Smyrna times., 1861-09-26
Tas Position of Affairs on the Poto.
mac,

citations OF the newsmopgers have failed 10 4
V.sised. Tho general suppostion was tina
shey would follow up their victory at Bull RuI
suI this they have failed to do, and where an
Eksn Ibe next blow will fall is a matter of con
ge;u'e.
Tine, says eotemporary, is always neces
Ery 10 disclose The zeal significance and effec
sfsny act or event An apparent misfortun
may De far from being one, while success is of
len prelude 10 d lsaslrous defeat. Our pre
seat strsasIh Is the result of the Rull Run dis
s"er-ihe unfortunate position of the REBEL
ise result OF their defeat Upon every princi
pie Of war they should have been 10 Wasbinp.
ton week after the battle. To delay the as
ssslI Ii We had recovered our losses, and &C
esnulsted such force as to render attack. moi
Snly upoa 'hat city. but any movement with g
sieS OF crossing the Potomac TOO hazardous ia
ss attempted. was 10 lOse a crownug adyan.
uge. arc TO suffer all the consciousness Of
disastrous defeat.
Such. 4 it's tseulls, have the rebels already
sustained. They have accGmulated a vast army
aPSn the P0tomac, with no other purpose here.
after. but TO set on the defensive. We presume
all Ieea Of an advance either against Washing.
on OF against Maryland, have been definitely
aSsnioned. Either movement would. in all
PfosaeA'iy end in an overwhelming defeat
sOeh conviction, on the part of rebels. we Re.
gaze - The turning point in the war.
10 the hr'i pace, they proclaim their ina bill
ny to fea!!ze the great expectation ofthe South
The e-p'ure and destruction of our C,pitaI-
"a achievement believed TO be easily accom-.
Pl'hsd' which was the grea, object Of the cam.
plga and which, as display of powec would
sac me Sar and secure their Independence =
10 aoandOn such purpose would be a fatal
ssaissslea OF their weakness, and a triumub-
at testimony to the strength of the enemy.
kssais more Pslpable. but really no more de.
save "u'i follow. To accomplish their great
purpose they accumulated their whole Availa.
Ole strength upon the banks Of the Po,o.o,c
Is what earthly use is this army now 10 be
put! Its Ooly s!IS:nal ives are TO remain cu;o,.
IN camp or 10 retreat souIhwsrd. Either
sA0ee E'uid please US equally well. In case
tAs reoes remain In camp at Manassas. thew
gre 'ho'sand miles ftom the point where we
are preparing 10 strike decisive bIows An
HOed''''' will meet with comparatively sligh.
Fs''s'Anee. Only small number of abls.bodi.
~ men remain in the extreme South. and
'1'se must be without the training or e0uis.
insnls necessary to constitute an effective army
ne could not, consequently. desire matters to
% 10 better position. Ii the Virginia army
isns'ns 10 camp in front of Washington. the
S-aihern seseOast falls an easy conquest IF
u retreats, II will have in ils rear Gen. NcCIoI-
ian with ct least 10000 troops. in the fines,
''hs'''On aud spirits, and amply provided for
FaFsatt To retreat before such an army would
bs little better thai destruction. To await its
ai'Aek al Manassas juno ton, would be to le.vs
ths greater portion Of the rebel S,ates aIros,
sau'siy undefended, and the flank of the rebels
ssnPie'eIy turned. They have, ia their zeal.
iaiiea lhlO trap from which we can see M
escape, WIKI cur feet We can bow anticipa,e
any movement southwark, and achieve our snc.
ee''es before any relief can be extended. In
eject Tie rabel strength has been sllured bv
PaAnton into the extreme corner of THAR wide.
extended territory. where il lie equally DOW.
stssss Tor offensive or defensive operations
''~''ng Tie most vulnerable points naked to
''s blows. We are steadily pushing south.
~s'o sPoa the West as we'll as upon the sea.
coast We shall sOO5 be in the rear of Virgin
sno East Tennessee, az well as unon the
Aiesmsrle aud Pamlico Sounds. and en-, off,b.
great line Of communication in that State. AZ
ss'' ss that through North Carolina, which ia
s"eaoy seriously Threatened. An army situated
- 'Aat ct the rebels of Virginia. uson the
sefy apex Of the Triangle that forms their ,s,.
''srI' must be soon put out Of fighting eondi.
zoo IRON The very apprehension of disaster.
oseh I" the aspect of military affairs in the
'''s'' Assuming for the rebels all they claim
u ns'abeSs. aad that IN its eommissariat and
-a"''lons OF war their army ia equal 10 our own.
sA'y have exaggerated themselves They
save ru'hed msd;y to their frontier, where thew
s'e Po~eTless for advance or for selEdefence
NgfeateF military Liundcr could not have been
s'~@T'ted. Bat the rsbel army on the Poto.
-se has really bat one alternative, which isI
s'sa'aaiiy to retreat towards Richmond. how.
s'sr eIssstrous such movement NAV he I,
Naano' long be maintained 10 its present no.;.
zoo 10 sufficient strength to resist an stack
'''G' our forces. which will remain ia their in.
~s@eAments OOly I'LL they are fully prepared
.s' oueus've operations When we consider
sa' u@e required. with all our mesns. to Uro.
ss'y esa'P cur own forces. il lie perfectly evi.
~ ~ soaenee Of all such means, the rebel.
: =" s'oa be ia uaOst Piliabls plight. Already
9sy suffering what an aaprovided arms
s suasrs-dissase 10 all its shapes, and.
ssssequencs, diseonIen. and demorsIiy,'l
s' U ~as tbs wsa, Of suitable eouionso,.f
HtasG &c :