Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-05-13

Francisco Bulletin, in his letter dated q
month ago, gives an outline of the campaign
of Grant, that, in its fulilment, so far as
heard from by telegraph, during the past few
days, shows the writer to have been either
gifted with the spirit Of prophecy, or exceed
ingly well posted at headquarters. His letter
occupies nearly two columns of that paper,
and we can only make a few extracts there
from:
Il is probable that by the time this letter reaches
you, a series of operations will have been initis-
ted the most formidable. the most exciting, and
the most intense OF The war-the most formidable
in respect OF the proportions OF the contendlng
forces, the most exciting account Of the skill of
the two great players pitted against each other
and the most intense and obstinate on account Of
the greatness of the immediate stake ut issue and
the vastness of the Interior results that must
from this colossal passage alarms.
WHAT GRANT MEANS TO DO.
General Grant aims TO take Richmond and de-
stroy the army of Lee, which is and has been the
front Of all the power and prestige Of the rebel
cause. This is the head Of the hydra. Bruise
that. and il is felt that in the present enfeebled
condition OF the body Of the rebellion the life of
ii Is put out. This condition thoroughly possesses
the authorities at Washington, and ia rapidly
reference 10 General Grants purposes, l can say
that he not only aims to take Richmond, but that
he fully expects 10 take it, Indeed, il is said that
the President trembles at the completeness of
Grants confidence. He has doubtless vivid re.
collection OF another commander Of the Army of
the Potomac, whose pledges to "out wit, out-ma
nouvre, and out fight the enemy were only q
prelude to disastrous fasco, and OF still another
who after boasting that he had the rebel army 'in
his 6reeches pocket, and God Almighty could not
take II out" suddenly found his pocket picked
and himself with a very bloody nose. But We
are far from including Grant in any such odious
comparisons, nor do we suppose Mr.. Lincoln does
either. nGeneral Grant feels confident in regard
to the work before hra-if he feels be has sure
thing 1T is not the impotent conceit OF a shallow
braggart, but the calm conclusion Of a General
who, measuring well the relations between the
end 20 be accomplished and the means he has to
accomplish it wi.hal. catches the radiant figure Of
victory towering afar off, over the sulphurous
smoke of battle. ..
The third method is 20 make a combination Of
both these lines of operation. There are several
considerations that bring out in strong relief the
necessity for some such combination in the com.
ing campaign; and may add that all Gen. Grants
preparations indicate his intention 10 make such
combination. The experience Of six campaigns
has shown that any single line Of operation that
can be taken up with Richmond, as the objective
point must be indeciSiye. To bring on decisive
engagement, TO take Richmond, and 20 Ge''roy
the rebel army; il is indispensable that there De
double advance on the enemy-on his front and
on his rear: or, in definite terms, a movement by
the direct line, and cooperative movement by
the line ofthe Peninsula-Or, better still, by the
south side of the James river. II each column be
of sufficient strength TO take care Of ITSELF the
whole weight of the military objection to a divi.
sion Of force is removed.
Speaking of the cooperating expedition
under Butler, he says:
five attempt to determine the line Of advance
which this column will take up by the relative ad.
vantageS of the possible lines, We must conclude
that il will not advance by the line OF the PENN
sula The superiority of the route by the south
side of the James was eonclusively proved after
the Peninsnlar campaign; and Mcclellan shows
in his report that had he been allowed TO remain
!; was his intention to cross the james TO the
south side The roads there are excellent stone
pike passing through a richly cultivated and fer.
tile country. A march of rs miles from Norfolk
10 Petersburg wiplant this column directly across
the rebel communications. IL is reasonably ar
gued that no sooner will the march of this column
become known to the rebels than the force on the
line OF the Rapidan will become shaken Lee will
be compelled to make large detachments TO pro-
tect Richmond This will necessarily weaken the
line of the Rapidan and il will then be open to
Grant to make a turning movement by the one
Hans the Other-that eltutr DI GOTuOnaNlile
or by Fredericksburg
PROGRAMME OF THE SHENANDOAH COLUMN.
II row stands historically determined. by the
experience of both the rebel inv asive movements
that any advance of the rebels having Wash
ington in view will be made by the Shenandoah
valley To guard that gate and enable the main
army TO execute its object unembarrass-d BY any
fear of a turning movement, Gen. Grant de-
signs sending force to move on that line. This
column will embrace all the troops in Western
Virginia (about 30,OO0-consisting of 2n,COO in.
fantry and 10000 cavalry and will be under the
command OF Gen. Ord IL will however, sub
serve not only the defensive purpose indicated.
but an offensive object equally important will
be assigned il. The prolongation Of its line Of
march will bring it into position to cut the Eir-
gna and East Tennessee Railroad, thus prevent.
ing the rebels from either drawing supplies from
that direction or making that their line of retreat
THE CAMPAIGN AS A WHOLE
Coursiring now the different operations midi
Gated, We are prepared to look at the campaign ss
a whole It's browning characteristic is that il
looks 20 IN absolutely decisive result. Grant
means 10 make Richmond another iicksburg II
the rebels retire. will he their policy if their
position on the Rapidan Is turned they will fail
back. fighting and defending the passage Of the
river, to the Qualifications of Richmond Here
they will be invested, from the south by the col.
umn moving up from Petersburg, from the west
by the Shenandoah column under Ord. and from
the north BY the main army. Grant will then b.
in position either to enteron siege in form, as at
Vicksburg. or TO attempt Richmond by coup de
main, as circumstances may determine. If sue
cessful il will De complete success; il will be the
destruction of Lees army and Of the Southern
Confederacy. Retreat southwark will be imprs-
sible both on account of the force investing Rich
mond from that side, and on account of the river
III their back with all the bridges destroyed. Re-
trea; westward will be equally imprsetica6le,
both on account of the investing force on that
side and from the other fact that there is line
Of retreat open in that direction, for retreat up
the Virginia Valley will end by bringing the rebels
face TO face with our army in Tennessee. Ii is
precisely under such circumstances this that
unconditional surrender becomes indispensable
As this is a role which Grant has been making
them play, they ought to be prepared TO yield
with all possible grace.
These considerations, believe, exhaust all the
general strategic elements that enter into the sup
posed plan of campaign, on both sides. Tactical
questions are of course, out of the province of
any outside observer; and the result Of the best
conceived combinations is necessarily hidden from
all mortal ken. II would be difficult, however,
to conceive more promising and hope-nspiring
conjunction of circumstances than that which
will attend the coming campaign, In which we
shall see the heroic Grant at the head of 100000
veterans swooping down on the capital of this
damned rebellion.