The national Republican., 1861-10-05
Saturday, October 5, 1861.
sS- Reading Matter on every pagc.-Gp
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
The army in front Of Washington which ii
has been the general habit to speak Of as being
under the command Of Gen. Beaurcgard has
now been formally placed under the command
OF Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. In fact, Gen. John |
ton ranked Gen. Bcaurcgard as the senior |
major general in the Confederate service, when |
their respective forces effected junction just |
beIpie the 2lst Of July, but permitted him to
,ivide the chief honors Of the battle of Bull
Run. The division of the army brought By
Gen. Johnston from Winchester to Manassas
has now been placed under the command OF
Gen. G. W. Smith, while the command Of the
eptie army has been assumed by Gen. John
oton. This may be presumed to have been done
in difference not merely to the reputation and
abilities Of Gen. Johnston, but TO the claims OF
Virginia. which furnishes so large part of the
army of which Manassas is the centre, ind
which has 80 peculiar an interest in its opera.
tons. Gen. Smith is last from the city Of New
York, where he held the somewhat unmilitary
ofhce of superintendent of streets, but he is Il
native Of Kentucky, and is a graduate of West
Point, Of the class OF 1876, Gen. Mcclellan :
hupors as q scholar.
Gen. Johnston acquired the reputation, In
the Valley of Virginia, Of being particularly
mercilcss in imposing marchrs and counter
marches upon his troops. II accounts are halt
true, he killed more ncn in this way in tho
I l., d., ~
the general for that rapid retreat to Richmond
which will before long become "uilitouy nc
esSty with him.
The call Ct Qulrtermastcr General Mciga lor
blankets from the private stocks Of ciliz"us,
vita all the manufactures OF the free States in
illl operation. and with the ocean open 10 their
commerce, will enable US TO rcalIa what mual
be the scarcity Of that and similar articles IL
The South, with scarcely any manufactures and
no foreign commerce.
Tie order Of Gen. Mcclellan, OF the lst in
atant, donounCing the severeBt penalties OF tn,
military code against any OF our scldicrs whC
may commit outrages upon private property il
Virgins, and warning the army that no rclni,
s.on OF such penalties is TO be expected, is ii
honorable illustration ol the spirit in which
this con,c.t is being wagcd by the Government.
1t Ia gratifying to know, that il is the acts Of
cny few individuals which have givcu UCcd
sion to the issue of this order.
The military Mllerites, who bayc been pre-
d.ctins au attack upon this city Tor the last six
OF eight weeks, fixing day after day rs "p2St
,ireiy the true date Ui tbU attack, have about
eivtn over their lruiLless vaticinations.
Al our readers well know, (and, indeed, VT
may have almost tired them with our peril
na.ity on that point) We have steadily main
tAincd that the en- my has had no recent idcG
ol attacking this city that he has been undci
no immediate necessity Vi deciding 10 fight "I
l-treat, and thst he was simply remaining a
Manassas for the precise object which brough
him there in May, viz: 10 keep us out ol Vir
,lGia.
The military Nlillertss have not only given
up their predictions OF an attack by the enemy
but many of them, as il natural with such per
sons now 60 to the opposite extreme, and say
that the enemy will not fight even il attacked
nut will retreat to Richmond without a battle
Upon that point We say nothing. except tlt
we shall sec what we snail see.