The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-21

saults failed. The first is said to have
been a baulk or blunder upon all sides
and was in fact no assault at all, as the
men did not 20 under fire. The second
attempt is also reported to have failed be.
cause of orders not delivered in time, and
consequent want of concert between the
column and it's supports. But we suspect
the truth was, it failed simply because o.
the immense disproportion of numbers or
the ground. Our loss was small, though
larger than what was stated in the paper
the next day. We suppose no further
effort will be made to recover the place, Of
we hear that our lines have been straight
ened, so as to leave the salient point, OF
which this battery was the apex, beyond
our works. Strong Notifications were
thrown up in the night on new lines, and
no sudden advance of the enemy from that
direction is now believed possible. Mean
time the enemy himself seems to be con-
tent with the worthless acquisition. It is
even said that some part of the force which
accomplished it have returned to the south
side. What must we think of these
events? Is the movement from Dutch
Gap or Battery Harrison only a repetition
of the stale trick 80 often employed by
Grant, to weaken our lines around Pc
tersburg, when intending a fierce assault
on the Confederate left? The affirmative
view is supported by the fact that he did
actually make an important movement on
the west of the Weldon Road, captured q
fort which he still holds, and pushed for
ward heavy column for more serious
purposes, till he was whipped by Hill and
Hampton. But We are inclined to think
that the present Judgment and strenuous
effort of Grant on the northern side of the
James has far more serious import.
From the lesson of four months duration,
which he has received at Petersburg, he
has probably learned that he can never
take Richmond by that indirect and COM
plicated plan which he has been pursuing,
and it is reasonable that be should return
to the shorter and more direct road on the
northern bank of the James. The road
from Dutch Gap to this city by Ohaffin's
Farm is the only road ON which the enc
my has never met with defeat it is the
only road which they have left untried !;
it is the only road on which they have
gained so considerable a success az the
capture of Battery Harrison; it is the
shortest road to Richmond from their base
shorter even than that from York river.
Sooner or later the enemy was sure to try
it. There is the best reason to believe he
has commenced the trial now.
The loss of Battery Harrison will be a
blessing to us, if it has, as may be suppos-
ed, awakened the Government to the ne
cessity of bringing reinforcements into
Richmond without delay, and of strength
ening the lines of Ohaffins Farm. Gen.
Ewell is one of our most competent and
energetic officers. He would have held
Signal Hill or Harrison if it were possible ;
but a General, however able or active,
cannot contend against 10000 men with
as many hundred. 1t is currently report
ed that he often warned his superjors of the
insufficiency of force in that quarter-that
his warnings were UNDECIDED is proven by
the events of the last few days. But no
fatal wound has been indicted on the de-
fence of Richmond. Only the future is
shown. We repeat it ;s blessing, not q
if there is wisdom here. Let
troops be brought to Virginia without de-
lay from anywhere, for Virginia is the
pillar of the Confederacy. At present the
lines are secure. But their safety cannot
be fairly left to Lees present army, which
has too great load on it already. An
accession to our forces from some quarter
is the sore need of the hour-the hour of
final trial which is close at hand. That
some new divisions Of good troops should
be brought to Richmond, and
that its vast population of negro women
and children, who eat up everything,
should be sent forthwith away, are the
evident and pressing wants of the occasion.