The tri-weekly herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-03-25

Johnston will fight the battle with Sherman
which will decide the fate of the latter. But
he will not have to fight it with these troops
alone. 49,. -, p. =; =.
DELUsIoN IN REGARD TO LEES ABILITY TO MOVE.
The greatest delusion which the North is
laboring under is, that the presence Of General
MeadeS army before Petersburg prevents
General Lee from sending away from Richmond
any troops to reinforce Johnston. The truth
is, not only could Gen. Lee do this without
imperilling the safety of Richmond or Peters!
burg in the least, but he could do it without
the knowledge of General Meade. The closest
observation fails to discover any increase or
diminution in General Lees numbers. No
intelligent person needs to be told that we
cannot see the whole, Of Lees army. The part
of that army t1at is visible. to the closest
observation is not one tenth part Of the whole.
For aught General Meade knows to the contra
ry, General Lee may have been reinforced
during the last ten days by as many as $4,000
men, and General Lee, after all, may attempt
to pierce Meade's centre and to defeat one of
his wings before it can be supported.
= HOW THE aANGUvRE CAN BE ETFEoTE1.
On the other hand, does not every sensible
person know that askillful military commander
can move troops silently, in the night, from
point to point, and night after night in sue
ccssion, and still maintain the same show OF
force in front, neither more or less? Certainly,
it can be done has been done, time and again,
both in European wars and in this war. What
is there to prevent General Lee from having
thus transferred 10000, sc, 900 or even 40, 900
,of his troops from his lines to somepoints ON
the Danville and Lynchburg railroads west of
Petersburg and southwest Of Richmond ?
Nothing. And the stake in North Carolinal is
sohigh one, so much depends upon the
defeat of Sherman there, that in all probability
he has done it. Suppose that General Meade
suspects he has done. it. How is he to find
out ~ Only by an assault on some part OF
Lees lines, or by fourth or fifth attempt to
reach the Lynchburg railroad, BY again ''ex-
tending his lines" ....'.... .......
HOW CAN TIE TRUTH BE AscERTA1NED.
Suppose we should try either, what would
be the. result ? / know, the gallantry and
skill of our officers. know the courage and
devotion Of our troops.z But / know also
something of the nature of the defences of
Richmond and Petersburg, and of the facili-
ties which General Lee has for concentrating
troops at any point that is threatened with a
real attack. No troops in the world are braVer
than ours but no troops in the world can &C.
complish irnpossi oilities. NThe army that was
repulsed at Fredericksburg and at the mine at
Petersburg, and at, every attempt that has
been made by General Grant, either to carry
the works defending the rebel lines OF to reach
the Lynchburg railroad-that army would
have no cause to blush if success did not
crown their next effort. The defences Of Rich
lnond and Petersburg were erected with this
end in view, and they mi ght be held by COM
paratively small force at time when, in case
of need. the main body of Gen., Lees army
must be employed ELSEWHERE. :
RICHMOND WILL NOT Be GIVEN UP
That period, General Lee probably believes,
has now arrived. General Sherman must be
defeated in North Carolina. He can send Gem
eral Johnston, by railroad, in very short
time, thirty thousand troops, and have forty.
ive thousand left for the defence of his lines.
There rs every reason to believe that ne has
done this. But let no one suppose, because
he has done so, either that Petersburg will be
evacuated, or that Richmond will be yielded
without terrific struggle. 1t the Confedera-
cy falls now, it will fall at Richmond, and Gen
eral Lee will fall with it. While the Confed-
eracy sru,ains Richmond Will remain its capi-
IL. ...
cHsy1cAL POSITION OF GENERAL SIBERIAN.
To 4seur to General Johnston. If General
Lee has sent him only 25, 900 troops, he will
have 81, 900 at the lowest computation, and
with these it need not be said that Sherman's s
position becomes one of great peril. # the
reports which have reached here. referred to
above, be correct, it is evidently the intention
of bo: Lee and Johnston to defeat Sherman
on the2Yadkin, and TO risk much in order to
effect that end.
: PRISONERS SOLD FOR SrBsT1TUTEs.-The
House committee for the District of Columbia
have, by an investigation, ascertained that,
recently seventy persons committed to the
iail of that District, have been bailed out and