New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-08
The OgposinR Armies.

From Our Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 1861.
The present advanced position of our army sug-
eests. if it does not closely resemble that OF the
army of Gen. Mcdowell, before the march upon
Manassas. A good part of it's outline Is precisely
similar. Outside of Alexandria, on the Little River
Turnpike, and at Falls Church, on the Leesburg
Turupke it holds the same situations now, as then.
The interior dispositions however, are very different
There are no occupations Of needlessy perlous posts
and no wide inviting gaps between brigades or regi
ments, by which the enemy may enter unobseryed
and do Ms an i'll turn if he chooses The difference,
too in the number of troops now stationed upon the
same ground, is truly astonishing. The land waf
only dotted bsEcre while now il is crowded. With
out endeavorng estimate the amount OF force dis'
ributed in the wlyocoupied region, 1t IL easy to
see that il il abundantly sufficient for any exgency
whatever. That the rebels have anything ap-
preaching an equal array to oppose to it, seems
moro incredible every day. Beside his first voluDta-
nv admission of weakness, in the recent Withdrawal
from a naturally strong position, the enemy begins
to give Others in tho waverng OF bis line along the
Upper Potomac. There is hardly doubt that We
shall presently hear of o retreat, inland, by the
Rebels opposite Gen. Stone, apparently as ground
less as that over which many people puzzled them
selves week ago. This, in turn, viii probably be
he prelude TO retirement from Fairfax Court
House. But the Court-House cannot well be
abandoned until the body from the Upper Potomac
has been drawn in. 1t is necessary for the Rebels
TO maintain possession Of the Fairfax road little
River Turnpike) so long they occupy any position
this side Of it. Otherwise their army wouid lie d.
vided and the retreat Of their forces upon and near
the river be cut of. Fairfax Court-House s, there
fore, and nay continue to be for come days. point
Of real importance 10 the Rebels A sudden dash in
that direction, from cur side, would give them much
trouble for the country theresbout is not well suited
to their System Of defense and s probably now held
us legitimate precaution certainly not with view
TO permanent possession, or anything like it. IL ID
by no means likely, however, that they viii suffer
sny such nolestaiion until the time for the general
advance shall arrive and then the relative positions
Of the armies may have become 60 changed that
Fairfax Court House will cesse TO be consdered
in any way important.
The rebels must gradually withdraw, but not
necessarily for many miles Their army is not nu.
merous enough, nor well enough provided, TO hold
the line across from the Upper Potomac to the
Occoquan; but il has sufficient strength 10 offer good
resistance for a while at any point where It can
operate unitedly. The old ground along the banks
Of Bul Run Is more likely than an ''aer 70 NC 'heir
yathering place. There they can make their beat
tand But no one supposes that the same advantages
~ battle will be conceded to them second time.
: ontest may very possibly take place close upon
Manassas as before, but by means under the same
I onditions, nor, probably, upon the came space.
s,u since we lave set foot upon the fields Of Falls
church, whence we get our frst.faint glimpse in
Zine weeks Of the line Of hills beyond Bull Run, we
Gre all thinking Of Manassas, and of very little
seside Manassas with an eanestDess far deeper and
Star more meaning than the fresh enthusiasm Of the
earlier advance.