The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1864-08-02
Grant and the Capture of Petersburg.

X,
The Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Times, under date of July 22L,
writes:
The events of the last seven days furnish
the clue to the hitherto inexplicabc con.
Duct of Gen. Lee, in not making any oppo.
siton to the movement of Gen. Grant from
the Chickahominy to the James river
e. planned in my last how Gen. Grant WAS
prevented from advancing on Richmond by
the route which Gen Mcclellan would have
taken after the lsi of July, 1862, if he had
been properly reinforced, namely: by the
four nearly Parreilel roads leading from
Malvern Hills, on the North side o: the
J'mes river, where lac would have had our
iron fleet on his left and the White Oak
swamp on his right hs soon as he had
abandoned that intention, however, and be
gan 10 cross the James river below Harri.
sons landing, all immediate peril in Rich.
| mond was at an end.
General Lee knew that SO good n soldier
as Gen. Grant would not ADVANCE towards
the rebel capital with such position a.
Petersburg in his rear He knew that
Giants first efforts would be directed 10 the
reduction of Petersburg. He knew the ca.
pac.y o!thai place for making aprotraciel
iess ance. The for!ifcations there had
been erected after plan furn shed by Gen
Bcauregard; and Gen. Lee knew, that de
Tended as they were, they could be held
against our whole force for four or five
days at least, perhaps more. The event
has shown that he reasoned correctly
Our whole army has now been before Pc.
terseurg for six days. On four Of those
days, IN succession, the whole power of
Gen. Grants army was hurled against these
works. The carnage has been terrific
Tine loss OF life has been absolutely fright.
ful. Yet Petersburg stands to dav as strong
as when j: was first assaulted yes, strong
er-ior Cen Lees whole army ;s there
now, but no portion Of j, had arrived before
the 18th.
Al tha; we have accomplished IA been
t. take the weakest line, the outside line
OF the encmy's entertainments. Mr.. Stan.
to"'s Official dispatches, in bungliug and
ungfammntical nEnnGr, that Petersburg
had positively been captured. Mr.. Dana
The assistant Secretary Of War has inform
cd Mr. Stanton that such was the fact, and
he aided, ~ went over the conquered lines
with Gen. Grant The works are of the
very hlrongest kind, more so even than
those ut Missionary Ridge" Well what
VIII the dear humbugged people think wi hen
they come to find out that these we're mere
outworks, mere nothings, compared with
the real and bona finde ;defences OF Peters.
burg that lie beyond them, and that have
not been taken yet ?" Have not The pe,ple
had enough OF Mr.. Stanton's "offciH buile
tins" yet!
Mr. Dana event over the conquered lines"
on the morning Of the 10th. At that time.
according 10 him and Mr.: Stanton, Peters.
burg was takcn-taken, too, by negro
troops, wtach is another point to be remem-
bered. "fho hardest fighting" says Mr.
Dana, "was done by the black troops,-
The forts they stormed were the wors, of
all. Gen. Smith says they cannot be ex.
ceeded ns soldiers, not even by the best
white troops" Come, now, is not that
pretty strong! White soldiers, how do
you like the picture!
We'll, that was on the morning Of the
18Th, Petersburg taken-iaken by black
soldiers. What has happened since Why
on the same DAY, and on the 18th, aud on
18th, the whole power of Gen. Grants ar.
my has been hurled against the main line
OF the rebel defences before Petersburg,
without the slightest effect. II remains
hrm and unshakeU, aud Petersburg is not !
taken yet So much for Mr.. Stanton
But what have orr losses been in these
three days They have been highlful.-
hey cannot be less than $1,000 iaen kin.
ed and wounded. Among these are many
the most valuable officers in the |
nrmy. whose brigades and regiments will |
now be much less efficient. So imany Off |
GERS had been killed and disabled in the |
previous six weeks that some of the diyI,.
ions were commanded by brigadier generals,
bdgadss by colonels, and many regiments
by MAJORS. Many Of these are now killed |
ana severely wounded, and inferior officers |
Will have to take their places. The gallant
Hancock is disabled by his old wound, and |
Gen. Birney, Of the Sd division Of his corps
now commands the 2ls, corps, Col. Eagan,
Df the regiment, who has been acting ms
bngadier general for some months past,