The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-06-22

" those routes without . series Of battles,
q which (hs rebels would have eli ths adj
,antaee Of position, chat be turned the
seads of his columns towards Wilcox's
Wharf ~
P0eITI0N or THE REBEL ARMY DURING THE
MOVEMENT.
IL this h not oil true, there is certainly
some teuth in it. 1t is certainly true that
General Lee knew that it was Grants in
tention to move to the james river rs early
sstJpne 10 that by the 18th oil the forces
had been withdrawn to the south side Of
the Ohickahominy and that on the 18th
the position of the rebel army was ~ fol.
lows The whole army facing toward the
east; the left wing holding thei newly
erected fertilization on the north of the
Chickahominy, near Bottoms bridge the
main body holding the White Oak Swamp
roads General Hills corps forming the
right wing, holding the Quaker road and
the head Of the Charles City road, with his
cavalry thrown out to the south toward
Malvern Hill. ...o.
WHY GENERAL LEE ASSUMED HIS POSITION.
If General Grant did make any recon-
noisance on the 18th or l4th, that was the
position in which he found General Lees
army. If my information in regard to the
great strength Of the rebel works on the
south side of the James river be correct, as
believe it to be, and if the rebels succeed
in their plans for the defense of the Dan
Vile railroad, as there is reason to believe
they will, then it will be apparent that it
would have been better for General Grant
to have moved directly on Richmond from
the Long bridge and the Quaker road. That
was certainly what General Lee feared that
he would do, and what he was endeayoring
to prevent. True, Q terrible battle would
have ensued. But it is equally true that
General Lee wssapprehensive of the result.
From all that can learn, it is pretty evi>
dent that if Grant had attacked Hills
corps at the head of the Quaker road, on
the l4tb, and had vigorously pressed the
attack till he had brought on general en-
gagement, the whole rebel army might have
been defeated, and, if there were nofurther
obstacles, Grant might now be in Rich
mond. General Smiths corps, WHICH one
of the Richmond papers enormously states
landed near Malvern Hill and would have
supported him on the left, and perhaps
General Gilmore also could have assisted
him. ....,..1. .i Jse. ~.
At all events, this is what General Lee
feared and dreaded; and it must have been,
therefore, with feeling of positive relief
that the rebel commander saw that the
Union army was crossing the James river,
for, according to the rebel theory, the great
immediate peril to Richmond is now pass
ed. 1t existed only as long as the city was
menaced from the East. ..g .a U.s."
GENERAL LEES PLAN FOR THE DEFENSE OF
RICHMOND.
So far as is known to the Guild auacs at
Richmond, General Lees plans now are
somewhat as follows: The subsequent ope4
rations of the hostile forces (the Union ar.
my) are expected to be very slow and grad
ual. They must first take Petersburg, and
destroy that Railroad, because otherwise
they would have fire in their rear from
Wilmington. Then the army must be bro'i
up to attack the outer line Of works to the
South Of Richmond, while at the same time
attempts will be made to destroy the Dan.
Vile railroad and the James river canal
1t is here that the difficulties of the siege
will begin. The work of reducing the for.
tiications alluded to will be found to re-
quire many weeks, and the forts themselves
as they believe, can be defended by less
than a quarter Of the rebel army. With
tie main body of his army, General Lee
will be employed in guarding the Danville
railroad, and in defeating, if possible, any
parties Of our troops who may be detached
to destroy it. ,.
SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL LEE
1t will be observed that no part of Gen
Lees troops have made their appearance:
south of the James river or near Peters
burg. They remained south Of theIWhite
Oak swamps, until the night of the 14th
by which time General Grants army had
reached Wilcox's wharf, ON the James riy'
er. On the 18th General Lees army moved
to Richmond, aud passed through that city
GIN the 10th, part of the army crossed
over to Manchester, and the remainder
moved out on the plank road west of the
city, and on the north side of the James
river. 1t was understood that the latter
would cross over at the Arsenal Ferry, ten
miles west of the city, and would join the
main body at some point on the Dsnville
railroad near Powhstan station, seventeen
miles from Richmond
LEES FIRST MOVE.
1t was evidently Conceal Lees intention
therefore, to defend that road and preserve
it's availability, to the utmost ofhis power.
1t was stated at Richmond, on the 18th
that dispatches had been received by Gen
Lee from General Fitz Hugh Lee. to the
effect that the rebel cavalry under the lat
ter officer and General Hampton, had rout-
ed large Union cavalry force under Gen.
Sheridan. And this is confirmed by Mr.,
Stanton's dispatch this morning So that
il can be seen that General Lees declara