The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-10-12
McClellan's Campaign about TO Conn
mence.

Correspondence of the n Y World
WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Tnere are many in
dications that the opening of OF! offensive CAM
pagn is close at hand. We are reaching the
end of the beginning. Prepare, then, TO hear,
very soon, OF great events occurring near the
Potomac line. The period of suspense is about
over. We are now strong enough to meet the
enemy either IN the open field or on his own
ground. After careful review OF our own forces,
and study Of all We know of his, l make this
assertion confidently. The public will not have
much longer to wait; the second division of the
national loan ough; to be taken under different
auspices from those of the first
During the last few days wonderful activity
has prevailed in important quarters. Generals
Scott and Mcclellan have been closeted with
the President and Mr. Cameron for hours to-
gether; the plaus Of the chettans are approved
BY the statesmen, and the navy is to lend it in.
valuable cooperation. Our fall campaign will
be marked, as it oppears to meas it would ap.
pear 10 any close observer--by two grand move
| ments, the minor AID the MAJOR. First the
| passage Of the upper Potomac in force and dis
| possession of Johnsou's column, simultaneously
with the capture OF the batteries on the lower
Potomac heights, by our fotilla coverings heavy
| land force. These accomplished, we sha! hold
the Virginia shores from Free Stone Point to
Leesburg. Second: The march Southwark of
over 20O,O men, supported by weight of ar.
tillery proportionate to modern ideas; enough
men, uader Gen. Blenker, being left behind to
guard our then complete and impregnable in
trenchments. do not say that when the second
| and more important movement occurs il will oe
over the Mcdowell route to and via Manassas
&c. 1t is not impossible, when our intrench.
ments are finished, and the preliminary action
predicted above has established our possession
of the Potomac lines, that, with the exception
| OF Blenker's reserve, the entire corps ddimee
| will cOuntermarch and concentrate on this side
of the river for transit at some upper or lower
point and a rapid march across The enemy's flank.
The rebels are almost forcing Gen. Mcclellan
| to hasten his preliminary advance, by the
strength and Importance of the new batteries
they have planted at Free Stone Point and other
promontories of the lower Potomac. / have
the highest authority for saying that our Pc.
tomac fotilla is seriously menaced by these
batteries; that the rebels fortifying and man.
ming them with great skill; that many brave
men must die before they con be- taken; that
very few more guns need be mounted al Free
Stone Point and elsewhere to totally command
the channel navigation. Measures are already
in progress for the rapid construction of mill
tary railroad from Washington to Annapolis d.
rect, by way Of forestalling any possible con,
tingency.
Meantime great activity prevails in the Navy
Yard. Shot and shells are pouring into the
holds OF the Yankee. Pensacola. Underwater
etc. and yesterday high commanding officers
believed they would be ordered at ten minutes
notice to take 10, 900 men down the river for al
assault on the rebel battery at Free Stone Point
Steam was up on all the vessels, and Commo
dore Craven in deep consultation at the Navy
Office. The Commodore finally went dowr
stream in the Yankee, his flagship, and will make
another reconnaissance before immediate deci
sve business is resolved on. But all these
things are ominous Of momentous develop
ment Of the resources gathered here during oul
sixty ''days of atonement," and the hints throwr
out in this letter show you that we shall soor
have enough to do and record.