The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-29

combinations and movements of the rebel
forces In Virginia. With the bulk of their
army at Manassas junction, it is still believed
that they are watching an opportunity for a
dash into Washington; from their numerous
ba telias, erected and in course Of erection in
the peighborhood of Fortress Monroe, 1t Il sup
poeed they contemplate the investment and the
seizure Of that allimportant stronghold; While
from their abandonment Of Harper's Ferry, and
the distribution of the troops of Johnston, ack-
con and Wise among the valleys and mountains
of Western Virginia, one would conclude that
they also contemplate the expulsion OF the
Union armies from, and the suojngation of the
loyal Union citizens In, that quarter OF the
State.
But while the weakness of Johnston is confess
cd in his abandonment Of Harper's Ferry, his
destruction of the Potomac bridges thereabouts,
and of all tie canal boats, ferry boats and rail
way locomotives within his reach shows that
not only has he abandoned the idea of crossing
the river to descend upon Washington in the
rear, but that he expects to bs pursued in
his rettest, and is more anxious to retard
the advances of the federal troops by which he
is threatened than to meet them in battle. SO
with Beauregard at the Manassas junction, He
is careful to keep behind his iatrenchments,
and while apparently menacing the lines Of our
army in front, he is probably preparing to fall
back in the direction of Richmond. The rebel
forces in the rear Of Fortress Monroe, and
across the James river, towards Norfolk, pre-
sent the most stubborn front Of resistance, and
along this line, from the seaboard up the York
river and up the James to Richmond, they will
evidently dispute with desperation the advances
Ct cur troops ct every available point. And
80, along the whole line of the lower Potomac,
we perceive in the activity Of the guerrilla de
tacbme nts Of the rebels desperate determine
ton to prevent, If possible, the occupation OF
their sacred coil" in that direction by the
United States forces.
This distinction between the warlike activity
and unmistakoable lighting disposition of tue
rebel troops along the lower Potomac,
aud round about Norfolk and Fortress Mon
roe, ON the one hand, and the fight Of
Johnston from Harper's Ferry on the other
hand, will afford us the key to solution
of tho mystery of the whole rebel campaign
In Virginia 1t no longer embraces the
seizure Of Westinghouse does notcomprehend
the subNgation of Western Virginia; but the
great and paramount object of the "Confede.
rates." in all their combinations and movements,
is TO keep this war, if they can, outside the
populous slaveholding section Of Southeastern
Virginia. Between the Manassas Junction south
westwardiy, via Lynchburg, to the North Caro-
lima boundary, on the one side, and the Poto-
mac river, Chesapeake bay aud che Atlantic sea
board on the other side perhaps not less than
four hundred thousand Of the half million of
slaves OF Virginia are concentrated. AT any
point ON the Potomac below Mount Vernon
this populous slaveholding region is invaded
but from General Buffers position near the
mouth of the James river, an advance on his
part Of twenty miles up the stream, or to the
right or the left, would probably soon Greats
stampede towards his camp of thousands Of fu.
gitive slaves.
The fact, Ia this connection, that the escape
Of slaves to General Buffers camp has been
stopped, is very suggestive. We may safely in
fer that these trench-digging Afric an volunteers
have been cut off by an extraordinary system
of vigilance on the part Of the rebel troops,
and that this fearful necessity of stand
ing guard over the surrounding slave popu.
lation has suggested to the rebel leaders in
Virginia an extraordinary danger, which was
not provided for In their original programme
Hence their new defensive system of opera
ioLs. He who has startled lark from its
nest of young ones in the grass will remsmb "
how Inc old bird, with broken wing appa.
rently, endeavored to draw hici off in some
other direction. Such are the movements of
Johnston, Jackson and Wise ia Western Virginia
They are intended to draw off orr troops from
the nest Of The rebel leaders at Richmond We
suspect, too, that the occupation Of Richmond
by The Union army is not so much feared
fi0m tie consequences in u mere military view
as from an apprehended general demoraiizs
ton and loss Of the slave population of the
State
Nor can this war be coatiuued more
than six months longer without hazard.
ipg the Generalization Of tAs slaves of
III ,nc IcFbllcu totattS tDo Only E0!ety
Of these States is submission to the Union
as soon as possible. Should General Scott
fail 10 obey the orders of Field Marshal Grae.
Icy, and thus fail to be in Richmond by the
20th Of July, let JEFF. Davis, his Cabinet and
his corps Lsgisiai;f offer the submission Of the
Confederate States upon the grand condition
of nsing our Northern and Southern aruies in
he field for the occupation end annexation Of
a,t the British, Spanish and Mexican provinces,
Islands and States on this North American con,
tinent, ard we may expect compromise. Why
noG Did not our present Secretary Of State,
Mr.. Seward in his great campaign speech at
st. Paul last autumn, foreshadow the aosorp-
ton into our glorious Union of every foot of
land on this contine MT He did.
Why, then, should we not propose this COM
nromise 10 tho administration az q memhar of