Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-08-15
Movements of the Rebels.
WASHINGTON, August II, 1861


Intelligence was received here this morn
ing, which explains the apparent inactivity
of the Rebels since the battle of Bull Run
According to these accounts, no sooner was
it known at Richmond th at Gen. Mcclellan
had been Withdrawn from Western Virginia,
than it was determined to take advantage of
that circumstances, 10 recover all that had
been lest through the wonderful celebrity and
and military genius of that remarkable man.
Accordingly, when the extent of our de-
feat was known to them, and when it be-
came apparent that no forward movement
from Washington would be made for some
weeks, orders were issued for the recovery of
their supremacy in Western Virginia. 1t
was deemed advisable to take Gen. Joseph
e. Johnston from bis post near Winchester,
but Gen. Lee was at once despatched tow
ards the West, with orders to make his head
quarters at Staunton or Covington, and to
operate in the direction of Cheat Mountain
Pass and Beverly. A force of fifteen thous-
aHd troops had been placed at his command.
drawn principally from Charlottesville, Cor.
louisville and Staunton. It is said that he
will be followed by Gen. Albert E. Johnston,
with an army of twenty-five thousand men
more, taken from Lynchburg. Il is believed
at Richmond that these forty thousand men,
led by Johnston and Lee, will be able to
drive the Union forces out of the whole of
Northwestern Virginia, and to re-occupy
that territory once more but most wofully
will they be mistaken. In order to prevent
Gen. Banks from marching to the aid of Gen.
Rosencranz and the Union men in that part
of the State, Gen. Joseph E. Johnston will
te kept near Charlestown and Harper's Fer
ry and will, from time to time. make demon
strations as if about to cross the Potomac. -
Such is an outline of the plan th a, the Reb-
els have dared to conceive
The first intimations of this plan were re-
ceived here some days ago. and it was stated
at that time that the force under Gen. Lee
had been taken from the troops at Manassas,
and that Gen. Joseph E. Johuston had been
detailed to CO operate with him. Later in.
telligence, however, shows that this is not So,
and that the facts are as above stated.
The War Department is also in possession
ot intelligence, showing design on the part
of the Rebels, to bring up strong body of
troops on the railroad leading from Lynch
burg, Petersburg and Richmond, land them
at the terminus IF hatrosd, at the mouth of
Aqua Creek, and then, in case an attack on
Washington is resolved on, cross the Poto-
mao at that point, and march on Washing>
ton from the South, while two other columns
attack it, one from the direction of Fairfax
and Arlington Heights. and the other from
the North, along the left bank of the Poto-
mac. refrain f.om mentioning wha. dis.
position of troops have been made to meet
this new move, should it be made. 1t is
enough to say that Gen. Mcclellan is fully
awake to all the vulnerable points at and
near the capital, and has given his attention
to them all. IF the Rebels are confident
enough to make the attack, they will be re-
pulsed with heavy loss, no matter at what
point the attack NAV be directed.