Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-06

The fighting in different parts of Vir-
ginia during the last week has been every
where in our favor. Within the last three
weeks Lee has lost between forty and fifty
guns and nearly twenty thousand men in
killed, wounded and prisoners, besides all
the provisions and other supplies in the
valley for Early's immediate use. In the
same time We have lost comparatively few
men, no guns and no supplies. If we add
the moral effect upon the rebel forces, OF
these loses, of presipitate fight up the
valley and the abandonment of several
important places, as well as of the capture
of a number of works near Richmond and
below Petersburg, we have every reason to
be satisfied with the result. fl.4t..4 H1-
The recent operations near Richmond
and Petersburg, however, give the impress
sion that more important and decisive work
il. at hand, to which the previous move
ments in the Valley and elsewhere were
only preliminary What is the precise
object of Grant Is at present unknown !;
but few days must probably reveal it.
Meantime a survey of the ground upon
which our armies are operating will be of
interest. At last adyices Sheridan was be-
low Staunton, and Early had gone to
Charlottesville. The rebel General has
therefore placed the Blue Ridge between
himself and his enemy and now holds a
point connected with both Richmond and
! Lynchburg by railroad. -a.
From Charlottesville to Richmond, by
way of Gordonsville, the di ia ece by. rail-
road is ninety-two miles; from Charlottes-
vile to Lynchburg is sixty-two miles.
Lynchburg is distant one hundred and
twenty-three miles from Richmond and
one hundred and twenty-eight from Pc
tersburg. Richmond is distant from
Petersburg twenty-five miles. These are
sll railroad measures The railroads
connecting these points are all, so far as
known, in as good order as the rebels
are able to maintain at present.
But if Early ventures to leave Char
Iottesville either. TO go to Richmond
or Lynchburg, he exposes the Gordonsville
railroad to destruction by Sheridan, who
can send force for this purpose through
one of the gaps in the hills, and keep open
their safe retreat, with little trouble Nor
need he fear, if has supplies, to come over
with his whole army, for when he Is st
Gordonsville, he is nearer to Washington,
a secure base, than he is now. l. .-
If Grant is able to press Lee severely
enough he may force the latter to draw
Hood to his help. Some military critics
are of opinionE THAT the order for this final
concentration has already been sent by
Lee, and they see in the withdrawal Of the
Georgia militia by Governor Brown, a
proof that Hood has been called TO Rich
mond This would give Lee between
twenty-five and thirty thousand veteran
tToops-for that number only remained to
Hood when he marched out of Atlanta.
Such a reinforcement at this moment
would be most welcome, no DOUBT 1t
would enable the rebel General to drive
Sheridan out of the Valley unless that
commander were heavily and suddenly re-
inforced-which is possible-and if he was
desperate or daring enough, it might lead
him to assume the offensive, and attempt a
campaign in the Valley, with a view to
another invasion. Z-L .
y But on the other Land, he would aban-
don the whole South to Sherman he would
cut of the body to save the head; he
would tell the world that the rebel cause
is lost, and that the last scene of the ira
gedy is now displayed. He might do US
some harm in this furry, but everybody
would understand that the monster was dy-
ing, and that the energy was but the i'm
mediate precursor of death. ----
If Lee finds himself obliged to- call
Hood to his help, he has one last card to
play, namely an invasion of Pennsylvania,
to influence the November election. ItIis
not impossible that he will attempt this
with his whole force; it will be signal
that he and Davis give up all hopes of
military success, snd are determined to
help the election Of Mcclellan, with the
expectation in that way to sueor, by politi-
cal intrigue, and by cessation of hostilities
and negotiations, the object for which they
have no longer ihe strength TO fight IN
J. Post. -.i d..