Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-03-30


The ObJsetS OF the Opposing G0nsr
aiS-Lse'S strategy Being Employed
The DOFnler Resort.
cOrespondones of the New York World.
WAsH1HGHoH, March 26, P. N.
saRRMAA's BATTLE .F11LD.
The impression prevails here that Sher-
mAn cannot have a continuance of his late
successes, but must soon find q battlefield
upon which all the strength Of his army
aud his superior strategy must be employ
ed. Johnston is evidently retrestiDR from
point to point in North Carolina, but man
ifestly 10 pursuance of the plans laid down
by General Lee. 1t appears to be the pur-
pose of the rebel commander in. chief to
prevent q jpnction of Sherman's and
Grants forces at ell hazards, and hence
Johnston retards Sherman's advance, while
Lee himself, by hurting his columns
against Grants lines, compels the latter
General to defer any movement which will
remotely or nearly tend to extricste Sher.
man, or aid in effectiug a junction.
sHHRHAN's OBJECT
appears to have been to gain that place in
advance of Johnston, and thus cut him off
from points further west. This scheme of
Sherman was defeated by the engagements
at Ayresboro and Bentonville, and left
Sherman with greater part of his army
in such position that he could not pursue
his original intention, and accordingly
changed his course to Goldsboro, in order
to effect a junction with Schofeld. Thus
at Raleigh
JOHNSON HAS TWO LINES OF RETREAT;
one by the Castor road and the other BY
the North Carolina road to Greensboro and
thence TO DAnVille. If it is true, as has
been stated, that the line of the Roanoke or
Dan rivers has been selected by Lee as the
battle ground, Johnston will throw his
column from Raleigh up to Castor, and
thence form line Of battle, reinforced by
Lee, near that point and between Sherman
and Grants extreme left, so as to prevent
junction. Last WeekI gave a sketch of the
new line upon which battle. field was
supposed to have been selected, and desig-
mated the south bank of the Dan river, near
Clarksville, the western terminus of the
Roanoke Valley road, as the point. That
was based upon the superstition that John.
ston would retreat to Greensboro, and
thence to Dsnville, and that Sherman would
change his course and move up upon Gas
ton and thence to Olarksville from Raleigh.
If Johnston moves Via GreenVilIe and Dan.
Vile, and Sherman executes fank move.
ment ViG CASTOR aud Clarksville, the bat
tie. ground will be upon the line of the Dan
river. If, on the contrary, Johnston moves
up upon CASTOR from Raleigh, and General
Sherman follows, the line of battle will be
upon the south bank of the Roanoke, near
CASTOR. As the result of either course on
the part of Johnson, the battle. field must
be in Southeastern Virginia, upon the bor-
ders of North Carolina.
THE POLICY OF LEE
now appears to be to prolong the struggle
as far as possible in order to exhaust Sher..
man and compel q cessation of hostilities
on the part of the latter until he can pro-
cure supplies for his army. Meanwhile
johnston is to withdraw Sherman as far
as possible into the interior of the country,
and into position where he can be sue.
cessfully assailed by Johnston reinforced
by Lee. The attack of the latter upon
General Grant is part of his policy, and
is intended to keep the latter general SO
actively OnPlOySd iA defending lie -Iiaaa as
to prevent a reinforcement of or co. opera
ton with Sherman. Lee expects that by
the time the latter is in position on the
south bank of the Roanoke or Dan rivers,
as the case may be, he will be iu situa.
ton to aid Johnston by precipitaiug por.
ton of his army suddenly upon Sherman,
defeating him, and, while he is still smart
ing from his wounds, to turn aud success.
fully assault Grant in front of Petersburg.
In any event a junction of Sherman with
Grant must be prevented at all hazards, if
the cause of the confederacyis to be saved;
and Lee will not be slow to adopt any
measure which may prevent tho slightest
chance for success. SPECTATOR.