The new South. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1862-1867, 1864-10-08
PROBABLE DESIGN OF THE ENEMY.

! There Is, however, lnfOrmatlOn OF
non-oficial character that they have de-
! termined to abandon the line of the APP
ponlattox entirely, and fall back to Swift
Greek, the first of their lines between
, Petersburg and Richmond. However
strongly the line of Swift Creek may be
defended, it can hardly be so detenabie
a position by nature, as, nor can 1t be
more impregnable than, the line OF the
AppOmattox.
REASONS FOR THE EXPECTED WITHDRAWAL.
That they can remain in their present
position any longer is not even a suppos..
able case. They are aware that General
Grant is constantly receiving large rein
forcements. This fact is stated In every
northern paper. Their numerical strength
on the contrary, does not change for the
better. The most they can hope to do is
to hold their numbers good. They are
now compelled to defend line nearly
ten miles In extent, necessitatlng the for
nation of their troops into 80 thin lines
that they are liable to be broken at any
point. They must shorten up. This is
the first reason for their contemplated
retreat. Next, the country they hold is
nearly swept of all its timber, leaving
them nothing out of which to construct
winter quarters for their men, roads for
transportation of supplies of fuel for
cooking purposes. Their enforced econ
omical use of wood has already given
cause for trouble on this last point, and
much grumbling is indulga in by their
men in consequence. IN cold nights
we are now having develop ae necessity
of wood for fuel, and they have none.
A shelter tent is no longer q comfortable
abode for q soldier. As timber and wood
required cannot be transported to large
army, the army must necessarily remove
to the region where it abounds.
REMOVAL OF SIEGE GUNS TO THE NORTH
OF THE APPoMATToX.
The removal of their heavier siege guns
from the south side of the Appomattox.
the hasty completion of the Southside
Railroad, the demolition and removal of
their storehouses in and about Peters
burg, are all strong evidences of their
intentions. Other evidences that have
been received need not be alluded to.
EFFECT OF EARLY's DEFEAT.
1t certainly will not be necessary to
refer to the potential influence upon the
movements Of Lees army the discontinue
and rout of Early will effect. Lee must
send troops to Early to aid him in elud-
ing, with any fragment of his command,
the vigorous pursuit Of Sheridan.
Should he send away single brigade
and still attempt to maintain his present
line the attempt would certainly he fatal
to him. He must contract. The ques-
ton OF supplies is serious one to him !;
but like drowning man clutchlng at q
straw, Lee clutches at every chance.
| He cannot defend the Weldon road,
Already it is useless to him. Therefore
to defend it longer is waste of time and
men. He can still reach Danville, even
if he falls back, BY the Richmond and
Danville railroad, while he has two roads
to Lynchburg. He hopes by the greater
concentration he will effect by falling
back, to be sble to defend all these lines.
At least he will make the attempt in his
desperation. And if he loses one after
the other OF them he will still hold ON to
the last remaining hope and use up his
army In the defence OF Richmond.
THE REPORTED PEACE PROPOSITIONS oF
GOV. BROWN, OF GEORGIA. /;
II is stated on what is deemed trust
worthy authority, that Governor Brown,
of Georgia, has rendered peace PROPOSE
tions, to General Sherman.
The General has appointed commits