Year: 1864

The news which we give to our readers this
morning of the success Of General Grants
mastery flank movement, commenced on
Saturday night last, exceeds our most sanguine
expectations. Dislodged from his strong posi-
tion at Spottsylvania Court House, General
Lee has been so rapidly followed up in bis
retreat as to be unable to organize bis forces
for q deliberate stand on the North Anna
river Repulsed from that stream, be Is
necessarily driven across the South Anna
because Of the danger Of risking an engage
ment with that river between him and the de-
fences of Richmond. The safety of his army Is
the first consideration. He may have provided
line of defensive works at Hanover Court
House. and there may be fought the decisive
battle Of the campaign but we rather incline
to the impression that the necessities Of his
army are SO urgent and the danger to his lines
of subsistence SO great that he will not stop
short of the Richmond Notifications.


AT all events, as we interpret Secretary
Stanton's last official despatch. General Grant
has cleared the way before him to the South
Anna river, and, with the railroad in running
order behind him to his base of supplies
at Fredericksburg, he may take his own
time in the disposition of his forces for
the crossing into the Peninsula. Mean
time, having abandoned the railroad
which connects Richmond with Lynch.
burg, by way Of Gordonsville, General Lee
is now wholly dependent for his supplies
upon Richmond and the roads communicating
with the city from the south. He has, there.
fore, no other inducement than the prospect
of speedy battle to halt this side of Rich.
mond; and this inducement, we incline to
believe, he will regard as not sufficiently
attractive to detain him.


1t is possible that, without waiting to be
cooped up, his next movement may be the
evacuation Of Richmond. and a retreat into
North Carolina with such plunder as he may
be able to carry off. Undoubtedly the fate OF
Pemberton will be the fate of Lee, should he
resolve to hazard the chances OF siege. Mean
while we have no apprehensions that General
Butler will permit Beauregard to leave the
southern defences of Richmond to give help.
ing hand to Lee at Hanover, or that Beaure-
gard will run the risk Of this unpromising ex.
pertinent.


The news of General Shermau's victorious
progress in Georgia, as described in the rebel
journals, from which we make some ex.
tracts this morning, will be found very anus
ing. Joe Johnston, it seems, is perfect master
of the science Of retreating, and gains all bis
victories in that way. He has Sherman now ex.
actly where he is wanted; and when Sherman
gets into Atlanta it will be better still for the
Confederate cause" The Charleston Mercury
following up this theory Of Johnston's re
treat, applies the same style or giori
fication to General Lees advance back
wards. Thus that paper parades the
losses OF General Grant at sixty thousand
men; says that his reserves are all exhausted;
that Buffers forces are re.embarking; that gold
in New York has run up to ZIG, aud that, alto
pether. the Yankees are In a bad way


Such are the desperate devices Of the leaders
Of the rebellion to sustain their desperate
cause and to keep up the lighting spirit OF
their unfortunate followers yet little longer.
But all these delusions will soon be at an end
The fall Of Richmend will scatter them to the
winds; and that great and glorious event Is
close at hand.