American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-10-12
From gen. Lee Direct.
WAsnINaToN. October !

|
| have had conversation to-day Will
very intelligen Rebel Sergeant Maior
who, has been serving in Colonel Coils
toms Brigade of General Heth's Division
lie left the Rebel lines on Wednesda,
last, and says that although General lie,
and his captains have made everything
bend to their imperative wills to send ev
erything to the commissariat. vet grea
difficulty is experienced in giving the
troops enough food, even of the well-knowr
corn meal ration
The supplies at Richmond have giver
out, and resorts had to the country south
and southwest. The crops have been
seized everywhere as fast as gathered, and
hurried to the army depots.
The people of Richmond and Peters
burg, such as were able, have left those
cities and gone south Those remaining
are surrounded by sick and wounded sold
iers, and suffer terribly for the want Of
the commonest necessities.
Lee has acknowledged bis position as
critical, not through any great genius ex.
hbited by Grant, but through the judic-
ious handling by the latter of his i'm
mensc armies. Like great general, Lee
has not forgotten his line of retreat He
has fortified Danville at all points very
recently, and has prepared temporary
defense on the route thithcr He has
taken a number of his heavy guns from
Richmond and Lynchburg to Danville,
and has mobolized his army for the series
of desperate conflicts which he antici-
pates in the vicinity of his present posi-
ton.
lie has been made militarydictator, but
has signed Il compact with the rebel au-
thorities to pursue, as far as possible, a
certain political military policy suggest
e by them. Mr.. Davis and Cabinet have
lefc Richmond, and will propably settle
in Columbia. South Carolina, or Raleigh,
North Carolina. 1t is known that the
Government archives, arms, ammunition,
&c, have been sent to Dauvllc, which is
Lees base Of supplies, All the news
papers except the Wig are moving south
from Richmond.
The rebels have more respect for Grant
military ability, than the Copperheads OF
the North have, This rebel says that
Cen Grants plans of operations will Ger.
tainly succeed in the cnd-perhaps very
soon. This has been the conviction OF
the solid thinkers of the South cyersincc
Grant landed his army on the South bank
Of the James river. 1t is Southwest oI
that river that the greatest battle Of mod.
crn times must soon be fought, and in all
probability the decisive one Of the
war.
Grants plan is said to be as follows
Sheridan will take charlottesville and
move toward Richmond from the west
\ large force is said to have taken Ahng
don, an important town in Southwestern
Virginia the depot Of the vast salt mines
of that region. This force is expected t.
move upon Lynchburg.
General Lee, with an adequate army
in endeavoring to keep back all of these
columns; but herein is Grants advan.
tage, as, if Lee weakens his line by ia.
king away a single division. Grant will al
once move on him and use him up. This
rebel tells US that it is thought Grant will
take both Richmond and Petersburg
without an assault in force, IIewill soon
entirely outaank General Lee and force
him to retreat.
NEw York, Oct G.-The Hcra1Fs
Tenth Army Corps correspondent say,
the rebels are busily Strengthening their
works, and seem in great hurry about it
The Commercials Washington special
says Grant is on his way to Washington
\ distinguished staff officer from Chap.
ms Bluff expresses the belief that Rich
mond will fall by the first of Noycm,
ber