Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-09-28
u ,prom The N. 7. Tfmes.l


81 Two Great Battles iE Prospect.
Two grent battles, such as have never
been Witnessed on this continent, aud rare
~ on any other, are now impending, and
must soon be fought. On the Potomac
two vast armies-numbering together near
four hundred thousand meu-are confront
ing each other, with pickets in speaking
distance, and each menAcing attack daily.
In Missouri two other great armies, of near
forty thousand men each, are hurrying to
a collision. The National troops, under
Gen. Fremont, are anxious to meet the en-
envy, and wipe out by their courage and
prowess the memory of recent disasters
and the rebel forces, flushed with barren
victory, are equally in.earnest toincrease
their laurels by new triumphs. That there
will be immense slaughter when at either
point these forces shall come in conflict,
there can be no doubt. The rebel cause
hangs suspended on the issue. If they
shall be beaten, as we feel morally certain
they will be, the great rebellion, which
will occupy so prominent place in his
tory, will be practically subdued. A lin
geriDg campaign or two may have TO be
carried On,-a scattered and hopeless re-
sistance at certain points may remain to
be overcome, but the backbone of the re-
volt will have been broker. a victory in
Missouri, and that State will Ge Fixed as n
star in the Union, and NIL impediments in
the wny of the expedition thRt is to sweep
down the Valley of the Mississippi will be
removed. If Mcclellan shall be victor on
the Potomac, the way will be open for the
central column to advance in triumphal
march TO Richmond on its way to the Gulf.
No rally can ever be made 10y the rebel
army alter Il defeat on the Potomac. 1t
n hR ia
cast wind. The last hope of secession
will have vanished, and the boosted South
ern Confederacy will become one of those
dissolving views of history that are never
Witnessed but once, - is
1t has been the bane of our Northern
Generals and the Northern people that
they have underr,Ated the force and posi-
tion of the enemy. Whatever of disaster
has occurred in the past may be largely
attributable TO this cause. 1t WAS the oc-
casion OF the repulse at Big Bethel, and
the more melancholy repulse at Bull Run.
1t was the cause of the unequal struggle
in Missouri, in which the heroic Lyon fell,
and was the reason why reinforeements
did not reach the gallant Mulligan in time
to save him and his brave little army from
capture. This mistake should never be
made again. The rebels, by spasmodic
but tremendous effort, have mustered all
their available men to :he frontiers. They
have armed tLem rs best they could--with
a liberality worthy OF a better cause, they
have thus far clothed and fed them better,
we apprehend, than tho deserters and
spies have represented. Knowing their
inability to maintain long war, it has
been their policy to make it short and
sharp, to compel submission to their de-
mands by the decisive results of siugle
campaign. Hence all their energies, all
their skill, all their resources haze been
diverted to the raising and concentrating
an army that, by sudden and dashing VIC
tories, before the occurrence of the lu-
tnmnal storms or winter SHOWS. With
them, therefore, it is victory or hopeless
ruin, and they know it. With such a tre-
mendous stake depending on the issnes OF
the coming battles, it will not 'o TOR the.
national forces TO count upon meeting a
cowardly or weak foe, No dclusion, we
think. exists on this subject on the line of
the Potomac. We have in command
there Generals OF experience, of enlarged
military genius, ofjudgment and capacity,
equal to the occasion. They know and
appreciate the power of the enemy, and
their preparations to meet him when the
time for battle shall come are on scale
that can scarcely fail OF success.
We viii not speculate upon the future,
IL these great battles shall result in the
defeat of the National forces. Such an
event is too remote and improbable to ad-
mii of consideration now. Still We may
say that the recuperatiye power, tue new
ly-awakened energy of twenty millions of
freemcu will be equal to any emergency.
New armies, IL need be, will flock to the
defence of the Union, and future victories
will atone for any possible disaster of the
present.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Times.l
IpTTHR FROM VIRGINIA.