New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-10-08

1yrHE FIELD. 5sILrS 70 on RICHMOND Z
Thursday Oct. 9, 1861.
Tie mpO: lance Of the recent movement, so
ortt naely coy ceyed and successfully contaminated by
General ButSs-, which 6rtnly establishes the tn'on
forces within he anf strongest lines OF Rebe dc
fen co. cams. be overesamated. Tho LieutenautGen-
e upon actual survey Of the position expressed not
ony his sur! rise but qualification at tho result and
freely admit, I'd that he had net at first corprehcnded
itl full sigH icance.
This forr, iable line G, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS from
Likens La lding up 20 Chapin's Farm, and thence
scross the Darbeytowr pike is not only miles in extent
but in its extreme formidableness deemed ono of the
highest achievements OF engineering skill It's zgzag
lines amrl5 provide fo enfladng fires along It's entire
circuit while in advance OF the main work, as well as
in rear innumersblo picket and 3renches for
the como alnent Of thoiT sbarpshooters-
That cuch line ooa,d have been carried with so In
considerable loss 10 ou side be accounted for on 10
other hypothesis than that the assault complete
surprise. Very much has been said and written OF the
extent and immensely formidable character Of the de-
fcnsvc works surrounding the Rebel capital. and when
it is borne in mind that none are more mpresnabe than
the Just carried and most others less 60 the masni
tude o. the just attained by Cen Butler and the
brave troops under him viii in measure be appreciated
by the most casual Observer OF military events at home
II is no little satisfaction 20 the deserving who bore
the brunt Of the assault that the LicutGenoral places
all tie credit Of this achievement where II rghifuly
belongs unIestrainod by any announcements official or
otherwise which st bore the cheering ,dings 10 the
country.
The force which old these works Is estimated by
prisoners taken by at from 10 900 to coo They were
under the immediate command OF Gen. Hoke, and all
under the general command Of Gsn Eveli who. In his
crippled condition. has supreme command under Lee,
of the Richmond dofcnses Gen. Lee was also on the
ground at the time Of the assault bat was unable to
rally his stampeded men to any determined stand after
once routed by the furious charge made by our troops
The main body Of Lees army and Ia on the other
side Of tho James compelled 10 guard the only life.
usaining artery Of supply left them. This force
they dare not weaken for they well know that willy
and eager army is watching its opportunity TO grasp
THE vital line.
Prisoners and deserers agree in estimating the Rebel
loss a, from 800 to 900 in killed wounded Ind captured
Many regiments composing the three divisions. and
many brig sdes nov IA our front are reduced from 90
to $50 effective men and there are very many compa'
MES in these decimated regiments which were full at
the opening OF the campaign which now number, all
told but from to and IL men No wonder that these
men kept by force IN the ranks. becoming greatly
disrised and that from fifty 10 sixty daily creeping
into our lines descrers 1t IL matter Of surprise
that these men. oppressed. and cruelty wronged as
many them have BEEN begin to manifest the sagacty
Of rats in the sinking ship We're 1t not that In conse
quence OF these desortions which are taking place to
such alarming eyient the utmost caution and sur
veanco OF their taken, II Is believed that
quarters OF their army would stampede at once TO
our side SO that Gen Grant entirely right in his
Judgment tina, he could exhaust Lee b. just keep
ing stin and receiving his deserving men.
There las been quite exodus Of old and decrepd
residents OF Richmond since our last wecis victory
who daily find their way to the office Of Lieut. j. j.
Provost Marshal. One old man over sixty
FIVE. who came in yesterday. says that since we took
this line neither age condition have been spared bat
every body from highest TO lowest able 70 hod gun |
Is relcntlessly swept into the trenches lie says he
saw men going to the defenses from the hospitals with
but one leg and crVtches and this statement
roborated ~ several others Bankers. merchant |
princes clcrgymen. octogenarans and boys. heads Of
departments and clerks and all employees Of the Gov
,rDment take their turns in the forts and rAepts. All
business is secondary 10 this and for three days but enc
newspaper Tie BAg) was able TO issue its editions.
They represent the excitement mp TO this time
ls most nense-everyone believing the fall Of the city
70 be certain oDd inevitable whenever the Union
naconda shall gripe his coing folds about them And
naivey said the old man before referred TO, there's
night smart many Of them that's got 50 they wants you
to and capture the city" He says the rnmors OF
the evacuation Of the city unfounded concluding IN
bis ewn select Virginia vernacular ss got no rhar
10 gosO!" OF the truth Of this. we'll as the move
mens Of troops through the city we have ocular evil
dence OF our own. as our signal towers row command
full view OF the city, and all important outside move
'nents therein are distinctly visible
On Saturday Gen. Kautz with some 100 Of his
cavalry made a reconnaissance 10 within two miles Of
The city. where his advance arrested BY line OF
formidable inner works well garrisoned, and he was
forced retire which he did without any loss worthy
Of mention
How long the Confederacy can sustain itself in the
condition represented with its army dsprited and dis
outraged its people destitute and terrified its staples
81 life getting utterly beyond their Of purchase
lour Is now from $500 TO $500 per barrel and all other
prime necessities at proportionate rates. and and
,bove all sbe Encouragement and dissatisfaction
sting in its armies &C.. tho breaking out OF feuds
rrangllngs and dissensions among its leaders. How
one such happy family" may be expected TO con
ain itself within the bounds Of fimsy iron osge,
nav be very interesting question for Co2pcrheads TO
determine.
And yet there Is 10. the shadow Of doubt In the
minds Of our best informed officers that these same
cbelious leaders are encouraged and snsaisd 10 hold
Ill after the Presidential election with the assurance
that In the event Of the success of Mo Democrats OF