New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-06-20
THE CAMPAIGN.

Adyices from Gen. Grant are TO nine o'clock
Yesterday morning. A previous dispatch an
nounced the capture of two redoubts by Burn
side, Saturday morning, with prisoners anu
four guns. Taking the two accounts together,
it appears that the whole of the exterior line OF
the dcfenses of Petersburg, from the river to
point indefinitely south, had been carried. The
enemy, however, had either constructed or
strengthened another line nearer the city,
which they held against successive assaults on
Saturday, SO that on Sunday morning although
our forces had gained ground, they were still
confronted by formidable works.
The doubtful point in this mornings news is
the position of affairs in front Of the Bermuda
Hundred peninsula. Gen. Grant telegraphed
Friday that Gen. Butler, promptly discovering
the retreat of the enemy from the intrenchmcnts
in his front, had seized the Petersburg and
Richmond Railroad, (Which, he adds, 81 hope
to retain possession Of" But it is plain that
large bodies of troops from Lees main force
have since gone down from Richmond to Peters.
burg. The distance is so short that they might
have marched by roads to the west, but it is
asserted, in an unofficial dispatch, that
Gen. Butler had been attacked and
driven back within his intrenchments
by Lee. The silence of the official accounts
possibly goes to confirm this statement, and it
is still more strongly supported by the apparent
necessities under which Lee labored. If he de-
cided on holding Petersburg be could not suffer
the ralroad to be permanently broken, for the
presence Of an enemy on its line both inter
rupted bis most expeditions communication with
Richmond and exposed him constantly to an
Eruption on his flank. In view, therefore, OF
the news from Petersburg, we incline to think
the railroad is in possession Of Lee. But
still il is difficult to believe that
the main force Of the Rebel Army is t.
be put to the defense Of Petersburg, for while
Bermuda Hundred is held as base it is always
in Gen. Grants power to withdraw his troops
silently from the south bank of the Appomat
ltox, concentrate them on the Bermuda PENN
Sula, break forcibly through the enemys in
trenchments in Buffers front, seize the railroad
? and cut off Petersburg from Richmond. 1t Is
needless to say that such movement suddenly
: made would involve either Lees army or hi
capital in great peril.
The cavalry expedition of Gen. Sheridan ha'
failed in one of its objects, but has nevertheless
done very important service. 1t drew OF nearly
the whole of Lees cavalry pending the jane
n River movement, and so kept the flank anc
rear of Gen. Grants forces unmolested. TIT
battle fought between Trevillian Station and
lGordonsville was deoisively won by Gen. Sheri
dan and there was no basis for Lees claim Of O
Rebel victory save the fact that Sheridan, two
days after, was forced, by want of ammunition
and of forage, to recross the North Anna.
Gen. Sherman is once more advancing. The
enemy have abandoned their line in his front and
fallen back beyond the Chattahoochee. Stimuli
taneously with this announcement we have re-
port that prisoners from Tennessee-meaning
Georgia-have been taken near Petersburg.
Has Lee been reinforced from Johnston