The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-08-01
Petersburg-Grancs Greas Success.


General Grant has suddenly thrown food
copperbeads and copperhead journals and de-
spondent patriots believed that he was finally
beaten at all points by Lee, and was sitting
still at Petersburg in sheer despair as to what
to do next; while the rebel papers announced
triumphantly that Early would soon be in
Pennsylvania, and oil the horizon seemed
dusky for us to the whole congregation OF
doubters, Grant comes forward again the real
hero of the struggle in blaze Of victory, and
striking down rebel resistance with an afluence
of force that utterly belittles all the combina
lions Of the enemy.
Petersburg, and all the works near 1t, are
possibly in Grants possession at the present
moment, although the government had no Official
report Of anything later than the assault on the
enemy's works, up to half-past eleven o'clock
last night. Having pressed an earthquake into
his service, in the shape Of q mine, General
Grant blew the enemy's main work toward the
moon on Saturday and carried the smaller ones
by the bayonet before the enemy recovered his
senses Nothing could have been more finely ar
ranged than this whole movement. Early was
in Northern Virginia frightening Maryland and
Pennsylvania with so much of Lees army that
Lee had let at Richmond and Petersburg only
eight divisions These eight divsions-per-
haps City thousand men--had to watch the
Second, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth and Eighteenth
corps, advancing and maneuvring on . very
long line. But the left of that long line, in
front Of Petersburg. was the important point
and the bulk Of the eight divisions was Eassed
there. They were perfectly safe there, and
having the advantage of well built defences, 1t
was certain that they. could hold Grant in
check, though he had five corps.
The other end Of Grants long line was away
off across the Appomattox, across the peninsula
Of Bermuda Hundred, and across the James,
so that Grants right reached out like long
and ominous finger pointing the road to Rich.
mond. Grants right at Deep Bottom, north Of
the James, was thus ten miles from his left as
the bird flies; but following the deviations of
his line it was great deal further. From this
threatening right, thus boldly pushed out, Lee
did not apprehend much danger, yet he watched
it; but he watched it rather with curiosity than
on this point, and became convinced that he had
made . mistake about it. On Friday he was
certain that Grant had at that point the Tenth,
Eighteenth and Second corps. He foresaw .
sudden advance up the New Market road, the
seizure of the Richmond defences by bold
coup de main and the fall Of his capital, while
be, its chosen defender, was watching it on the
60 Yc1a 4ha ;cN, 80 h;o he
made . hurried change. He left in the strong
works at Petersburg three divisions, and with
the other five he hurried away up to Richmond,
and from Richmond down on the other side Of
the river, to confront Grants advance by the
right.
But while be was making this change Grant
was also making change. He bad indeed
sent Q force over to Deep Bottom; but the
whole movement was ruse. The force was at
Deep Bottom on Friday, when Lee started to
confront it; but It was Withdrawn on Friday
night to the position in front of Petersburg
Grants extreme left On Saturday morning,
then. this was the position OF the forces: Lee
had three divisions holding Petersburg and five
divisions thirty miles away-by his line of
march-at Deep Bottom. Grant had small
force at Deep Bottom and his whole army
massed near Petersburg, ready to overpower
Lees three divisions and seize the important
place. But Lees three divisions were in we'll
built defences, and that made even such force
formidable. Grant, however, had made ar
ransements to nullify these de'ences, and did
so at five o'clock on Saturday morning. He
exploded o large mine at that hour, utterly
destroying portion OF the defences, and
moved for the storm Of the remainder under
cover of the alarm and surprise When Lee
heard the explosion of Grants mine he wished
that he had not sent Early TO Pennsylvania, and
in his regrets at that hour the people of Penn
sylvania had their revenge. He would have
given his right hand if he had left them alone.
Never was more complete and brilliant
piece Of strategy than this put to the practical
test Of experiment; and it is singular that
after all these desperate struggles against Lee,
and in the midst Of all the immense improve
nents of mo iern warfare, the place fought for
should finally yield to simple stratagem, and
that Lee should lose the important point in bis
defences because he got frightened over o
point that was not important at all. With
Shermau's great battles at Atlanta, and this
great victory OF Grants, the military prospect
is as cheering now as it was last summer, when
our successes, East aud West, came together
in the same splendid way. Grants mine
almost silences the noise that Early X making
in Pennsylvania.
The HrspANo- PERUVIAN DIFFICULTY. The
Spanish government has made q proposal to