Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Ken Perdue.
Rebel Account.
[From The Richmond Enquirer, June 8.]
GRANT’S OPERATIONS ON THE JAMES RIVER.
Scouts report that on Saturday last the enemy towed up James river above the mouth of Powell’s creek, a pontoon bridge, with sixty tents pitched upon it. Perhaps this is the bridge upon which Grant hoped to pass after breaking through the lines of General Lee. But as he failed to force his way through, the aforesaid pontoon bridge may prove useless above the mouth of Powell’s creek, which is in Prince George county. This constructed pontoon bridge will span the river, and should Grant reach the James river near Harrison’s landing or opposite City Point, it would enable him to throw his army speedily around and push on to Petersburg, while General Lee was making the circuit around by Richmond. The south side is now the point for which Grant is making — he has abandoned all hope of taking Richmond except by siege — by taking possession of Petersburg, and with his cavalry cutting and destroying the Danville railroad and starving the city into surrender. He is endeavoring to repeat the Vicksburg campaign. His failure to cross the Chickahominy may materially alter his plans, but should he once succeed in fixing himself on the south side, either north or south of the Appotomax, while his army would be no more formidable there than anywhere else, his cavalry could do us much damage and put us to many inconveniences. It is rumored that a cavalry command from the James river crossed the Chickahominy yesterday, at the Forge Bridge, in Charles City county, going to Grant’s army. It is supposed to be a party reconnoitering the way for Grant to the James river. All circumstances point to Grant’s going over the James, if Lee will permit him.1
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Source:
- Daily Ohio Statesman, June 16, 1864 ↩