Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-06
Correspondence Of the y Y. Daily News.
From WASHINGTON.


ACTUAL POSITION OF THK TWO ARMIES BEFORE
ErERsBuRG-LEE's WHOLE Army CONFORMING
PAIRED EY THr los os oFFicEEs-NAroLEoS
DErEKxIS1D TO RECOGNIZE THI INDEPENDENCE
OF rHE sourH-rHE RECOGNITION TO BIZ MADE
IMMEDIATELY
WASHINGTON, July 1864
believe the country has been assured every
day this week, that our lines in front of Peters
burg have been swung around 10 the left, and
that We now hold the railroad running to Wei
don. The next morning, however, has invaria.
oily brought with il a contradiction Of the state
ment
The fact IL such thing cannot be done. be
cause. in doing II We would have 20 leave a wide
gap between the Appomatox river below Peters
burg and our right wing; and that il the very
place above all Others where Gen Grant has to
be the strongest. it i At that point in his line
that his supplies must be landed The distance
along our lines. from the Appomatox river. on
our right, to point on the Weldon railroad four
miles south OF Petersburg, on our Left i seven
miles. What Gen Grant has been trying - do
since the disaster 10 the Second corps on the
22i. is TO extend our lines 70 the westward
This he has succeeded in doing until now our
left does rest on the Weldon railroad, four miles
below Petersburg
But that facts il of no consequence 20 tar as
the fate OF Petersburg is concerned. The sup
plies sent to Petersburg do not come this
road. They come by tie DAnyille and Lynch
burg railroads. which join at Burkesyille. and
thence into Petersburg directly from the
west. The damage recently done 10 this road AT
Burkesyille was speedily repaired, and trains ar
rive and depart on il. at Petersburg, daily. At
the distance OF FIVE miles from Petersburg, this
road, aud Weldon railroad, are FIVE miles apart
IL is IN this intervening space-in the triangle he
tween these two railroads and Peersburg-that
the main BODY OF General Lees army is now
posted.
Our let wing, on the " eld0n railroad. is now
confronted with the whole strength of the Con-
federate army. Any attempt to move further to
the lelt-any attempt TO repeat the maneuver OF
the ODD would undoubtedly result IN engage
ment, in which the Coniederates would have the
advantage. not only in numbers. but also in posi-
ton. The works defending Petersburg so
strong, and the impossibility OF taking them by
assault is so evident TO both General Lee and
Genera. Grant, that they held by Beaure
CARDS corps alone. The whole of Gen. Lees
army proper is in the position | have named,
ready TO operate against whatever movement
Cen Grant may make.
have conversed to-day with some gentlemen
connected with the Christian Commission who
have Just come up from the army before Peters
burg. ! learn from them that the suffering
perienced oy our brave soldiers. from the intol
cradle heat aud dust, il dreadful beyond deScrp
ton The temporary hospitals filled with
men either slightly wounded, or not wounded AT
ALL but who are literally Frustrated from the
effects OF these two causes added 10 "a want OF
wholesome water. Ice and fresh vegetables are
sent to the army, but only III limited quantities.
and they do not reach those who would be most
iuvigorated by them.
The mortality in the army since the opera
tiOns before Petersburg begun. both from casu
altes in battle and from sickness. has been far
greater than the published accounts indicate; and
the army Is really greatly weakened The eff
cheney of the army too is greatly impaired by
the loss Of officers which it has sustained during
/ the last eight weeks. Some of the divisions are
commanded by Brigadier Generals who have
been recently promoted, and who are unaccus-
toned to the proper manner even Of maneuver-
ing brigade.
/ Manv oft the brgades are commanded bv CO.
lonels. and the regiments of the latter. are left
of course, 10 majors and captains After while,
when these officers become accustomed TO their
duties, thew will be able to discharge them better
At present. owing TO our heavy losses in valua-
BILE field officers, any engagement that may hap
pen to result from the close proximity Of the
Confederates TO our left, cannot but be viewed
with apprehension and alarm. 1t is not too much
10 say, that had the officers of the second corps
been in their places the 22l instant the disas-
ter of that day would not have happened.
! Some warm friends of the administration here.
have received letters from gentlemen in Paris
warning the government 10 hurry uD the opera
tons against Richmond. in order 10 defeat BY
the capture of the Confederate capital, the plots
of the Southern emiSsaries in Europe Ii is stat
/ ed that the representations OF Dir Slidel and of
/ gentlemen who have jtst arrived at Parls from
\ the South, IN regard TO the actual state of the
campaign. in connection with the efforts of other
/ friends of the South, have induced the Emperor
/ Napoleon to take the step now. which he had
/ long ago determined to take when a favorable
moment should arrive. and recognize the indie
+ pendence of the South. The action of Napoleon
it is said. will not depend upon that of England
I whatever the latter NAV be IL was thOue ht that
| the Emperor would wait until the present opera
tons toward Richmond has resulted decisvely
and that then the recognition would be announced
MALCOLM.