Petersburg and the Railroads.
--The army correspondent of the New York Times says:‘ How absurd is the notion which has been expressed in the Northern press that Petersburg is in a state of siege. Such a phrase, as making a more of ideas, might be allowed to pass unnoticed; but it is calculated to give altogether erroneous impressions, both of the present position and of the future prospects of the army. A siege, in any other than the latest use of the term, can only be applied to an army investing a city and planted on or interrupting its communications. Now, we neither invest Petersburg-nor are we planted on, nor have we interrupted its communications.
With reference to the question of the repair of the rebel roads I have recently learned a fact, the truth of which is undoubted, and which accounts for the facility and rapidity with which the enemy has lately been able to make good all the damage we have done on their railroad communications.--Gen Lee has, in conjunction with several English railroad engineers, organized a corps of railroad construction, which has this matter in hand.--Large supplies of new railroad iron have been received from abroad and placed at convenient points, and duplicates of all important bridges are also on hand. With this agency and these means, the damage which can be done is rendered merely temporary; and it is quite certain that the rebels we're able in a marvelous short space to put in perfect running order both the Virginia and the Lynchburg roads. It can hardly be claimed, therefore, that the enemy's communications are to- day in any respect seriously embarrassed.
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