OF
the famous Rebel leader. lie went within the
! first line of the Richmond defenses, and finally
Gen. Butler, with the loss of not more than 100
| horses and $50 men, his whole force comprising
three divisions. 1t is hardly possible to over
rate the Importance Of this expedition, for 1t
isolateS Richmond on the north and the
army Of Lee on allsdes, and if, as there
is every reason TO suppose, the Danyille
road has been cut by Gen. Kautz, the
Rebel capital has at this moment no rail-
way communication whatever with any por-
ton of the Coniederacy. 1t is, therefore, Of lit
tie consequence that the success attributed to
Sgel turns out unfounded
Gen. Butler meanwhile is closing steadily on
the rear defenses of Fort Darling, at Drury's
Bluff, and has already carried q portion Of the
outworks. The latest dispatches made public
from his headquarters are dated on the morning
of May ID, and bring information of successful
assaults by Gen. Gilmore and Gen. Smith. 1t
may be inferred that the main body of the
troops of both these Generals-that is, of both
the 18th and the 10th Army Corps-are engaged
in operations against Fort Darling. So far
as We know, that fort is the only considerable
obstacle which bars the immediate approach Of
Gen. Butler to that portion Of the south bank Of
the James which lies Immediately opposite
Richmond. tscapture will open the way bothior
the forces on land and for the squadron on the
James.
| Gen. Sherman's operations in Northern
Georgia are no exception to the general success
which attends the National arms He tele
graphs that Johnston has been forced, by the
/ flank movement Of Mcpherson on Resaca, to
abandon Dalton, and that still our forces are in
his rear and flank. Gen. Sherman makes no
promises, but we infer that he thinks Joe John
ston is not likely to escape without difficulty.
Another dispatch, unofficial, procloims the cap
ture of twelve guns and five thousand prisonsers
at Dalton, but is discredited by Gen. Sherman's
silence. Quite as encouraging and important,
however, 10 the official assurance that the
weather was fine, troops in good order, and
everything working well and as fast as possible.
Joe Johnston is al adept in the art Of retreat
ing. and it is comfortable TO know that he is to
be followed with speed. 1t must be deemed
doubtful whether he will seek to make a tna
stand before reaching Atlanta.
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