Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-05-19
THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.
From the Nsp York Times Of May III

From the Nep York Times Of May Ilh.
We suppose there enthusiastic people who fanced
when Grant set out pursu of Lee last Saturday that
he would closely follow up the REBEL the double-quck
until he found refuge behind the earthen walls of Rich
mond 1t would have been very fine thing 10 do had it
been in mortal power to perform it, But the movements
Of great hostile armes whether in retreat in pursuit.
are under conditions very different from those which 60
verp q fDot-race
Were Grant to travel the nearest roads from the Will
derness 10 the rebel capital he would have something like
seventy miles pass and this space closely thread
ed with ri vera and streams which have to be crossed
well studded with strong works, which can be sly de-
Tended; and is moreover notwithstanding the battles of
Thursday and Friday guarded by large aud desperate
army led by a capable General Lee, with but single
dvision could reard the advance upon Richmond very
serousy and for considerable tme simple strategy
OF standing at advantageous positions and compelling
army to frequently form line OF battle
Beside ali hs when Grant started bis army the
apd.Aun on Wednesday last the carried in their
knapsacks and hsveracks but six days rstons These
six days were up on Monday night, aud IS Gen Grant
does wish huge lines Of supply trains to follow his
army he has stopped at Spottsyvana Court House to
repenrh the carried by his after doing which
according to Secretary Sauton's despatch, he will nd
vance
So that the victories already gained are not at all set
back by the momeutay cessation Of advance and victory
It seems that there has been good deal Of determined
fighting with Lees army at Spottsyvsnia Court House
aud Judge from toe Whle army
holds that place. the enemy but short distance south
OF it, The country will intently and hopefully watch for
the next movement OF either commander
From the Journal ef Commerce of May thh
1t is natural to yield belief TO the highest coored de-
spache is equally natural for newspaper correspon-
dents to send such dispatches when they know that
the public want ihem The consequence has been that
for week past have been deluged with worthless,
worse than worthless false dispatches giving false ac
counts aud the people have been elevated and depressed
by turns.
We we're told that Grant was out Of the Wilderness on
Wednesday in the open countryuntrue. We were told
that he pushing unopposed to Richmond-untrue.
We we told that Lee had vanished from before him
untrue We were told Of fierce battle on Wednesday
untrue We told n sorts Of unruths about the ex
petition Of Butler, and receiving from hour
TO hour the most untrustworthy accounts from that d
rection. Since the battle OF Friday we have received
more than score Of downright fssehoods.
Lee has retired but the distance that he has retired
remains unknown to unless there be truth the story
of fierce battle at Spottsylvana Court House, which
case would seem that he has not gone far The story
that Grants headquarters moved twenty miles in
advance Of the battlefield Saturday Sunday cannot
be true. The general statement of the pursuit Of Lee
that be fighting Hancock Monday at Spottsyvana
Court House Out Of the immense amount of chat there
are very few grains ofue wheat t bs had. The reports
OF our losses swell enormously. We do not know which
to believe The first statements gave them at seven to-
ten thousand IL reported that the wounded alone
are fifteen Thousand then the killed and prisoners will be
FIVE to ten thousand more.
After all this doubt and contradiction, trust that
thinking will not allow themselves to be quickly
led by accounts If disaster success Ten stories
ceiyed the wires Friday last have been false
where has been true.