The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-07-02
THE CAMPAIGN.


1t is not long since we heard that consldera-
BILE portion of Lees army had been detached TO
guard the Danville Railroad. We now hear that
Gen. Wilson's cavalry has destroyed forty miles
Of the track northeast and southwest of Burkes-
vile, the station at which the Petersburg and
Lynchburg, and Richmond and Dauvile rail
roads intersect. We infer therefore, that if Lee
ever distributed his forces for the protection o
these important lines, he has recently found
other occupation for them. Gen. Wilson met no
opposition whatever along the line of his opera
tions.
A good deal has been said of the facility with
which the Rebels reconstruct their damaged rail-
ways, and we have lately been entertained with
an account of Construction Corps, numbering
several English engineers among its members,
which is represented as competentto relay tracks
about as fast they destroyed. IL is affirmed
also that duplicates of all important bridges lie
ready TO be thrown across the streams. We
wholly discredit the story. The resources of the
Rebel Confederacy are sufficiently magnifcd
without Tes0rting to such fairy tales rs these.
In reference to the probability of their possess
ing vast stores of rails and other material it is
sufficient to say that General Wilson found the
Danville road laid with the old-fIshiOned strap
rail on longitudinal sleepers-and this on the
most important line of communication then
remaining to the Confederacy. Nor is there any
evidence thai the Rebels have succeeded in re-
pacing the long extent of the Virginia Central
Railroad destroyed by our army while lying
south Of the North Auna, and subsequently by
Sheridan on his Gordonsyille raid.
. We attach, therefore, great importance TO the
success Of General Wilson. He has destroyed in
ak seventy miles of railroad, which we do not
believe can be replaced, except with great delay
and difficulty; and which, If replaced, will again
lie at the mercy of General Grants cavalry, and
again be torn TO pieces shonld il then be worth
while IL Is idle 20 talk of guarding these roads
against a heavy force of cavalry. Lee cannot
spare men enough to do IL eftectullly; for the
0alr f1. L.
denly, tnd does its destructive work 50 rapidly,
that it is impossible either 10 cover al the ground
defensively beforehand or to Concentrate Infantry
in seuson TO interrupt the mischief
IL is prOmOle that this expedition has broken
: off the work Of provisioning Richmond for a
siege. The two lines cut we're the last remaining
communicate MS Of the Rebel capital. The Rich
\ mond and Danvi le Rail Oad was the sole link
between Richmond and Atl ,nta, assuming what
we are entitled 10 believe Ol Rebel authority,
that the Weldon Railro ID has been for some tys
In the undi'turbed possession of General Grant
II was vital importanr, therefore, not only as an
avenue of supply, hut as the means OF rapid ex-
change of troops between Lee and Johnston.
As matters nov stand, Lee must fight his battles
with what forces he has.
The other road which General Wilson has cut
in two, the Petersburg and Lynchburg, formed
the only communication, save she James River
Canal, between Richmond and Lynchburg, which
Matter place las been aud doubtless still is an
important depot of supplies of all kinds. And il
strikes us as probable that Wilson has done
very important service somewhat incidentally
The two divisions, comprising nine brgades,
which Lee sent TO repel Hunter were still at
East accounts in the neighbOrhOOd of Lynchburg
and are, therefore, cut OIL from Immediately rein
forcing Lee in case of urgent necessity.
Our special despatch will be found full of in
teTesting details of Wilson's expedition, gathered
tfOm the staff officer who cut his way through
the Rebel lines TO inform General Meade that
the cavalry was stopped az Reims Station, on the
Weldon road, by an infantry force. Wilson had
hP one hard fight at Stony creek, on the same
? .ld, the result Of which was indecisiye, but as
his work was done and his business then was TO
get home, he had eluded the enemy by a aank
movement only 70 bring up against the position
at Reims Station. IL Is stated that the 9th Corps
and two divisions of the I'd were instantly sent
farTard by General Meade 10 relieve Wilson, and
tn, language used implies that the Rebel force ut
-ieims was in direct communication with the
right Of Lees army.
The length of General Grants line, from the
point held on the AppOmattoX 10 any point on
tn, Weldon road, N scarcely less than twelve
miles, and Is almost too long to be securely held
unless there has been change Of position .
bi heTtO unanDounced.
PTesuming that the public is well through It's
moment Of dependency, we have nothing 10
remark concerning the campaign In general, OK
ecpt that the days OF partial rest which General
EIant has given to his army are a better assur-
vnce Of progress than II ne had kept hammering
u tae defenses Of Petersburg
1.-THE army had gone through such fatigue as
Zen Napoleon, the most pitiless OF generals,
ldom required OF his soldiers. IL was entitled