The New York herald., 1864-10-05
Operations NOrth 0f RichaOa d. no
Valley Cnumn and Lees Lines.

Opor0e10Ms NOrGn Oh NaCmMO00 0-I NO
Valley C~unn and Lees Lines.
We give to-day map Of the several points
In the Shenandoah valley and east Of the Blue
Ridge that are important in The progress OF the
struggle between Sheridan and Early. or. II
the report Of E.rly's removal be true, between
Sheridan and Longstreet That struggle is
now one Of the very deepest interest. II we
running order, then with that road, with the
Lynchburg and Petersburg road and the Ka-
nawha Canal, Lee has three lines Of supply,
and oil of these must be broken up before he
can be forced to fight on Grants own terms
the great final battle for life or death.
None Of these lines is safe. Lees greatest
apprehension lately has been for the Southsde
road, and the events Of the past few days have
shown that he had risked even tho safety OF
Richmond in order to mass his troops where they
could be used for the defence of that line. But
Sheridan's defeat OF Early, and the rapid race
up the valley, brought an unexpected danger
to the Central road, and alarmed Lee lest that
line also should be lost His fears for its
safety are apparent in the fact that scarce as
men are, and necessary as it Is that he should
hold the Southside road, he has yet sent several
thousand men to reinforce the body that be
depended upon to hold the valley and keep
open his communication by way Of Charlottes-
vile aud Gordonsville. The column that
lately swept down the valley and threatened
Washington is now posted solely with view
to cover the Central Railroad and keep It open.
1t is in strong position at Browns Gap, and
If Sheridan leaves it there and moves on he
leaves force in his rear that can cut his COM
nunications. If he attempts TO carry the posi-
tion, he must fight bloody battle at great dis
advantage.
Grant and Sheridan will end way to get
over this difficulty, as both have gotten
over others. Sheridan is perhaps nearer
to Charlottesville than Lee supposes, as
Grant is much nearer to the Southside
road than Lee would like him to be.
Lee already sees how preoarious is his hold
on the Southside road. With Grant 80 near to
that road as he now is, Lee dare not keep
large force at Burkesvile Junction, for fear
that it would be cut of; and thus Grant can
by q single march, and perhaps small fight,
close up at once the Southside and Danvillo
roads. Lee would thus be left with only one;
therefore he will take great care OF that, and
we shall have yet, NO doubt, some pretty large
operations before Sheridan destroys the road
at Gordonsvile and Charlottesville; but We can
not doubt that he will do il.
II will be seen by the order Of General
Grant, riven in the letter of our correspondent
with Sheridan, that Grant has made up his
mind to put an end ct once and forever 10 the
foolery that has so long made the valley dis
grace to as Hitherto that valley has been
justly styled the rebel granary. II has fed The
rebellion at Richmond, Il has been harbor 10
hordes Of guerillas, and II has furnished CON.
venisnt avenue for the invasion OF The North;
for the rebel armies could advasos down that
vsiiU when starved out at Rlohnoed and nnd