Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-03
Des,inY OF Lees Army.

Speculation is rife 70 the probable result OF
the important movements low going on in the
theatre OF war Al the east. We regard the fate
Of this great Struggle as Ringing upon these
movements The army OF Gen. Lee defending
the cities OF Richmond and Petersburg. embodies
at present all the effective military strength OF
the rebellion, and when that army shall be over
thrown the way 20 peace, honoTsole and endeur
ing. will be clear before the nation. 4 brief
time only can elapse before The destiny of Gen
Lee now we'll nigh encompassed nv Grant and
Sherman. will be fully decided.
Three plans OF action are nov presented 70 the
rebel chieftaiu. one Of which he must soon acopt.
The first is to attack Gen. Grant, and, il success
ful, attempt an invasion Of the loyal staies; the
second Is. having VIGOROUSLY assaulted Grant.
% turn upon General Sherman az he advances
through the Carollnss. and, If possible. destroy
his army. ara thus, by two fold triumph. exact
from the government recognition OF south
ern Independence
These plans involve the greatest risks to Cen.
Lee, and would require a more desperate and
formidable effort than has YET been made by the
rebel armies. They would be undertaken only
as The result OF EXTREMIST necessity The
chances of success are so heavily against Lee
that we do not believe him mad enough 20 adopt
such hopeless measures. The third plan, the
outlines of which We gave Yesterday, is the eyac-
speedy concentration of the main robel armies
At more interior stronghold. which We believe
to Re the fertile valley OF southwest Virginia
and East Tennessee, lying between the Cumbs.
land and Allegheny Mountains We believe il
is generally conceded that Gen Lee cannot main
tsin his GROUND in Eas, Virginia against the com
binations OF Grant and Shermsn. He stands be
tween two great armies, either OF which is equal
in numbers 10 his own Those armies are clos
M.
can be give successful battle 10 the foe His
linea Of communication. on which. hitherto. he
has depended for provisions from the Gull States
aud the Carolina, have been utterly destroyed.
He IL, therefore. bound to move Where can ne
go and subsist his army but into the fertile region
we have designated aboye7
This region-and this only in the entire South
embraces all the elements essential to the
maintenance of large military force Except
ing the limited supply from foreign sources ob
tanned by blockade running, now compile ely cut
off, this region has hitherto furnished the rebels
with iron, lead. copper. sulphur nitre. and salt.
all OF which are absolutely necessary in manu-
featuring the munitions Of war. When General
Lee shall lose control of this section. the rebel
government can obtain 10 further supply of the
elements above enumerated, for here alone are
thew to be found In the South The authorities
ut RiehTonG well know how utterly essential ia
this section and It's resources 10 the future sub
sistence Of their armies and il Is now singularly
imperative that It's occupation shall be quickly
secured by them before the advancing legions of
Sherman and Stoneman shallcut them of from IT,
IL it Is conceded that General Lee cannot and
wiii not attempt TO maintain a struggle with
Grant aud Sherman in Est Virginia and that
Richmond and Petersburg will be evacuated
then it is plain that the outlet open 10 his army
leads into southeast Virgut and east Tennes
see. The east Tennessee and Virginia railroad
is the only route be can take We anticipate,
therefore. An immediate Effort by Lee 20 secure
the city Of Lynchburg. which NAV De considered
the key 10 the great valley in the mountains
We have confidence however. ihlt proper meas
ures will be taken by our auth )rities 20 cut of
from Lee that essential route into this mpregns-
bic region II that railroad be taken and de
sroyed beyond Lyncbburg BIZ federal forces,
then vii! she last great armg OF the rebellion be
,ncompassed BY perii- which must END m
It's destruction
The final stronghold OF the coniedetscv sill
then be in federal possession. But II Lee should
reach this great yaley, with IFS immense natural
Notifications ard varied productions. he will De
enabled 20 make long and terrible struggle. A
vast expenditure OF blood and treasure will be re-
quire1 20 iislodge him The states OF Tennes
see. Kentucky and OHIO will De constantly en-
dangered by rebel partisan bands, which will is
sue from their mountain Businesses 10 capture,
kill sud piIlage Lee will be on his old stamp
nc grounds for j. was ia West Virginia that he
made his first campaign IN the winter Of 1861
But s. RosecIans OuI-geAersled him then. and
drove MIN 10 the cast, so, in future be will again
be dispelled by Sherman. The most successful
strategist Of the sge