Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1864-06-03
- e"--"S@-'------------------
NEWS FROM RICHMOND,
Is Lee Going to Richmond :---RebeH Theory OF
the Campasssrl.
n NJ. STANTON,
aerefarr nf War

the Campaign.
Correspondence OF the ". T. Tribune.
WASHINGTON, May %, 1864.
The retreat Of Gen. Lee across the North Anna
has led many journalists, and the people general
y, to believe that he intends to fail back as often
as pressed 10y our forces until inside the fostfca-
| tons OF Rlchmond. | regret that | cannot share
in this opinion for am confident that if he retired
within the detenses of the city, with view of
standing siege, 10th the city and his army would
| soon fall into our hands.
My reasons for believing that the great Rebel
Captain does not attend to fall back to his capital
or, It obliged to do So does not intend 70 remain
| there, are manifold In the first place with the
city besieged by our forces, it would be impossible
for him to subslst his immense army there for any
considerable time
Secondly, the extensive Notifications around the
city render its capture next to impossible except
by siege; and forty thousand troops,.with plenty
OF laborers, can defend it as successfully
more so, as they could not be starved out so soon
as an army four times as large.
Thirdly, it is firmly believed by prominent Rebel
officers and civil functionaries in Richmond, usu-
ally well informed in regard to the plans of their
Generals, that Lee is still determined and able to
transfer the scat Of war TO the North. The even
Ing before Mr.. Harris left Richmond he was at the
Spotswood Hotel, where there were quite num-
Der OF officers who were slightly wounded in the
battles between Lee and Grant, in conversation
expressed thet Lee was getting Grant just where
ne wants him. 1t was stated to be Lee plan to
lead Grant on, and when near the South Anna
manifest determination to make stand, and
quietly and suddenly slip away, and turn up where
least expected. 1t was further stated that he
would throw his entire army to Staunton and BY
forced marches up the the Shenandoah Valley
compel Grant to fall back to cover Washington.
when he (J.ee) would push his force into Pennsyl-
vania and Ohio.
Whether this is really the plan of Gen. Lee, or
whether the Parties who represented it to be such
were indulging IN speculation and conjectuAe re-
mains TO be seen. 1t is, however, certain that
for several days prior to Mr. Harris leaving Rich
mond, an immense number of cars and locon1o-
tives were sent from there over the Central road
to Frederickshall, a station on that road and Cor
louisville and that great number more were
sent 70 the same points from the South by way of
Lynchburg and Charlottesville At Gordonsrile
and trederiekshall, temporary tracks had been
constructed to make room for the hundreds ofcars
and locomotives until they should be required for
use Whether they are intended to convey Lees
army. suddenly to Staunton pursuant 10 the sup |
posed plan have mentioned, or to some point |
further south, We shall see in few days. But Of
this am perfectly satisfied now, that Lee viii not
fall back to Richmond, or, II he docs, viii not at
tempt 10 remain thera