Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-06-06
Special Correspondence Of the Chicago Times
WASHINGTON, May 30, 1864.

A,fuN1AVNt nay ~ tSof'
You will have learned ere this that Gen Grant
has made the movement that was foreshadowed
in my letter Of May - Our whole army IS now
on the PamunkeY, at HanOvert0wn, twenty miles
northeast Of Richmond. and We have gained what
the movement was chiefly undertaken for. water
base for our supplies. Without this. no army in
the world can take Richmond IL was afforded
by the \ ork and Pamunkey rivers, and Grant
might have secured it at the outset OF the cam
paign instead OF waiting until now. Nay. he
might have had his whole army where they now
are as early as the 18th inst. without the loss of
men. and with the men fresh and vigorous. for
they could have been transported by water all
the way IL has COS. Us the loss of 10000 men
70 get the army where it is now, simply be-
cause the Administration insisted on the ever
land route
The abandonment of that route at this late
day, and after the needless sacrifice of 10000 of
our best soldiers. is tardy and ungraceful ac-
knowledgment of he wisdom and foresight of
Gen. Mcclellan Our army to-day is just where
his army was the 18Th of May, 1862. Yet
under what different circumstances. Gen. Grant
has advantages that were perSistently denied to
Gen. Mcclellan, and which enable him TO
accomplish what Gen. Mcclellan was unable to
do. Gen Grants immediate army is twice as
large as McClelian's: aud Gen Grant, besides,
has at his disposal all the troops in the United
States, and can draw to him many as he
wishes from any quarter
The siege of Richmond must now very soon
commence untless Gen. Grant is diverted there
from BY orders from Washington IL must be
conducted in due form. and will be "a work O.
time. 1t will require the digging of trenches
the construction of parallels, continuous bonn
bardment for many successive days, and finally
direct assaults on the works And, even before
this begins, the Union army must advance to,
and cross the Chickahominy. After this has
been done and the arrangements for the supplies
of the army pefected, and after the army has
ADVANCED to within four or FIVE miles of the
rebel capital the actual operations of the siege
will require at least from two TO three weeks.
under the most favorable circumstances.
Where will Gen. Lees army be during the
three or four weeks that must intervene, there
fore between now and the fall of Richmond, i. it
does fall? This is the question that is upper
most in the minds of thoughtful men here lust
now. 1t is certain that it will not be cooped up
in Richmond. If there are 10000 or 50 600
troops there under Beluregard-and il is more
than likely that there are that many there-there
are quite as MANY as can be fed there during a
siege.
1t is understood that the rebels are confident in
the ability OF Gen Beauregard to defend the city
successfully. or at least to hold out for three.
four, or five weeks The Notifications were
finished under bis supervision, aud they are no
doubt as nearly impregnable as such works can
be made. What then, will Gen Lee do in the
meaDtimei
The answer to this question depends upon the
force which General Lee has at his disposal. If
he has been reinforced to the extent that has been
stated, he has somewhat over 100 900 troops
And these is little doubt that this is moderate
estimate of his real strength. No well informed
man doubts that the rebels have in all at least
800 600 troops, and il is known that all their
available forces concentrated under Lee
Beauregard and Johnson If, therefore. 100 900
are allowed to Lee, so 600 each TO BeauregaId
ant Johnson, 2O,0O0 to the country west OF the
Mississippi, $4,000 between Petersburg and VIII
mIngton, and 10000 at Charleston and Savannah,
it still leaves 1900 troops unassigned.
If Gen. Lee, therefore has 100 900 troops
there is reason to fear that. leaving Grant on the
Pamunky, he will move rapidly towards the
Potomac river, by way of Milford. Fredericks
burg, Centerville, and Fairfax Court House
On all "that line there are no Union troops
to oppose his march Frederick sburg, Aouia
Creek, have ali been abandoned. There is not
single company of Union soldiers between this
city and the Pamunky except in the forts m
mediately around Washington. Every night, for
hcailN Il WSch ltict, TIE mas DeeD luriQ with
the flames and smoke arising from burning block
houses and bridges. in all directions south and
west from here. Mosby is at his work again.
n or is this all he does. The most important in
formation in regard to the condition of affairs
near this city is regularly transmitted to Gen
Lee by this daring md ubiquitous guerrilla
chief
1t Gen. Lee marches on Washington, there
fore, will Gen Grant be allowed to continue the
seige of Richmond Doubtfu-very doubtful
Gen. Lee. with twice 900 900 men, could not
capture Washington. But the Administration
does not think 50. If Gen Lee makes any kind
OF formidable demonstration towards this city,
fears for the safety of the capital will lead the
President to order Gen. Grant peremptorily to
bring the army back for its defense, and the or
der will have to be obeyed.
Many Of your readers will be glad to see that
Col. T. W. Egan. of the 10th New Yark regi-
ment. formerly of Chicago, is again distinguish
ing himself in this campaign. as he has in all
that have preceded it Col Egan is now in com
mand of the % brigade of Birney's division of
the % corps. In the advance of the army from
the Pc to the Pamunkey. that division arrived at
the North Anna on the 22l, and found the posi-
ton very strong one, held by whole division
of Longstreet's corps The position was carried
by an assault made by Col Egan. with his own
and Col. Pierce's brigades. in the most gallant
style. Y.