Delaware State journal and statesman., 1864-06-28
The Military Situation at Petersburg
TOWER HALL,
5l9 Market Street,
BENNETT Il co.

AAS Ahhltuiy plbuhblun Ab AtbIApbu "a
MIR. Swnton, the correspondent of the New
York Times before Petersburg, sends the follow
ing to that journal, under June 81. He says:
Regarded in its most general relations, the
present situation of the armies operating against
Richmond presents an aspect identical with that
which has already thrice met us--in front of
SpGtsylvania Court llolse, before tho lines of
the South Anna, and at the Chickahominy. The
stragetic problem, executed with entire success,
has given waY to tactical problem, which
slubbornly bids defiance to our Efforts to solye.
la stroke Of mastery generalship this army
was taken up from the ChickahomiDy, conveyed
over an interval Of over fifty miles, transported
across to formidable rivers, and in two days was
planted before Petersburg tho key to Richmond.
But Petersburg, the richly merited prize Of the
most boldly conceived aud the most brilliantly
executed military conception of the war, by one
of those yoxatious accidents that checked the
history of military operations, failed to bc won.
In vain stroke of genius outwitted the astute
general who commands the formost army Of the
rebellion, threw him from his central position to
one exterior to US, delayed him two days, and
brought this army in front of Petersburg four.
and twenty hours before man of the enemy
had crossed the James river.
The defences of Petersburg fell prize to the
the rapiiity of this great movement. Its line Of
works, formidable in character aud of old con-
strucion, was carried, or rather surprised aud
taken by our advanced column. A few militia
and old men and boys Of the town, hastily
gathered up for the occasion, were NIL that met
General Smith in a line Of works south of Peters
burg, which, if properly garrisoned, could have
bade defiance to the whole Army of the Potomac
and must have reduced US to the necessity of
siege operations A few hours' more daylight,
the arrival of column OF troops, delayed few
miles back, would have secured these conqnests
10 us as permanent possession. At 1870 O'Clock
in the evening of Wednesday last, General Smith.
irita simple skirash line took the whole line Of
field works covered by his front. Had the
prearranged plan been carried out, whereby an
oider corps was to have connected AMI CO.
operated with him, the whole line would have
| hcen taken, nnd, the victory followed up, fetera
burg would that night have been in our bands
now this design failed of realization is worthy
Of explanation.
When early on Welncsday merning, the %
Corps had effected the passage Of the james
river at Windmill Point, General Hancock was
met by Dispatch from the Commanding Genera
directing him that, if provisions had arrived, hi
should ration his men before proceeding toward
Petersburg. Just at this time received in
formation, seemingly reliable, to the effect tina
the transports had arrived with supplies. Thi
fact General Hancock communicated to The Com
mandng General, stating that he would sOoi
ward, as directed The information proved Il
be n misake-a lamentable mistake--,he trans
ports had not arrived Yet this simple erro
caused delay in the movement of Hancock
corps of fire hours and half His column
{ joined General Smiths troops at one o'clock OF
, the morning of Thursday But had he been II
earlier by the difference noted Of five and hal
hours, he would have reached the front at 4 81
4 on the evening Of Wednesday,, sChch fcds precise
D., fh -
tachl
Thursday morning revealed new actor on tll
tho stage--a new element introduced into th
problem. While our troops were coming u
during the night, Beauregard also came up, an
the Reconnaissance Of Thursday morning develop
, ed him in force inIa line hastily thrown up durn
the night, aud q little closer to the town, bl
= still strong enough TO check our advance. III
militia was relieved-Beauregard force, nun
/, herring thirty thousand men, and reinfoced b
l. the addition of Bushrod Johnsons commani
took their places-men OF a very different nett
III these from the crude soldiers to whom the de
fence Of the works of Petersburg had been ei
: trusted.
II is true the assaults of tho first day drO'
, the enemy from their tempOry position, but
q was only to fall back on line hugging Il
4 iowr, which Beauregard was preparing in tt
IT meanwhile and which, constantly strengthen
uurlhg the interval thnt nus sihce elapseu' et'n
between us and the desired point as formidah
ie an obstacle as we have yet encountered.
This line was assaulted along our entire fro
on Saturday last. The attack was similar
character to that made on the lines Of the Chic
ahominy on the Sd inst. 1t resulted, like th
r in serious loss of life, and its issue was of
similar kind-that is, we failed 10 carry o
T point.
Y. A like untoward fortune attended the attack
lis Gen. Butler on that portiOnof the rebel positi
pd "dd lying north of the AppomattOx. Meeting, ii
Smith, with but feeble resistance from the lo'
troops in the attack on Thursday, he seized
Petersburg aud Richmond Railroad, and d
Ia, troyed it in part; but Longstreets arrival co
ich PEELED Gen. Butler to withdraw his command
iof his original line.