Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-07

Especial Correspondence Of The Chicago Times.l
You will have learned ere this that Gen.
Grant has made the movement that was
foreshadowed In my letter of May l2th.-
Our whole army is now on the Pamunky,
at Hanovertown, twenty miles northeast OF
Richmond and we have gained what the
movement was chiefly undertaken for,
water-base for our supplies. Without this,
no army in the world can take Richmond.
1t was afforded by the York and Pamunky
river, and Gen. Grant might have secured
it.at the outset of the campaign, instead OF
waiting till now. Nay, he might have had
his whole army where they are now, as ear
ly as the 10th inst, without the less OF
man, and with the men fresh and vigorous,
for they could have been transported by
water all the way. 1t has cost US loss OF
forty thousand men to get the army where
1t is now, simply because the Administra-
tion insisted on the overland route.
The abandonment of that route at this
late day. and after the needless sacrifice OF
forty thousand of our best soldiers, is a tar
DIV and ungraceful acknowledgment OF the
wisdom and foresight of Gen. Mcclellan
Our army to-day Is just where has army
was on the 10Th of May, 1852. Yet under
what different circumstances Gen. Grant
has advantages that were persistently de-
able him to accomplish what Gen. McClel-
Ian was unable to do. Gen. Grants imme-
diate army is twice as large as McClellan's;
and Gen. Grant, besides, has at his disposal
all the troops in the United States, and can
draw to him as many as he wishes from
any quarter.
The siege of Richmond must now very
soon commence, unless Gen. Grant Is divert
ed therefrom by orders from, Washington;
1t must be conducted in due form, and VIII
be work of time. 1t will require the Dig
ging of trenches, the construction OF par
alels. continuous bombardment for many
successive days, and finally direct assaults
on the works. And, even before this be-
gins, the Union army must advance TO, and
cross, the Chickahominy. After this has
been done and the arrangements for the
supplies of the army perfected, and after
the army has advanced to within four or
five miles of the rebel capital, the actual
operations OF the siege will require at least
from two to three weeks, under the most
favorable circumstances.
Where will Gen. Lees army be during
the three or four weeks that tmustinteryene,
therefore, between now and the tall OF Rich
mond, if it does fall This Is the question
that is uppermost in the minds of thought
full men here Just now. 1t is certain that 1t
will not be cooped up In Richmond. If there
are forty or fifty thousand troops there un-
der Beauregard-and it is more than likely
that there are that many there-there are
quite as many as can be fed there during
siege. 1t is understood that the rebels
are Confident in the ability of General
Beauregard to defend the city successfully,
or at least to hold out for three, four, or
five weeks. The fortifcations were finish
ed under his supervision. and they are no
doubt as nearly impregnable as such works
can be made. What, then, Will zen. Lee
do in the meantime!
The answer to this question depends upon
the force which Gen. Lee has at his disposal.
If he has been reinforced to the extent that
has been stated, he has somewhat over
100000 troops. And there is little doubt
that that is moderate estimate OF his real
strength. No well-informed man doubts that
the rebels have in all at least 100000 troops,
and it is known that all their available
forces are concentrated under Lee, Beaure-
gard, and Johnston. If, therefore. 100000
are allowed to Lee, 10000 each to Beaure-
gard and Johnston. 10000 to the country
west of the Mississippi, 10000 between
Petersburg and Wilmington, and 10000 at
Charleston and Savannah, 1t still leaves 0o,-
600 troops unassigned.
If Gen. Lee, therefore, has 100000 troops,
there is reason to fear that, leaving Grant
on the Pamunky, he will move rapidly to-
wards the Potomac river, by way of Milford,
Fredericksburg, Centreville, and Fairfax
Court House. On all shat line" there are
no Union troops to oppose his march
Fredericksburg. Aqua Creek, Belle Plain,
Centreyille, Fairfax Court House have all
been abandoned. There is not single
company of Union soldiers between this
city and the Pamunky, except in the forts
Immediately around Washington. Every
night, for nearly week past. the sky has
been lurid with the flames and SMOKE aris-
ing from burning block-houses and bridges
in all directions south and west from here.
Mosby is at his work again. Nor is this
all he does. The most important informa-
ton in regard to the condition of affairs
near this city is regularly transmitted to
General Lee by this daring and ubiquitous
guerl lila chief.
If Gen. Lee marches on Washington.
therefore, will Gen. Grant be allowed to
continue the siege of Richmond? Doubt
ful-very doubtful. Gen. Lee with twice
100000 men, could not capture Washington.
But the administration does not think So
If Gen. Lee makes any kind of a formidable
demonstration towards this city, fears tor
the safety of the capital" will lead the
President to order Gen. Grant peremptorily
to bring the army back for its defense, and
the order will have to be obeyed.