The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-18
General Grants Operations.


II General Grant successfully com
pletes the transfer Of his army to the
south side Of the James River, he will,
uuquestionably, have improved his
situation materially, and his position
in connection with the cooperative
movements, viii menace Richmond, at
once with famine and bombardment
Hunter, Crook and Ayerell, and Sheri-
dams forces, viii destroy, SO far as to
render them useless for some months,
the Virginia railroads north and west
Of Richmond Hunters victory and
possession Of Stanton, and his junction
with Crock and Ayerell, gave him the
mastery Of an immense region of rebel
dom, and one most prolific in furnish
ing supplies for Lees army. That our
cavalry in Virginia had decided supe-
riority over that of the enemy, has
been certain from the commencement
Of the campaign. Sheridan has not, at
any time, failed to defeat the "cavail-
ieTs, as the horseback Vrynians are
excessively fond of calling themselves.
As Grant was making his DISPOSE
tons for crossing the James, he dis
patched Sheridan with all his cavalry,
to make the grandess raid of the war.
lie had force competent to ride over
all the mounted rebels in Virginia I;
and his purpose was to destroy the
railroad at Charlottesville, and sweep
through the country southwark of that
point, cross the James River, destroy
the Danville railroad and join Grant
south of Richmond. 1t is possible that
he may be joined by Hunter, Crook and
Ayerell, and that they, after annihiI-
ating the railway feeders of Richmond,
will join Grant If the railroads north
and west of Richmond are rendered
unscrviceable, and we believe they are,
Grant Will destroy the Petersburg and
Danville roads at once, and then hay
ing for himself perfectly secure base
of operations, and abundance Of sup
pies within easy reach, and requiring
no cavalry to guard his TANKS, he can
sweep the country all around Rich
mond with Sheridan's raiders, and
make it impossible for the inhabitants
and Lees army to procure food for any
length Of time This would at least
necessitate the capitulation or eyacu-
alton ofthe city
If GRANT can reach the south side of
the James River with considerable
force, before LEE makes a correspond
ing change in his position, we presume
he will secure Petersburg, point Of the
highest Importance in connection with
the new position. The next point will
be Fort Darling, which will probably be
found the key to Richmond 1t will be
a hard key TO turn in the lock, as the
rebels have for long time been sensi-
bic that the safety or the fall of Rich
mond might be determined by it. But
whatever advantages GRANT may be
able to secure, at once, by throwing his
troops across the James, he will speedi-
" be confronted by LEES army, and
his advance contested with the hardi
hood and ferocity that distinguishes the
army Of Northern Virginia" at every
step We do not, however, feel any
misgivings as to the result GRANT will
have the advantage in numbers, in IA
tons, in artillery, field and seige guns),
and in the unlimited supply of ammu-
milton. He will have the entire resouF-
ces of the Government at his disposal,
while LEE will have only that which is
contained in Richmond, the country
surrounding being ravaged and desc
late, and the communications broken.
The suggestion that Richmond was
vulnerable on the south side, and that
an attack upon the city from that di-
rection promised more decisive results
than any other, is not a new one. All
of Cur military men who have express
ed themselves on the subject, have Civ
en- opinions to that effect Grant has
all his achievements in hand, nobody
to wait for; and he says he is not favor
ed with so much as a suggestion from
Washington The royal River James is
ours, and we hold an important point
upon its south bank So Grant has
avoided the Chicahominy with its mire,
famous from the day of John Smith
and Pocahontas) its malaria, its sudden
floods, and ambuscaded shores, alto
gether stream of evil omen, and has
moved his army across the James
This is the last time he can approach
Richmond by flank movement He
has fought and flanked his way to the
south side of the rebel Capital, and now
comes the tug Of war.-Cfn. Can.