Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-22

vinced himself that he could not reach ticn-
mond bv those routes without a series OIL
battles, in which the rebels would have all
the advantage of position, that he turned
the heads of his columns toward Wilcoxs
wharf.
POSITION OF THE REBEL ARMY DURING THE
MOVEMENT.
If this is not all true, there scertainly some
truth in 1t. 1t Is certainly true that ten.
Lee knew that 1t was Grants intention 10
move to the James river as early as June
no. that by the l1th all the forces had Deen
withdrawn to the south side OF the Chlcka-
hominy: and that by the 18th the position
of the rebel army wasas follows: The whole
army facing toward the east; the left wing
holding the newly erected fortification ON
the south side of the Chickahominy, near
Bottoms bridge; the main body noidlng
the White Oak Swamp roads; Gen. HliIs
corps forming the right wing, holding tne
Quaker road and the head of the Charles
City road, with his cavalry thrown out 10
the south toward Malvern Hill.
WHY GENERAL LEE ASSUMED THIS POSITION.
If Gen. Grant did make any reconnois-
sance on the 18th or 14th, that was the po-
sition in which he found Gen. Lees army.
If NV information in regard to the great
strength of the rebel works on the south
side Of the James river be correct as De-
lieye it to be, and if the rebels succeed IL, IN
their plan for the defense OF the Danvllle
railroad, as there is reason TO Delieve tney
will, then it will be apparent that IL woulu
have been better for Gen. Grant 10 nave
moved directly on Richmond from the Long
bridge and the Quaker road. Inat was
certainly what Gen. Lee feared that ne
i. ,,Yl,a ha QnnpQV0rlnV 10
nrevent. True. a terrible battle would have
ensued. But it is equally true that Gen.
lee was apprehensive of the result. From
ali that can learn, it is pretty evident that
If Grant had attacked Hills corps at the
head of the Quaker road, OIL the l4th, ana
vigorously pressed the attack till he had
brought on general engagement, the whole
rebel army might have been defeated, and,
If there were no further obstacles, Grant
might now be i'm Richmond. Gen. Smiths
cOrps, which one of the Richmond papers
erroneously states landed near Malvern Hill
on the l4th, did land at Bermuda Hundred,
but might have landed at Malvern Hill, and
would have supported him on the left, and
perhaps Gen. Gilmore also could have as
sisted him.
At all events, this was what General Lee
feared and dreaded; and 1t must have been
therefore, with feeling of positive rellel
that the rebel commander saw that the Un-
ion army was crossing the James river
for, according to the rebel theory, the greaI'
Immediate peril to Richmond is now passed
1t existed only as their city was menacec
from the east. -. str.
GENERAL LEES PLAN FOR THE DEFENSE ol
RICHMOND.
| So far as is known to the qlnd nnncs q
Richmond, General Lees plans now arr
somewhat as follows The subsequent op
erations of the hostile forces (the Union ar
nv are expected to be very slow and grad
ual. They must first take Petersburg, ant
destroy that railroad, because otherwis'
they would have fire in their rear iron
wilmington. Then the army must b'
brought up to attack the outer line
works to the south of Richmond, while
the same time attempts will be made U
DESTROY the Danville railroad and the Jane
river canal. 1t is here that the difhcultle
of the siege will begin. The work OF re
ducing the fertilization ALLUDED to VIII o
found to require many weeks, and the iort
themselves, as they believe, can be defended
by less than quarter of the rebel army
With the main body of his army, Genera
Lee will be employed in guarding the Dan
Vile railroad, and in defeating, if possible
any parties of our troops who may be de
tached to destroy it.
SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENTS OF GENERAL LEE
1t will be observed that no part of Gen
eral Lees troops have made their appear
ance south of the James river or near re
tersburg. They remained south OF Tn
White Oak swamp until the night OF tn
| 18th, by which time General Grants arm!
had reached Wilcox's wharf, OH the Jane
river. On the 10Th General Lees arm,
| that city. On the 10th, part of the arm,
crossed over to Manchester, and the re
| mainder moved out on the plank road ives
of the city, and on the north side of th
James river. 1t was understood that tn
latter would cross over at the Arsenal Fer
nv, ten miles west of the city, and woult
| ioin the main body at some point on tn
Danville railroad near Powhattan station
seventeen miles from Richmond.
LEES FIRST MOVE.
1t is evidently General Lees intention
therefore, to defend that road and preserv
! its availability, to the utmost Of his power
| It was stated at Richmond, on the 18th tha
| dispatches had been received by Geners
Fitz Hugh Lee, to the effect that the reb'
cavalry under the latter officer and Gener'
Hampton, had routed large Union cavalr
force under General Sheridan. And tn
il confirmed by Mr.. Stanton's dispatch tn
morning. So that It can be seen that Gel
|, Lees declaration that he would endeav(
to protect that railroad was no idle boas
} Ii requires but moments reflection
perceive how greatly the difficulties of Il
, Siege will be enhanced by having the maj
, body of the enemy not in front of us, b.
, hind the works we are attacking, but In
position where he can fall upon our lie
, flank or upon our rear with a body
/ veteran troops that cannot be less than sevel
, ty-five thousand, and which may amount
t one hundred thousand men. Finally 1t
/ believed by many that whenever 1t is a.
t parent to General Lee that Richmond mu
: fall, whenever he is compelled to abandt
, it to its fate, that he will only leave 1t
! grasp at richer prize, and that the rebe
} will very willingly exchange Richmond I
, Washington. This idea may seem Quixo
, ic; but It is by no means impossible Of T
: | .t..ne;n,, Aba vahalc think