Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-08-20

Correspondence Of the New York News.l
WASHINGTON. Aug. l6.
have some rexs to-day. direct from Rich
mond, which throws some light upon the present
condition of affairs in the Shenandoah valley, in
Georgia, and at Petersburg.
1t was understood at Richmond that General
Grants army was being Withdrawn from Peters
burg, and was being transferred in transport YES
sells to the North. show of force in front Of
Petersburg is still kept up by Gen. Grant, but ev-
cry night, il is said. some bodies of troops are
Withdrawn. 1t is not known at Richmond where
these troops go to, bat il is supposed that their
destination is the Shenandoah valley.
In this, Of this is correct,) Gen. Grant Is only
following the example set by Gen Lee some
weeks ago. The main body Of Gen. Lees army
was Withdrawn from Petersburg as long ago as
July q and %. Ii was not there on the 5Oth OF
July The memorable battle on that day was
fought, on the part Of the Confederates; by not
one quarter the number Of troops that General
Grant had in front of Petersburg. And the main
body of Gen Lees army have not returned to
that place Ii is not true. however. that they
have been sent TO the Shenandoah valley A
reinforcement of 10000 men Was sent to.Wood-
| stock by the way of Gordonsville and Harris
| burg quite recently, and will join Gen. Early on
his arrival at the former place But the main
body of Gen. Lees army sent to Atlanta to
reinforce Gen. Hood, Immediately after the battle
| Of July 30.
The troops thus sent comprise. il is said. six
| divisions of Infantry, and amount 10 1000 men.
! They began TO leave Richmond on the first OF
| August and trains Of cars have been running
| ever since, conveying them. General Lee and
| General Beauregard have both been 10 Atlanta
within the last two weeks, but General Lee has
returned, and General Bcauregard did not remain
there. General Hood will remain in command
there Ii was expected at Richmond that great
battle had by this time taken place ut Atlanta.
which, il was confidently believed, would result,
in the defeat OF Sherman.
If these accounts of the reinforcement of Gen.
Hood are correct there is no doubt that his force
greatly outnumbered those of General Sherman
| What those of the latter amount to | do not
| know They are believed at Richmond not 10
exceed 80, 900 men, Gen Hood is said TO have.
| including Gen Johnstons old army, the newly
raised Georgia recruits the renforcemeuts which
he has received from the Mississippi valley and
from Mobile. and the $4,000 troops sent TO him
| from Lees army, over 100 GOO men.
| IL is believed at Richmond that at present.
even after Gen. Early is joined by the 10000
Confederate troops mentioned above, that he will
be considerably outnumbered by the troops under
General Sheridan.
Ii is not expected. therefore, that he will sui
fer himself TO be drawn into general engage
ment. even at Woodstock, but will content him
self with guarding the passage of his trains to
Gordonsvile. No doubt. however. he will be
quite strong enough to prevent very vigorous
pursuit by Gen Sheridan further south than
Woodstock, and will be able to hold the latter
pretty much in check from that point to Gordons
vile.
At Gordonsvle it is believed he will he joined
by another large body of Confederate troops,
aud then. il is supposed, he will give battle to
the Union forces By that time General Sher
dan will be drawn 80 far away from his base
that he will fight under much greater disad-
vantages than at Winchester or even at Wood
stock
The news from Richmond ia regard to Mobile
is that apprehension is felt in regard TO its
capture. The Growing on that point here, il APP
pears. entirely too soon.
Mobile will be found TO be another Charleston,
IL this news is correct, and the same difficulties
which bafed Us there now confront us at Mobile.
The distractions in the inner harbor Of Mobile
are Of such n nature that they can neither be
passed by vessels removed; and while
they remain, Mobile can never be taken by q
naval force. General Beau,egard is there. and
not at Atlanta. and the utmost confidence is
entertained at Richmond Of his ability to de-
fend the place successfully. MALCOLM