City Point, Va., August 5th, 1864.
I see by the newspapers there is great excitement in the North over the rumor that the Rebels are about to attack Washington with an army of seventy-five thousand; also a conspiracy, embracing a half million men, is already organized in the North; and, worse than all else, the loyal people of the North are “disheartened;” to all of which I reply, “May God speed the right.”
The Seventeenth was not in the fight last Saturday. I hear that General Meade is held responsible for last Saturday’s failure, and is to be superseded by General Hooker; that he—Meade—thought it a favorable opportunity to “crush” a rival instead of the rebellion.
It seems the people at home think Grant’s position here a critical one. It is well to look matters squarely in the face; to know the worst, and prepare to meet it. I believe Grant’s position here to be impregnable. The Richmond papers say: “He has involved himself in a labyrinth of fortifications from which it would be almost impossible to extricate himself if undisturbed.”
Certainly, then, they cannot drive him out. Then, his base of supplies is as nearly safe as it is possible to make it, his communication being by water and under the protection of gunboats. But, can he take Petersburg with his present force? No, not by direct assault, and I think the “golden opportunity” to exhibit his “genius for strategy” passed with last Saturday’s failure. Lee will now be more than ever on the alert. Flank movements are also “played out,” and the idea of “sieging” has become ridiculous. What, then is to be done? Simply to hold his own until re-enforced by the new levy. This he can do and spare part of his forces to operate in other places, if necessary. But, while we are waiting, the opposing forces are not idle. No ant hill was ever more busy than they. Marching and countermarching, mining and countermining. This week General Wilcox discovered the Rebels were mining one of his forts.
The next night the guns were all removed and logs were put in their places. Another fort was built at a safe distance in the rear, and the old one was abandoned, without exciting suspicion. When they are ready, they will spring the trap they have so skillfully set for themselves.
