New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-02
THE CAM PA1GN.

II il not long since we heard that consider
able portion Of Lees army had been detached
TO guard the Danvile Railroad We now hear
that Gen. Wilson's cavalry has destroyed forty
miles Of the track northeast and southwest oil
Burkesyil,e, the station at which the Petersburg
and Lynchburg and Richmond and Danvillc
Railroads intersect. We infer, therefore, that
if Lee ever distributed his forces for the protec-
ton Of these important lines, he has recently
found other occupation for them. Gen. Wilson
met no opposition whatever along the line OF
his operations.
A good deal has been said Of the facility with
which the Rebels reconstruct thoir damaged
railways, aud wO have lately been enter
tanned with an account of Construction Corps,
numbering several English engineers among its
members, which is represented az competent to
relay tracks about as fast as they are destroyed.
II is affirmed, also, that duplicates of all import
ant bridges lie ready TO be thrown across the
streams. W. wholly discredit the story. The
resources Of o Rebel Confederacy arc suf-
fciently msgnifcd without rosortng 10
such fairy tales as these. In reference
to- the probability Of their possessing
vast stores of rails and other material,
it is sufficient TO say that Gen. Wilson found
the Danylle Road laid with tho Oldiashioned
strap rail on longitudinal sleepers-and this on
the most important line Of communication then
remaining 10 the Confederacy. Nor is there any
evidence that the Rebels have succeeded in re-
placing the long extent Of the Virginia Central
Railroad destroyed by our army while lying
south of the North Anna, and subsequently, by
Sheridan on his Gordonsvillc raid.
We attach, therefore, great importance TO the
success Of Gen. Wilson. lie hes destroyed in
all 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 tho mercy of Gen. Grants cavalry and
again be tom to pieces. should it then DO worth
against heavy force Of cavalry. Lee cannot
spare men enough TO do 1t cllcctually. for the
cavalry takes so wide sweep, dcscends so
suddenly and docs its destructive work 40
rapidly, that it is impossible either TO cover all
the ground dcfensively beforehand or to con-
centrate infantry in season to interrupt the
mischief.
1t is probable that this expedition has broken
off the work Of provisioning Richmond for q
siege. The two lines cut were the last remain
ing communications of the Rebel capital. The
Richmond and Danville Railroad was the sole
link between Richmond and Atlanta-assum-
authority, that the Weldon Railroad has been for
some days in the undisturbed possession of Gen.
Grant. 1t was vitality important, therefore, not
only as on avenue of supply, but as thcmeans
of repid exchange of troops between Lee aud
Johnston. As matters now stand, Lee must
fight his battles with what forces he has. The
other road which Gen. Wilson has cut
in two, the Petersburg and Lynchburg. formed
the only communication, save the James River
Canal, between Richmond aud Lynchbnrg
which latter place has been and doubtless still
is an important depot of supplies of all kinds.
And 1t strikes Us as probable that Wilson has
done very important service somewhat in
The two divisions, comprising nino
brigades, which Lee sent to repel Hunter, were
still at last accounts in the neighborhood of
Lynchburg, and are, therefore, cut off from
reinforcing Lee in case of urgent
necessity.
Our special dispatch will be found full of in
tsrcsting details Of Wilson's expedition, gath.
cred from the staG ohcor who cut his way