New-York daily tribune., 1861-11-06
THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.
p.ci.l Correspondents of The London Times.

Special Correspondence OF The LONDON Times
WASHINGTON, October 10.
When it is stated that no movement Of any import
ance has taken place lately the remark must be sup.
posed to refer to active operations calculated 10 bring
the war to close or to definite issue. The Con-
federates have ostensiby retired along the whole OF
their line ard General Mcclellan is out to-day in the
drilling rain with strong column In the neighbour
hood of Lewinsville, which is the road from the
Chain.brdge to Fairfax Court-house, to pierce, if
he can the great mystery of their position. II would
he a strange thing g-amost, believe, Unprecedented
il two battles were to be fought on the same ground
But If tho Federasts advance toward Manassas there
seems no alternative and If they advance ut all they
can take no road but that which will lead them TO
Manassas uuless a stroke of inventive daring dis
covers another not now visible. The Southern army
has obviously drawn in its hoTs and its feelers, and
Mcclellan is putting out bis ID the places they occu-
pied. What Modification 1t would be to a mere
ambitious soldier if, after all his stadies at West
Point and bis inyesl igsiion of military science, he
found himself as Mcclellan does, az the head of an
immense army, which is, however, not lit to
work out and TO carry into practice the move
ments he has wrought out on paper, where
with TO surprise the enemy and the world, and to
earn the favor and gratitude OF bis country. but
the General does not appear TO be the man VINO ior
mere glory would run tie risk Of losing all at stake
y
sounder, more solid, and nobler motives than the
desire to achieve victories. lie knows that the
very magnitude Of the mass is one OF the foremost
difficulties in the way OF managing w. But irregu-
lars and ipdisciplned men Will not night against
odds rs a general rule, although the Federalists
established theory from the defeats OF poor Lyon
and of Sigel that because they bad faced odds and
been beaten, therefore they could conquer against
odds, or, as their writer's said, that one Union
man was equal to three rebels As a similar
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side il is likely the fact will never be tested as
each will make sure Of being toerably even IN all
encounters. As it requires the very highest sort
Of military confidence and veteran resolution to
induce men to attack superior forces, or 10 receive
their attack unless very strongly posted 1t becomes
an absolute necessity for General Mcclellan to show
a front equal to that of bis opponents. Hence the
large army massed in front Of Washington, when a
small one in wellconstrueted works would answer
as well for defense, aided by manageable army
in the field. The only point on which the fed
erslsts are threatened IN any way present - Lees
straight line from Washington, at the end OF the
railway from Alexandria, on which portion OF the
Northern army is resting This force is in observa-
ton on the Potomac, on ridge at the enc OF spur
of the Blue Mountain chain, and lies on the rign'
aank of the Federaliss in any advance to Manassas
n ia watched by the columns under Banks and Stone
at the other side of the river between POINT o.
| Rocks and Jamestown. The communication betweer
this force of 25, 900 men and the main body at Man
assss is not difficult and may be effected in part By
the rail and by good roads an undulating coun
try. 1t is quite possible that Besuregard has beeI
able to reinforce the Confederates II Norfolk, and
strengthen his right as well as th6torps in observa
ton on the Potomac, and that he has now made u
bis mind TO await the march Of events and OF his &C
yersary in his present position In Western Virgins
Rosecrans ON the one side and Floyd and Lee on th
other, seem to be in ntrenched positions, from AM
on which they advance without any material resul
gained on either side. The country does not belonJ
to either Federasts or Confederate. The skrmisher
of one day are followed by the skrmishers Of tn
next, and one march from place unmarked on msp
Is succeeded by another equally difficult to follow
These positions and fights at such places as bii
Springs and Big Sewellare no doubt, ofconsequence
but il 10 not possible to appreciate them without bet
ter knowledge Of the country, and tue Federahsts
being able to keep these forces In the state nav
the better part of the ground, because they arr
protecting Union men in Virginia, which proiesse
TO belong to the Confederation. There has been NJ
doubt Of the fact that Beauregard has concentrate
bis armyI use his name for that of the Confederat
Generals, whoever they may beat Manassas ono
more, and that he has been merely advancing ant
retiring to amuse his troops and induce the enemy t
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