Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-06-15
Approaching Richmond from Two


The San Francisco Bulletin, of Monday,
being in possession of the latest details of
intelligence that have thus far been re-
ceived, comments upon the situation, and
speculates upon probabilities, as follows:
The Richmond Examiner, of the 7th, says
the impression prevails there that Grant VIII
attempt the capture of Richmond from the
South. This is by no means improbable: he
has, by virtue of hard fighting and skillful
strategy, marched triumphantly through
long stretch of Virginia, every hill OF which
was fortified and every river bank bristling
with opposing arms, until he has gained the
north bank Of the Chickahominy, his base OF
supplies being close in his rear and accessl-
Bile by railroad, and Richmond only five miles
in his front. This line he proceeds to pro-
tect with intrenchments, to put 1t into sucn
condition that but comparatively small
body of his troops will be required to protect
it. Meanwhile, at the very beginning OF his
campaign, he sent Butler to take and hold an
easily defended position on the south OF the
James, and within fifteen miles Of Richmond.
Buffers first duty was to menace Petersburg,
to cut the lines of railroad communication
between Richmond and the South, and detaIn
Beauregard as long as possible away from
Lee. All this he did. The destruction of
the railroads was, OF course, but temporary
expedient, nor had he the force necessary to
keep Beauregard permanently back from
joining Lee. But his main object was doubt
less simply to hold his position south OF the
James until further orders. When Grant ar
rived south of the Rapidan, Badly Smiths
corps, which had previously operated with
Butler, was called off to reinforce the main
army. But Butler remained, holding his po-
sition, for some purpose to be developed IN
the future. 1t begins to look now as II that
aim were being discovered. When Grant
took Ficksburg, he moved down from
the north, past its western front, then swept
half circle till he fronted Ficksburg due
west of him, and in that line he moved up to
his glorious victory. 1t would seem now as
il he meant, after making the Chickahominy
entertainments so strong that fraction oil
his army could with their aid keep back the
enemy, to swing down the York and up the
James to Buffers position with at least a
considerable portion of his army, and then
keep Lee in perpetual doubt as to whether
the main assault is to come from the east or
the south. Even though the city were
equally protected by Notifications on eth er
side, there are apparently good reasons why
the final movement should come from the
south. When Grant invests Richmond on
the south, he commands the Petersburg and
Danyille railroads, by the one or other of
which Lee must obtain his supplies, for
since Hunters close approach to Staunton
in the Shenandoah Valley, and Crooks ar
rival at Wytheville, the East Tennessee and
Virginia railroad must be very prccarious
carrier of suppl and a very perilous way to
think of escaping out Of Virginia. When
Grant commands the roads leading south
from Richmond, and the column in the She
nandoah Valley has possession of Staunton,
Lee must either make his dash upon Wash
ington without any supplies to draw on, (and
for that ne clearly has no stomach,) consent
to be shut up in Richmond, or withdraw
down York peninsula which would be re-
treating into trap from which there can be
no escape. II Lee strikes boldly at the
Chickahominy army, the army from Bermu-
da Hundreds is upon him. II he retires to
Richmond to defend it from its invaders
across the James, the Chickahominy army
may advance its lines and close the tighter
upon the devoted city. The two blades may
shut down together upon him and the wretch
ed city he defends, so that to the last 1t may
be question which destroyed him.