Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-25


Great amusement and indignation are enter
tanned and expressed here al the result Of Sheri
dams raid in the valley: so different from what
the public were promised and led 10 expect The
object OF the expedition has resulted IN complete
failure. In order to cover up and conceal this
dissgreeable fact, and to keep in the background
the results of that failure. the public IS RECALLED
with wonderful stories OF railroad tracks torn up
and of water let into a canal before tie regular
time TOR the opening of canal navigation: and
finally We are gravely informed that Sheridan,
turning bis back on Lynchburg and the Lynch
burg raIlfosd, turning his back on the James
river is striking for the Psmunky river. and will
seek TO effect communication with the right
wing of Grants army, east of Richmond.
This may be all very fine. but il is hot exactly
the entertainment TO which the public were nvi-
ted When Sheridan set out on his march, the
public were informed that the capture of Lynch
burg was the object which General Srant had in
view. And so sure was the lieutenant general
that Lyncbburg would be captured that be said
in bis dispatch 10 the secretary Of war on the 5th
inst that four brgades of rebel troops bad been
sent bY General Lee from Richmond 20 Lynch
burg, who were trying 10 get there. If possible.
before Sheridan arrived, implying, as plain as
words can speak. not only that Sheridan's desri-
nation Lyncbburg. but that he (Grani) ex-
pected Sheridan to get to Lynchburg, and to
capture that place before these rebel brigades
could arrive there.
In one view OF the case there was nothing un-
reasonable in this expectation, as Sheridan, in
fact, had reached and occupied Charlottesville
on the 81 instant: as be could essly have
marched TO Lynchburg go far as the distance is
concerned) in two days more; and as General
Grant could not be expected to know anything
about what arrangements General Lee had made
for the defense of Luxembourg, aud particularly
ct what time these four brigsdes had lett Rich
mond or whether they were the only. or first
bodies of troops that had been sent tor the de
tense of Lynchburg But if General Grant was
a grea. general. be would. By some means. have
found out what stated in my letter of March 3
namely. that General Lee had sent to Lynchbure
by railroad (the very railroad which Sheridan
has carefully avoided) early as the 9th and
2cth Of February. sufficient number Of troop:
TO defend that place successfully. The Express
which wondered on the 18th how Malcolm got
| this information, will doubt admit il,
| correctness, and wonder how General Grant die
not get it.
IL is evident now, not only that the capture o
Lynchburg WAS the object OF Sheridan's exped
| ton. but that object part and very essen
tial feature of Grants present campaign against
| Richmond, and that il is a part of Gen. Lee
plan TO defend Lynchburg His ability to do so
ut the same time that he holds Richmond and
| Petersburg, has been fully demonstrated during
| the last 10 DAYS "A long as LyDehburg il held
! and the twc lines of railroad from Richmond ana
| Petersburg TO BuTkesville, aud from Burkesvlit
| 10 Lvnchburg, are maintained intact Richmond
and Gen. Lees army, Can be prOvisiOned withou
difficulty. IL is true that some portions OF The
supplies that reached Richmond came BY the way
| of the James River Canal, and that the loss o.
that canal, and the damage which Sheridan has
] a. no rail m NO n
some temporary inconvenience to the confeder
ates. But il will only be temporary. But the
! great bulk of the supplies for Richmond will
continue to be drawn "a they have been hitherto
! from the rich and fertile regions OF southwestern
Virginia the western half Of North Csrolins,
aud the northern half of South Carolina.
! This vast region literally teens with plenty o
all kinds Its crops have always been abundant
/ and il has not vet experienced anv of the desola
tons of war, Gen Sherman, in bis march iron
! Savannah 10 Columbia, and from Columbia &c
Fayetteville, was zed at the evidences of thi.
| fact that he on every hand; and yet he only
skirted the southeastern frontier OF this fayo:itt
land. By means of the Danville railroad which
runs to Charlottesville in South Carolina, pass
ing through Bursesyile, Greensboro, Salisbury
and Charlotte. all the products of this fertile
ritory are gathered up, and poured into the laI
of Richmond IL was one of the chief objects
of Shermsns campaign, that he should destroy
this railroad. from Charlotte to Danville.
The admirable disposition of his troops. mad,
by General Johnston, prevented him from doing
this. But the fact that he failed TO do il, anC
the fact that General Sheridan failed to reach
Lynchourg and TO destroy the Lynchburg rail
road. has entirely broken up Grants plans fol
the capture OF Richmond. No one knows better
than General Grant that there is little probability
of the capture of Richmond as long as the troops
that hold it can be fed. Therefore he will no
1 be overmuch pleased when Sheridan's jaded cav
airy joins him. MALCOLM