New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-28
NEWS FROM RICHMOND.
10 Lee Going 10 Nichmond f-Bebel Theory
Of the Campaign-Rebel lrou.CIads In
Richmoud-Gcn. stunrt-IIis Loss
The JeG. Davis Revolver-Rebel Pris.
ons-Treatment Of Loyal Women.

WALHISGToS, May 20, leO4.
The retreat Of Gen. Lee across the North
Anna has led many journalists and the people gener.
ally to believe that he intends TO fan back rs often as
pressed by our forces until inside the Notifications OF
Richmond regret that cannot share in this opinion
for confident that If he retired within the defenses
81 the city. with view Of standing a siege. both the
city and his army would soon fall into hands.
hy reasons for believing that the great Rebel Cap
tain does not intend 70 fall back to his capital, or II
obliged 20 do So does not intend TO remain there. are
manifold. In the first place. with the city bcseged by
forces it would be impossible for him to sabsis has
immense army there for any considerable time
Secondly the extensive fortifcations around the city
render its capture next 20 impossible except by siege
and forty thousand troops with plenty Of aboreFs can
defend II as succcssnlly-and co. they could not
be starved out soon-Gs an army four times as large
Thirdly it is firmly believed by prominent Rebel Of
fCoIs and civil fInciionaTios in Richmond usually wei!
formed in regard to the plans Of loir Generals, that
Lee st determined ard able 10 transfer the seat OF
TO the North Tie evening before hr Harris len
Richmond be at the spotswood Hotel, where there
were quite a lumber ~ officers who were slightly !
wounded In the battles between Lee and Grant In con
yersaton with eminent citizens, and the opinion w"t
freely expressed that Lee was getting Grant just
where be wants hip." |, was stated to be Lees plan
10 lead Grant Oh, and when the South Anna man
fest o determination to make stand and quietly ana
suddenly slip away and turn up whore least expected
Il farther stated that lie would throw bis entire
army to Stanton and by forced marches up the Ste
nandoah Valley compel Grant to fall back 10 cover
Washington when he G.ee) would push his force into
Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Whether this Is really the plan Of Gen. Lee, or
a. y 10 .Ielt
INDUCING IN speculation and conjecture remains to De
seen Il is. however. certain that for several days
sror to Nj Harii,s leaving Richmond, immencc
number Of ears and locomotives sent iFora there
over the Central road 10 Frcdorickshal station
that road, aid GOidoHsylo; and tia; great number
more were sent 10 the points from the South by
way Of Lyuclburg and Charlottesville. At Gordons-
yllo aud Fledcrickshall temporary tracks had been
constructed to make for the hundreds Of and
locomotives until they should be required for use
Nhes. Trey are intended TO convey Lees army sud
denly o. stanton Pursuant TO he supposed plan
have mentioned TO some point further SOUTH we
shall few days But Of this am perfectly salts
fed now that Lcc will not fall back to Richmond, or II
lie docs will not attempt to remain there.
The iron clads in and about Richmond are expected
10 perform a prominent part la It's defense. They
not however. numerous or 30 formidable as the
Northern people have been led to suppose One OF your
Contemporaries week two ago, published letter
from regular correspondent who obtained his informa
ton from Rebel sources stating that there were ten
u these vessels around the city heavily armored
and ready Tor action. This is great mistake. There
are not ten Government vessels around Richmond, IN
Guiding the TOT pcdo and Patrick Henry and vessels Of
that class which could be Of little service as war
vessels To my certain knowledge there are bu; three
4. IN iflfs lalS
To provide amor for the third it necessary take
no the city railroad track in Main street There no
works ia Manchester in any part Of Virginia, whore
iron plating Is manufactured for wayesse as stated by
the pendent nnded Nevertheless tho craf the
Rebels have around their capital, If not closely
watched are capable Of much mischief Two Of them
have been living concealed for several days in Kings
lands Creek Just above Drnrys Blnir awaiting IL
yorable opportunity TO Sip from their hdng-pace
on the monitors which ii believed would be sent TO
anok Fort Darling. II Is the boast OF the Rebel al
officers that these vessels scaworihy and that when
no longer necessary FOR the defense of Richmond they
viii De employed to brcnk the blockade of Charleston
and other ports The campaign is progressing avora-
bly, and in few weeks Richmond will be ours. and 1t
is to be hoped tia, there viii be monitors enough in
the James River TO prevent the escape Of tie boatcG
rams TO sea. 4
In the death Of j. T.. b. Stuart the Rebels received
tremendous blow. The loss Of half his command would
have been OF less account than the oss Of Stuart him.
self lie could effect moro with onc.haf of his men
than any other General in the Rebel service with
the whole of them Excepting Lee there is perhaps no
General In the Rebel armies whose loss would be SO
severely felt jeff Davis would rather have parted
with Johnston who Lee is supposed to be the
best strateeist and tatiician In the Confederacy.
Johnstons place could be supplied If not by bis equal
by some one little his inferior But Stuart n cavalry
officer cannot be replaced Neither Fitz Hugh Lee nor
Wade Hampton, upon ono of whom the command will
deyovc will any bear comparison with Lin thar
the Young Napoleon would with Napoleon the Great
Stuart free and easy dashng and reckless fellow
who at once won the admiration and confidence Of all
under his command. Wherever he would lead they
would follow. We may safely estimate his loss to the
Rebels as equal to the loss Of five thousand men.
Early this Spring Stuart organized ont Of his command
eight squadrons Of ght horse called Suarts Iussars"
for the purpose Of accommodating and dasng into tie
Union lines whenever such preceding or scheme
should he deemed expedient The men selected for this
organization were none Of them ten stone and =
were the best riders in his command. They were j
mounted on well bred and interchangeable horses and were
calculated to go rocks and bitches and swim rivers
with such facility that ordinary cavalry could not pre-
tend a. follow them Every reader viii perceive the
value OF such organization to any army. But Proy
lence wied that it should loose its head and we shall
have little 10 fear from II.
Great efforts being made to arm the cavalry with
The JEFF. Davis Pistol-or il might well be called car
bnc II be used eithcrthe invention Of the
Rebel President himself II is said that his cxcellency
designed and proposed to introduce this weapon in the