Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1864-07-01

| INTO SpeculhiluuS, WHICH Woulu oe ltnprON
per, it is sufficient to say that this grand
scheme has already shared the fate of
most combined movements. 1t lis already
failure. Lynchburg is safe. How
Sheridan failed to perform bis part and
has been unable to come up to time ap-
pears from Gen. Lees dispatch in anoth-
er column. Hampton has gloriously
whipped him, and has probably made him
think more about the White House than
Lynchburg."
THE FIGHTING LAST WEEK.
An officer from Sherman's front reports
heavy fighting on Wednesday last on ouI
left. Blair's corps was storming the en-
emy's works. Our whole army was in
line, and there was firing along the en-
tire front. The rebels were being slow
ly driven back under fire mainly Of our
artillery. Our losses were slight. Blair
was reported to be south Of the Chatta'
hoochie river, on Wednesday night
Johnston had massed his artillery to pre-
vent our right from crossing there. A
rebel deserter was captured on Tuesday
night with dispatches from Johnston to
Wheeler, ordering him to destroy the
bridge which Sherman recently built over
the Etbwah.
These reports precede in the order of
events the reported retreat of the enemy
south of the Chattahoochie.
THE GUERILLAs IN KENTUCKY.
Josse's rebel gang, numbering from 20
to 80, attacked Bardstown Sunday NOR
ming. The garrison Of the place, con-
sisting of 25 men, surrendered. The
rebels then moved down the railroad and
destroyed the bridge and water station
near Boston. Thence they went across
the Nashville railroad two miles north OF
Elizabethtown, and when last heard from
they were going toward Litchfeld.
THE MOVEMENT AGAINST PETERSBURG.
Nearly all the defenses of Petersburg
were taken before Saturday night On
Sunday our troops rested. Gen. Butt
ler's force did not hold the Petersburg
and Richmond railroad, but they tore Up
some of the track and burnt bridge
Lee will evidently defend Petersburg as
long as possible, and will stoutly resist
any further advance towards Richmond.
1t needs no great sagacity TO see that he
must do this or allow himself to be be-
! leagured in Richmond. The difficulty
already experienced in taking the works
around Petersburg, even with the large
force employed, is pretty good vindica-
ton of Gen Gillmore's wisdom in refu.
sing to assault them with his small force
of five thousand men, for which he has
been much blamed. Gen. Gilmore is a
skillful engineer and good judge Of the
strength of defensive works. He seems
to have judged accurately in this CASE
Petersburg will no doubt be taken before
many days, but the rebels hold all the
ground on the north side of the Apo
mattox to Richmond, except Buffers
snug corner at Bermuda Hundred. The
retreat of Johnston in Georgia raises the
suspicion that be is sending Or has sent a
part of his army to Lee, and that the re-
bells are determined TO abandon every
thing else in order to save Richmond, and
will dig their "last ditch" there. There
is also some anxiety for the safety Of the
forces under Hunter, now that Lee is in
a situation 10 spare force from Rich-
mond to operate against him. The delay
in taking Petersburg unquestionably IA
vors the rebels.-SpringJfeld Republican.
VARIOUS ITEMS.
A soldier who was wounded and cap
tured in the Wilderness fights, succeeded
in escaping from the rebel hospital at Lo-
Gust Grove, and has arrived at Wash
ington. He reports that most of our
wounded had been removed to Richmond,
not more than rs or 100 severe cases res
m,inino. Rebel scouting parties occa-