Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-17
BEFORE txE EE,ION
Military Operations an the valley
OF the ChicAahomiBy-rbc weak
Places AT ssichmond.

Military Operations I'm the valley
OF the ChicAahominy-r weak
Places AT Richmond.
From the New York Worlds Correspondent.
BALTIMORE, June IL.
| defer until Tomorrow sending You some
further facts relating the secret history OF the
Lincoln Convention, in order 10 communicate TO
day some important intelligence which | have
just received relating To- the military operations
in the valley of the Chckahominy. This intel
ligence came through the source specified in a
recent private note, and whenever in this letter
shall speak OF Gen Grants army or his opera
tons. il will be understood that | only speak OF
such facts are known 20 the enemy. The news
herein contained confirms fully, as YOU will see.
the correctness o: the ground taken by the World
few days ago, in regard 10 the nature of the
work which Gen Grant has before him. the i'm
possibility OF investing Richmond, and the tedi-
and protracted nature of the siege which must
be undertaken before that city can be taken
Ny intelligence to day which is very volnmi-
nous. and which must necessarily abridge,) en-
braces the Confederate version OF the military
operations on the line of the Chickahominy, from
the 3lst OF May To the 9Th of June. including the
battle near Coal Harbor on the 80, a statement
of the rebel plans for the defense OF their capital
and further description OF the present condition
of the i0rtItications Immediately around the city
FORMATION OF THR REBEL LINE
On the 3lst of May the Confederate army
held position the ridge described in my letter
of June 3. extending from Mecaanicsville on the
west TO Bankers mill on the east. These two
points six miles apart. Bankers mill is not
quite a mile from the Chckahominy, and two
miles southeast OF Coal HaTbOr Lees head
quarters were at the house of DR. Curtis two
miles north OF Gaines mill. (On the 81 of May
they were moved 10 Gaines MILL On the 3lst
OF May Coal Harbor was held by brigade of
cavalry aud division OF infantry. with few
batteries Ut artillery, as a corps OF observation
Their Instructions were not To holt the place if
attacked in strong force but To skirmish with the
enemy 4. .. the Union troops a. the latter adj
vanced. and endeavor develop their strength
and intentions. and then TO retire TO the main
Confederate line The skirmish of that day at
Coal Harbor, and the action of June /. were
conducted on the Confederate side in obedience
to these instructions Up To the latter date the
formation of the Union lines had not been COM
pleted The cavalry fight at Coal H,rbor on
the 3lst had served TO indicate that the CoHfed-
crates intended to hold that place. At 10 o'clock
that night Grant ordered Wright's corps to march
TO Coal Harbor, but up to 10 the next morning
he did not know whether or not the corps bad ar
rived there
WHAT Is COAL HARBoRI
Coal Harbor is point of no strategic import
ance at all 1t does not lie ON the ridge alluded
To above but in a plain fully three miles from the
Chickahominy, and one mile north OF the ridge.
Several roads lead from il, it is true But these
are of little advantage to an army advancing
against Richmond, a those leading TO the south
and west are all held by strong detachments of
the rebel army
In the formation of the rebel line mentioned
above. Breckinridges division held the right,
and the corps of Longstreet and Beauregard the
center Hoke's division was between Breckin-
ridge and Beauregard Ewell's corps held the
left. Hills corps was divided. One division was
on the extreme left. resting on Tolopotomo creek
Another on the extreme right of the line,
holding the road leading from Coal Harbor to
Dispatch Station. And the Sd division. with Gen.
Hill himself, was held in reserve. There was
very little. il any change in this formation. until
after the battle of June RI
PRELIMINARY MOVEMENTS
On the 2i of June. General Lee beca me aware
from tine movements made by the Union forces.
that his line would be attacked next day The
only disposition that he made, however, in view
OF the expected attack. was to contract bis lines
tiat MS ielt rested Just Detllflu the grove on
the plantation of Dr. Curtis. aud his right on
hill mile south of Coal Harbor, at Just talf
way between that point and the Chickahominy
THE BATE or JUNE THIRD
General Lees tactics at present are confined TO
holding the line of the Chickahominy at all
points above the place where General Sumner
crossed with MS corps at the battle of The Seven
Pines A ! have before intimated, he Is deter
mined that it General Grant crosses the stream
at all it shall be at Bottoms Bridge. or some
point near there Accordingly. in this section,
his Efforts were confined to the repelling OF the
assaults which the Union troops made again and
again upon his lines he succeeded in doing
this and in the evening. after General Grant had
been compelled To desist from the attempt to
force the rebel army across the Chickahomnv
the latter held The same position that he occupied
in the morning-and they hold it yet.
GRANTS SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS.
The indications of the 4th and 9Th of June
were that Gen Grant was moving his army to-
wards Dispatch Station, as if to cross Bottoms
bridge From deSerters and prisoners captured
on the 5th. the Confederate officers had formed
the impression fhEt Gen. Grant would not move
his army 10 the James river at once but would
attempt to reach Richmond by the Williamsburg
stage road passing 10 the north OF the W bite Oak
swamp IL MAS rumOred that ten. Lee himself
believed that Grant would cross the Chickahom-
iny at Bottoms bridge. and that he would then
move direct on Richmond il he had ali the troop,
he expected: but that if he expected more rein
forcements. he would probably attempt To reach
the James river. aud establish = new base there
Ii Gen Grant takes the former course. he will
be at Bottom bridge. thirteen miles from Rich
m0nd, and he will have 20 march nine miles.
passing Savage Station Fair Oaks and Seven
Pines before he reaches the outermOst defences
OF Richmond He will then have a lin. of nine
teen miles To guard between his army and the
White House /: be attempts 10 reach the James
river it j understood that Lee will attack him in
the flank OsreaT soon he has crossed the
or perhaps while in the act of
IL WAS believed that Gen Grant would
not attempt 10 reach the James river. unless his
losses. since he crossed the Pamurky. had been
much greater than had been supposed; 20 great
indeed TO cripple him somewhat. Ii was known
Al Richmond that reinforcements were reaching