Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1865-04-07

NiuA pio W 0sA 70 oSAvAo "s'
-Iribune.
"On to Richmond is no longer the slo-
gan of the Union army, but it is through
Richmond and after General Lees scatter
ed army.
After five days of continued contest, the
full details Of which will fillall loyal hearts
with pride and joy for the uoble bearing OF
our soldiers, Richmond was entered by
Grants soldiers.
The Tribune of Tuesday says:
"On Sunday night Lee fled. On Mon
day morning Grants columns were once
more in notion, ond along the banks of
the Appomattox began race with the
rebels for the Danville road.
The topography of the pending cam
paign is such that it is by no means certain
Lee has secured line of retreat ON the
railroad Or on any road. If he went to
Richmond when he abandoned Petersburg
he had march of twenty-five miles to
make. If he were to move from Richmond
to Burkesville the distance is fifty three
miles, and Grant at Petersburg has a
straight and shorter road to Lees line of
retreat than Lee has on the railroad. So
that, as we know Grant started instantly
in pursuit, we may doubt whether lee will
reach the junction first. The chance that
he cannot protect the Danyille road as far
as Burkesyille, is at least an even one land
if he does not, there is no chance of his
escape.
1t must be remembered further that the
plans and combinations of Gen. Grant
contemplated precisely the event that has
now occurred-the defeat of Lee, and his
retreat in haste from Petersburg and Rich
mond. 1t was not meant that in such a
contingency he should be permitted to cs-
cape. Probably Gen. Grant has acceler-
ated the opening of this campaign from in
formation th8 Lee mcditatcd an eyacua-
| ton. and because Grant did not intend his
enemy should sneak away without fight,
he fell upon him without waiting one mo-
ment for the maturing of Shcrman's
campaign i'll North Carolina. Therefore
it cannot be presumed he will consent that
any considerable portion of the rebel army
shall escape his grasp, or that Lee shall
ever again be able to rally and re-organize
the forces which have hitherto been the
garrison and bulwark of Richmond. We
do not hear this morning from Gen. Grant
but that is evidence that he is moving
too rapidly, and has no time or means to
telegraph.
Moreover, when Gen. Sheridan turned
east on the White Oak road on Saturday,
and came in upon the cncmy's flank with
such weight and velocity, as decided the
fate of the great battle on Sunday, we do
not know that he brought the whole of his
cavalry with linn. 1t does not appear that
cavalry We're largely engaged in those ac-
tons, and it is at least a plausible conjec-
ture that force was detached at that time
which went to Burkesvile or some other
convenient spot on the Danville road, and
while the fight for Richmond ragged on the
Appomattox, and in the very hours while
Lees pale legions were filing out of the
silent streets Of Richmond, was tearing up
the railway on which those retreating
squadrons had hoped to pass into the
mountain defles Of Central Virginia.
A look at this mornings map will make
the positions and chances of this struggle
clear. Petersburg, Richmond and Burks-
vile are three points of a triangle. If
Grant chooses to disect the hypotennse Of
that triangle by marching on q line just
South of the Appomattox, he destroys the
Danville road. And still more if Sheridan
has been beforehand on that road, the re-
treat Of Lee has been utterly cut off,