The New York herald., 1865-04-01
signs or . Great Battle and the Evscua-
tfon OF RiehmOnd.

tensely interesting The facts reported are
that on Wednesday last, General Sheridan's
cavalry leading the way. portion Of the
Army of the Potomac had moved on in the
direction of the Southside Railroad; that the
column, after crossing Hatcher's run,
had met some forces Of the enemy, and re-
pulsed them with considerable loss, bringing in
a number Of prisoners; that General Lee was
believed to be hurrying forward troops for the
protection of the Southside road; but that
Sheridan would, in all probability, be ahead of
him. In anticipation Of his success, twas ex-
pected that the evacuation of Petersburg and
Richmond would speedily follow.
This is the news ON hand Of Wednesdays
operations. Next we have the intelligence that
on Thursday, from halfpast ten in the morn
ing till halfpast one in the afternoon, fu-
rious cannonading was heard at City Point in
the direction of the Petersburg front, which is
some ten miles above. A battle was supposed
to be in progress. Next we have the informa-
ton from Richmond that the banks there have
been sending away their effects, and that two
percussion cap factories had been also removed
to Danville or Lynchburg. From these facts,
and others before received, we are left to con-
lecture the nature and results of these late un-
developed military operations.
They may be reduced to mere demonstra-
ton from General Meade for the purpose Of
diverting the attention Of General Lee from
Sheridans expedition; but they may also have
been for the purpose of a nearer occupation Of
the Southside road, with or without gen.
eral engagement, as Lee might elect We
think it altogether probable that in these move
ments there was larger purpose in view than
the protection of Sheridan's cavalry. The
Army Of the James and the Army Of the Poto-
mac had both been equipped for an immediate
advance. Lee had been weakened meantime
to strengthen Johnston; the latter, at or near
Raleigh, was beyond supporting distance Of
Lee; but by withholding a general movement
against Lee, even few days longer, Johnston
might get up to the front considerable body
of reinforcements in advance of Sherman-the
enemy having the interior line of the Danville
Railroad for the transfer of his troops. We
think ~ probable that all these considerations
were embraced in the "fve minute" consul
tation the other day between Grant and Sher-
man, and that the latter has hurried back to
prevent the junction of Johnston with Lee, in
view Of the evacuation of Richmond from the
movement determined upon by General Grant
The late rains and the resulting embargo
upon the spongy roads around Petersburg may
have interfered with the operations contem-
plated; but still we anticipate very early news
of the evacuation of Richmond and the active
pursuit of Lees army, and that Sherman, too,
is again upon the war path.
Mexico AND THE REBEL ARMEs-It would
be somewhat remarkable IL our great strug-
gle should finally terminate in an extern
sive military migration, and if the difficult
questions of the rebel armies and the proud
and intractable Southern leaders should be set
tied in that way. Such an issue to such war
would not be without precedent Wars between
races of directly opposed systems of civiliza-
ion are for supremacy, whatever appearance
accidental local questions may give them; and
,ne must either submit to be overwhelmed by
he other and to lose its identity, or it must go
out in search of "fresh fields and pastures new"
Though such migration Of any considerable
portion of people seems to be hardly in the
spirit Of the present age, we certainly have the
more essential elements of it in the remnants
Of the rebel armies; and there is very rich
and tempting territory fairly within their reach
that could easily be seized and made subject to
their arms. II Lee should move out of Rich
mond to the Southwest, and be very feebly pur-
sued, and thence continue his march to Mexico,
how il might change the whole aspect OF the
relations Of this continent with Europe.
Seward, the French papers say, will recog-
nize the government Of Macmillan, and that
will make US all right with France, while we
would be sure to be all RIGHT with Mexico on
the Monroe doctrine; for the government
established by fifty or sixty thousand rebels
would certainly be republican in form. The
only difficulty then would be between France
and the men who made such an irruption
into her province. What would the political
Messiah dos BY the employment of the utmost
military power that he could put in Mexico he
could not cope with Lee. If he should try to
hold Mexico he would fail terribly; and If he
did not try--if he gave il up, he would GER
tainly have to Ace revolution In France.
RAscAIs ADRoAD-INFIUx or TIcKEr-oF-LEAvE