The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-02
McClellan's Campaign Commencing.
TFrom the Worlds Special Correspondent.
w AsHiNGTON. Sent. 2

WASHINGTON, Sept 20.
There are many Indications that the opening
Of our offensive campaign IS close at hand. We
are reaching the end of the beginning. During
two months Of lndomitabo preparation tho lack
of actual encounter has been patiently borne.
The unprecedented spectacle has been Witnessed
of two great armies with only battle field S
breadth between them, quietly ontrencIng
themselves until they could learn the art and
practice Of war, After all the refusal to close
the issue lay with US we, and not the enemy,
had everything to learn and gain by delay.
In the first place, affairs are not materially
affected by Fridays rebel evacuation and our
occupation of Munson's Hill and the range to
which it belongs. These movements had been
predicted by the best military men, and certain
ly afford contemplate cause for the loud peans
uttered In to-day's Washington journals 1t
has been well understood that the position was
of little Importance to the enemy, its mainte-
nance kind Of fent, to draw us from our lines,
and that, when we chose, we could make it our
the fact that So the flag Of the Union floats over
Munsons Hill " is =" glorious news - or not de-
ponds on the object OF the enemy s withdrawal.
IN. B.--A withdrawal is not a retreat.) The
rebels are full Of tricks and ruses we have
Gus when they fall back. But one thing is GER
tain-if they7do not, in some way, lure us into
a critical engagement within fortnight, they
must make a withdrawal which vW be retreat
they must fall back OF Manassas for their own
safety, and, resigning the notion of offensive
operations, try to defend and shelter themselves
during the North's own season-the coming
winter. Yes; our own cline, our cold fortu-
nate-gleamlng stars, arc soon to herald and make
reslstless the onset OF the snOw.cradled, storm
enduring Morse battallons. " We have had
our last retreat we have seen our last defeat -;
Henceiorth led and disciplined as an army
should be, we make no movement that is not a
furtherance to the loyal cause.
10 be more precise. During the last few days
wonderful activity has prevailed in important
quarters Generals Scott and Mcclellan have
been closeted with the President and Mr.. Cam.
eron for hours together; the plans of the chief
talns are approved by the statesmen, and the
navy is to lend its invaluable cooperation. Our
fall campaign will be marked as it appears TO
meas it would appear to any close observer II
by two grand movements, the minor and the
major First, the passage of the upper Poto-
mac in force, and dispossesson of Johnston
column, simultaneously with the capture of the
batteries on the lower Potomac heights, by our
hotllla covering heavy land force. These ac-
complished, we shall hold the Virginia shores
from Froestonc Point to Leesburg Second, the
march southwark Of over 2OO0OO men, sun
ported by a weight Of artillery proportionato
to modern ideas; enough men, under Gen.
Blenker, being left behind to guard our then
complete and imprognablc intrenchments. do
not say that when the second and more impor
tant movement occurs it will be over the Nc
Dowell route to and via Manassas, &c. 1t is not
impossible, when our intrenchr en,s are finished
and the preliminary action predicted above has
established our possession of the Potomac lines,
that, with the exception of Blenker's reserve,