The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-08
luminous Warltke Movements-Signs OF
an Impending battle AT or Near WASH

luminous Warlike Movements-Signs or
nm Impending Battle AT or Near WASH
ingtOn.
Within the last twenty-four hours the signs
Of an impending battle, between the forces OF
the United States and OF the revolted States, at
or near Washington, have become so strong
and plausible that we should not be surprised
within the next three days to hear of bloody
collision in that quarter.
The despatch monday EVENING" of Mr..
Simeon Draper from this city to Governor
Morgan, at Albany announcing that "the
capital is in immediate peril" and the concur
rent despatch of General Dix to the Governor,
informing him that the government asks for
five thousand stand of arms and that "the
case admits of no delay" and the despatch of
the same import, from Mr.. Wadsworth to the
Governor, advising that the Twentieth regi-
ment be sent to Washington forthwith, and the
order to that regiment to move accordingly,
after having been ordered 10 return home, all In
dictate some definite intelligence from headquar-
tiers Of an impending battle So, too, our latest
intelligence from Washington and Virginia of
the movements oil the rebel troops in that
State, and their concentration at various
camps along segment OF circle of over two
hundred miles, with its points resting upon the
Potomac river, above and below Washington.
iustifes the presumption that the Confederate
troops have not abandoned their original
project OF a desperate blow for the possession
OF our federal city, and the expulsion of the
government OF the United States.
General Cooke, of Virginia, gives notice that
''the capital has never been threatened by u.s."
that cit is not now threatened" but that oif the
soil of the sovereign State Of Virginia or the
grave of Washington be polluted by the tread
OF single man in arms from the north Of the
Potomac, it will cause open war; THE
sovereign State Of Virginia" is still subject to
the laws and authorities of the United States
which are supreme in all the States of the
Union, and III rebelling against them Virginia
is inviting the last appeal to The sword within
her borders. As for General Cookies assurance,
that our federal capital has not been and Is
not now threatened, IL is good for nothing. All
the newspapers of the revolted States. all their
political leaders, military cheltains and cross.
itdu viShhhCt Nomllllltts, lDf weeks ana
| months, have been boiling over with this one
| idea Of the seizure Of Washington and the over.
throw Of our government at a single blow.
| Every traveller from the South tells the same
story, and that the troops in the Confederate
States are recruited and marched up into vir.
| ginia under this general war cry of the seizure
| or destruction Of Washington
The rebel forces now al the several
camps in Virginia Of Iarper's Ferry, Culpcp-
per Court House, Charlottesville. Dumfries,
Fredericksburg, Richmond and Norfolk, &c,
| number perhaps not less than thirty thousand
| in all. perhaps forty thousand Within forty
eight hours they may be concentrated at
Alexandria, or on the Washington side of the
Potomac tby ferry, twenty miles above the
| last named city. Nearer than this to Washing
ton we do not believe the rebels can cross, on
account Of the falls and rapids in the river
above end because Of Gen. SCOTS complete
command Of the stream at the city and below
il. We suspect tia, The plan of Tho rebels !.