Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-06-06
The SituatiOn--View by an Eye
ts Witness.
Correspondence of The wOrld.l

WHITE HOUSE, VA, May 81.
"Onward to Richmond"is now the watch
word. General Grant has welded his army
with a mastery hand to the discontinue of
Lee, and he is now in fair way of accom-
plishing the grand object of his campaign.
He has now swung around to his last base,
at this point, and has been met by ample
supplies which were forwarded in advance
for his purposes. General Lee has not been
caught in a trap, it is true, yet he has been
SO manifestly outmaneuvered that he will
be compelled to adopt some bold and per-
haps reckless measure in order to carry out
his plans for the defense of Richmond. He
has now taken a position which is mani
testify the only one he can take without fall
ing back into the defenses of the rebel cap
ita1 and find his foe so placed that hard
fighting will probably be the result of any
attempt that may be made to dislodge Gen
eral Grant. He has endeavored, on several
occasions, to turn our flanks, but has failed.
The most persistent of these efforts was
made yesterday, when General Warrens
command was attacked, after having been
engaged all day, in advancing toward and
somewhat crowding the enemy's position.
The attack upon Crawford's division was
stubbornly resisted, and, assisted by Gen.
Hancock, the rebels were repulsed with the
loss of their skirmish line of works and
large numbers of dead and wounded. 1t
appears that the rebel movement was a re-
cOnnoissance for the purpose of feeling our
position and discovering our strength.
Both facts were ascertained to their cost.
Immediately upon the repulse of the rebels
In their first attack, pursuit was made by
Torbetts division of our cavalry, and was
continued to Cold Harbor.
The rebels, at midnight last night, at
tempted to surprise Gen. Hancocks corps
"a most insane proceeding they were
repulsed after as harp engagement, in which
they suffered severely. Their object was to
regain the rifle pits from which they had
been driven by him during last evening"
Subsequently movement was made along
the whole line of Gen. M,ade's army, which
had the effect of crowding Lee well up to
the temporary defensive works. -.g
Lee has strongly fortified himself where
he now is, and has been steadily at work
since he first took possession of the ground.
The time tor further fanking movement
has already passed., and now Gen. Grant
must depend upon fighting and not strategy
to enable him to gain the prize. The left of
our lines is steadily closing in toward Rich
mond. General Grant has probably been
reinforced by General w. F. Smith by this
time. and in few days we may expect to
hear of a forward movement which will
demonstrate whether Lee or Grant is the
strongest. The enemy has undoubtedly
gathered all his forces for the coming strug-
gle, and is prepared to risk everything on
the present issue. If he falls, the cause of
the Confederacy islost.
From various sources we learn that the
citizens of Richmond are almost panic
stricken. The frequent alarms they have
had recently from Sheridan, Spear and
Kautz,and their escape from them, have not
increased the faith in the security of their;
capital. The cannonading Of the contend
ing armies can now be distinctly heard In
Richmond, and the music can not but be
unpleasant to the ears of those who must
feel that their cause rests upon fragile
foundation.