Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-06-17
Granite Army-s.An lHnpor-
taNt Movement.

DeSpAucneS from secretary stanton to
Gen. Dix convey highly important in
formation concerning Grants move
ments. The great movement commence
ed on Sunday night, when Gen. Smith s
1Sth) Corps marched to White House
and embarked on transports for Bermu-
da Landing. Wright's corps, with that
Of Burnside, crossed the Chickahominy
at James Bridge and marched to Charles
City, on James River. Hancock's corps
and Warren's crossed the Chickahominy
at Long Bridge and marched to Will
cox's, on James River. The army was
to cross James River at Powhattan
Point. We have no map which gives
the location Of Wilcox's Landing, but
suppose it to be between City Point and
Fort Powhattan.
A dispatch from Grant, dated Monday
evening, $50, at Wilcox's Landing, saws
his advance had reached that place and
would commence crossing the James in
the morning. On Tuesday, at o'clock,
Gen. Grant was at Bermuda Landing,
and at o'clock telegraphed that his
forces "would commence crossing James
River to-day. The enemy show no
signs Of having brought troops to the
south side Of Richmond. Our move
ment has been made with great celebrity
and so far without loss or accident"
A later dispatch from Buffers head.
quarters says: "Smith was coming on
5000 having already landed"
And SO again Gen. Lee is outwitted.
At Spotsylvania the splendid earth
works of Lee were rendered useless by
Grants choosing to flank them. Dster-
mined to die in the last ditch, Lee re-
tired to his stronghold on the South
Anna, and was compelled once again to
see his earthworks and heavy artillery
of no service, by Grants preferring to
change his base. Having caused our
army to retreat toward Richmond" by
way of the Chickahominy, Lee vigor-
ously pushed to completion works that
would defy the assaults of the combined
forces of the North. To attempt their
assault was to sacrifice thousands Of
lives that were deemed essential to the
final capture of Richmond and it's army
of defenders. These strong Notifications
are again turned to naught by Grants
preferring to move upon the weaker side
of Richmond. The south side Of that
city is but little fortified. Anticipating
the arrival of our army from the north
when it came. Beauregard and Lee have
made that side of the city their strong
tower of defense.
by reference to the map, it will be
seen that by this new movement the
forces under Meade and Butler are unit
ed against Richmond. BY forming his
line upon the South side of the James
river, the close investment of Fort Darl-
ing follows of necessity. Its commune
cation with Richmond will thus be de-
stroyed, and menaced by the iron-clad
fleet, its early downfall may be safely
predicted. The turreted monitors.
and iron clad gunboats
are destined now to give material aid to
Grants army. Fort Darling captured,
and the fleet would be as good as $4,000
men to the army. By this movement
Grant places every railroad running
South from Richmond in his possession.
Such supplies as reach that city from
North West Virginia will be cared for
by Sheridan and Hunter
We may now look for important and
news concerning the siege of