Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-09

ton. But before had fairly begun | had tie
pleasure OF receiving from an officer IN Central
Grants army, who participated in the assault Of
the JOth ult, full aud detailed account of that
unfortunate affair ,as il proved and also of the
operations OF our forces on me James river
during the previous week. There is no discrep-
ancy whatever in these tao accounts, although
they come from sources a. wide assunder as the
poles; and in what follows have blended the
two together where they relate TO the
currences.
now I'M PUBLIC HAVE BLEN DECEIVED.
will remark at the outset, however, that the
public have been entirely and grossly deceived in
the statements that have been pot forth under the
official sanction of the War Department during
the last few days, both in regard 10 the campaign
against Richmond aud that against Atlanta.
The real facts IN regard to both hive been care
fully suppressed and the public have been deluded
by fables instead IN regard 90 Atlanta | have
positive information that Gen. Hood has been
largely reinforced during the past week The
accounts which have reached me during the last
Two VI three days, 200, tend 10 cOusrm the
southern account of the result of tho great battle
oi Friday. july 22d. and TO disprove all the ac-
counts that have been published in relation TO
IL under the sanction of the War Department
1t is hot denied thar 10 that battle the rebel
forces were the attacking party, aud that the
Union forces acted on the defensive. The excel
lent disl ositious made 10y General Sherman. and
the steady valor OF his troops, did, indeed. ena
BILE him To iepulse the assault made bv the enc
my. But il Is claimed at Richmond that the re-
suit of the engagement vas substantial victo-
ry for the rebel arms, inasmuch as IL left the
army of General Sherman IN no condition to re
sumo active operations against Atlanta. That
there Is some truth in this view of the case j.
| al ha tap hat a. lVa IA
elapsed, and General Sherman has not resumed
the offensive in the meantime. Again. this bat.
tie was fought by General Hood with the troops
OF General Johnstons old army alone, and be-
fore the reinforcemen,s from Virginia had reached
him These facts cause II 10 be believed at Rich
mond that Atlanta will not fall but that IN the
next general engagement the Union army will
be defeated aud compelled TO abandon the siege.
TERRIBLE REPuLsL or Orr ARMY ~ PETERSBURG.
La regard to affairs before Petersburg. il will
be seen from the facts related below that. instead
of being groat victory. as WAS proclaimed by
the War Department. Grants great mining pro.
iect has proved TO be "A great failure. In its con
cepion II was a mistake in its execution il was
n blunder. II vas disclosed 10 Gen Lee several
DAYS go. and the only effect of the explosion
has been to Gi-sovei saw strong the Qualifications
of Petersburg really are vIa Grants lack OF
military judgment has been illustrated IN nul
berless instances during this campaign. but in
none more plainly than in this His flank move.
mcsis never aankcd anything. as he intended
that they should, Cor move as he might he always
found the swift footed rebels in his front, ut the
end of each movement. In this case he mined
a particular fort and spent the labor of five
weeks in the work. because he believed ths, fort
to be the key tn Petersburg.
GRANTS GREAT NIsTAKl.
He blows the fort TO atoms. but not before its
guns had been removed: and then discovers that
IL was a work OF no importance ~ all that twas
"A mere outwork that IL commanded nothing, and
was the kew To nothing; but that IN passing over
its ruins. brave fellows were the targets for
missiles from countless concealed sharpshooters
and FROM numerous euflading batteries: and
finally that il WAS a mere curtain after ALL be
hind which aud hitherto concealed by IL, rise the
real Qualifications OF Petersburg.
GEN. LIE TAXES THE iSITIArIvI NORTH OF THE
JAMES RIVER.
The county has been led TO believe that the
recent movements near Malvern Hill, the
north side of the James river. we're instituted and
set on foot by Gen. Grant in order TO divert the
attention of Gen. Lee from the operations OF the
former before Petersburg, and in order TO cause
the rebel commander TO send TO the north side Of
the James river considerable number of his
troops to defend Richmond from what would
seem 10 DC threatened attack from the east
Such il not the case. Gen. Lees opinion OF the
military abilities OF Gen. Grant. never very high.
has been greatly lessened during the last three
months There was time when lie thought
that Gen. Grant might have sagaoity enough to
that Richmond might be taken by using Gen
Fosters position at Deep Bottom as base That
is really the only side from which the rebel capt
tai is vulnerable. But some weeks ago General
Lee came TO the conclusion that General Grant
never would attemp. 10 reach Richmond from
that direction, and il was Immediately after he
had become so satisfied that he sent such large
detachment of his troops away from Petersburg
Whether these troops have gone to renforte
Hood. or whether they moving toward Penn
syvania, vet remains TO be seen. IL l. certain
that they are neither at Petersburg nor on the
north side of the James river.
THE ATTACK UPON FOSTER.
On the Goth of July. however. Lee sent a
strong detachment OF his trn0ns from Petersburg
across the james river, some four miles below
Fort Drury. This detachment, largely exceed
ing Fosters division at Deep Bottom, attacked
the latter both in front and flank and drove him
from bis position, his troops retreating hall n
mile. \ simultaneous attack was made by the
Confederates on the south side of the James river
upon Brney's corps at Bermuda Hundred, upon
the 18th corps on the north side OF the Appomat
tox. and upon Burnsde's corps south of the APP
pomattox and east of Petersburg. These At
tacks we're all made in considerable force, and the
result WAS that Grant was unable 10 reinforce
Foster Immediately. | should mention here that
among the troops that assaulted Foster were
Kershax's whole division, which left Petersburg
for that purpose on the Odd ut., and Wilcox
division OF Hills corps. which had been posted
on the Osborn turnpike leading Richmond.
eight miles southeast of that city, until the Goth
inst On the 9th Lee continued TO send troops
from Petersburg across James river. and on this
day Bushrod Johnsons division Of Beauregard's
CORPS and Picketts and Field divisions of Long
streets CORPS were added 10 me troops ALREADY
there.
HASCocKs coRFs GROSSLY AND NECROSIS.
On the 9th, however, Hzncock's corps ar
rived on the north side, and thus reinforced, the
position from which Gen. Foster bad been driven
was reeained Hancock's corps. together with
Sheridan's cavalry. remained on the north side
OF The James river TIL the night OF the 29Ih.
when il returned to the front OF Petersburg The
four rebel divisions that have named, and one
more division, making force of probably fifty
thousand troops remained in front of Fosters
position on the 29th and 34th. and were. no doubt,
there also on the 3lst This IS a fact of the
greatest importance, in view OF Grants assault
on Petersburg OH the 30th
TERRIBLE NATURE or The ASSAULT.
refrain from sending yol the detsils of that
terrible assault, as YOU will no doubt have re-
ceiyed them from your army correspondent The
accounts which have been related TO me show