Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-07-14

lFfora tbs New York News Correspondent
wAsHHsroS, July Z, 1864.
IL il stated that information has been received
here this evening. from an officer Of high rank
in General Grants army 10 the effect that the
left wing OF the army has been moved still fur
Their around TO the west Of Petersburg. aud that
in making the movement il was discover that
the position recently held by Gen. Lees troops.
to the west of Petersburg. and along the line OF
the Danville railroad. he'd been abandoned by
them. IL was thought at fret that Gen Lee
troops had retired 10 Petersburg. but il was soon
sscertained that, although they had doae 80. yet
that they hsl DOT remained there but had passed
through and had gone to Richmond. IL is said
there are 10 troops at Petersburg pow, except
those under Gen. Beauregard.
If this information shall prove correct, il will
have a most important bearing on the operations
now in progress near Harper's Ferry, as il indi
Gates that the force which now occupies that
point. aud the other Confederate troops on the
line Of the Potomac, are merely the advance OF
the whole Of Gen. Lees army. II this iniorma-
ton proves correct, IL will Indicate purpose on
the part Of the Confederate commander either TO
capture Washington. else to compel General
Grant TO abandon the siege OF Richmond, IN or
der 10 defend the Federal capital
Indeed il is rumOred. a. ! close this letter, that
I the 9Th corps of Meade's army has already been
ordered 10 leave for this city that it is the way
now and that il may be expected every hour
Ii would certainly be al unfortunate termination
Of the campaign against Richmond 10 have 10
bring our army home again. But we had better
I do that, a thousand time-, rather than run the
risk of seeing Washington in the hands Of the
Confederate troops
The stories that have been circulated mere and
reprinted in New I ork TO the effect that Gen
| Hunters troops are Fastening TO the aid
of Sigel, and that Sigel, has received dis
patch from Hunter telling him to defend the
Maryland flights TO the last extremity. are per
iectly absurd Hunters forces, their ranks
greatly thinned By the battles ~ which they had
been engaged we're at Charleston. on the ka-
nawha river in the extreme western part of Vir-
gpa on the 81 instant They were completely
exhausted and worn out by the hardships and
sufferings they had endured during the previous
| two weeks, and would need at least four days
rest before they could even begin to march. In
order TO reach Parkersburg. on the Ohio river
the nearest point on the Baltimore and Ohio
| Railroad, they would have to march seventy five
miles This would take them four days more
| They could be transported by railroad from the
/ Ohio river to point about twelve miles west oil
| Cumberland From that point to Harper.
! Ferry. however, they would have to march or
foot again distance of nearly one hundred
miles for the railroad between Harper's Ferry
aud Cumberland is in possession of the Confed-
crates and they have so injured IL that trAvel or
it'would be impossible Even if Hunters force:
/ had started therefor as early as the 9th, they
| could only be at Psrkersburg now, and cannot
be expected to join Sigel before the 18th inst.
No real attack has yet been made upon Gen.
Sieel's forces at Maryland Heights All the
| facts that known indicate that strong de-
tachment Of the Confederates is moving west
/ Il C-o,. arfip hot az
in destroying the railroad between that point and
/ Cumberland and that they will then continue "a
move westward, destroying the railroad and rail
road bridges until they meet Hunters troops
The object of this movement is 10 intercept and
defeat Hunter before he can reach Sigel. The
remainder of the Confederate troOps-those thai
up 10 yesterday evening were at Hagcrstown
Boonesboro and Sharpsburg-this morning Joined
their forces at NddietOwn, and advanced toward
| Frederick
General Wallace who was AZ the Monocacy
bridge commanding the troops under Gen. Tyler
and those that had been sent out from Baltimore
advanced TO meet them An engagement took
place Just west of Frederick. the result of which
is not known here vet The engagement was
| in full progress at six o'clock this evening
and the rebels were then bringing up their re-
/ serves
! Lonestreet's corps IS said to have passed
| through Winchester Yesterday, on the way TO join
| Ewell's in Maryland. Ii this be true. they will
have reached the Potomac by this time.
All the facts that are positively known up 70
this time go to show that the Confederate force
engaged in this movement is much larger than
has been supposed. and the inference is rressta
BILE that Gen Lee would not have detached SC
large a body of his troops from Petersburg if be
had not believed that by doing 80 be could com
pei Gen Grant 10 abandon the siege of Rich
pond. MALooMs.