The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-28

THE SITUATION.
More than two months have now elapsed since
she disastrous battle of Bull run was fought and "a
yet the conflict has not been renewed on the banks
OF the Potomac. The two armies stand face to
face in front of the national capital both large in
Numbers and both strongly fortified. Every hour
that passes by may bring intelligence of great
battle; but, meantime, let US review the positions
Of the forces they exist at the present time along
The whole line from the Atlantic to the far West.
The theatre of the war is divided into four grand
scenes OF operation. There are four points of at
lack menaced and defended by gigantic armies on
either side The rebels arc endeavorinr with one
army to get possession Of the line of the Potomac
In front of Washington; with another armv-one.
Fating from Tennessee and the central Southern
States-they design to take possession of Kentucky
and the line Of the Ohio river; with another force
farther west, the Missouri and Mississippi rivers
form the objects of their attack; while on the At
lantc sea coast our fleets menace the rebel FORTH
cations which will ultimately have to succumb. az
did Hatteras the other day. All these points in
the operations of the land forces are protected nv
valiant and well disciplined armies on the Union
side, and no success can be achieved by the rebels
at any one of them without desperate struggle.
We have private information from the South.
which comes from two different sources, relative to
the strength, position and strategy of tho rebel
army. From the FIRST account, which is the most
favorable to the Southern cause, we learn that the
forces under Beauregard, Johnston and Magruder
number ls5, 900 men, and extends from Occoouan
creek to Harpers Ferry of whom there are in front
Of Washington l25 000 to protect the line of bate.
ries which they have erected on the Potomac, and
which are said to be very formidable and effective
South of Munsons Hill they have chain of FORTH.
cations extending for two miles, mounted with
rifle cannon, and at Freestone Point, below Deco.
quan creek, there are batteries also heavily mount
ed, to prevent flank movement of McClel-
lans troops. 1t is quite probable, however,
that General Mcclellan has just as large
force and as strong position to oppose to these
operations of the rebel chiefs.
Another account states that the whole force of
the three rebel generals does not exceed 100000,
Of whom from $4,000 to 10000 are sick and in hos
pitad. This army, it is said, occupies triangle,
extending from Freestone Point, including Manas-
sas Junction, up to Staunton, Strasburg and Lees.
burg, and as far as Point of Rocks, near Harper's
Ferry Now the probable truth to be deducted
from both these accounts may be that the army
from Occoquan to Harper's Ferry really numbers
about IT'S 900 men, out Of whom 10000 are sick
and only l55 900 in condition to be brought into
operation. 1t is known that the rebels expected to
fix their winter quarters in some Northern citv
but late accounts from Richmond mention the s;p
nifcant fact that large numbers of wooden huts
and sheds are being erected oil round that
city. This looks as if they calculated to
make Richmond their winter quarters. but
this is matter about which General Mcclellan
may have to be consulted. Such being the posi-.
ton of the different armies, VIC await the news Of
succession of battles from the various points at
which they are concentrated, and the first account
of a serious, collision is very Likely to come from
Washington.
The rebel batteries on the Potomac continue
to annoy our vessels as they pass up and down.
The steamer Yankee, the transport Delaware and
anyvessel which attempted to pass Freestone Point
situated little below Occoquan creek, for tho
past two or three days have been fred upon by the
rebel battery there, which is evidently mounted with
riaed guns of very heavy calbre, probably sixty.
four Founders, to judge from the dimensions of the
balls. In only one instance, however, did the bat
terry strike one Of our ships.
We publish to-day General Fremont's Official a.
count of the battle and defeat Of Lexington, No.,
In which he states that, owing to various circum.
stances, reinforcements could net arrive in time to
relieve the gallant fellows under the brave Colonel
Mulijgan.
Colonel F. P. Blair has been released from ar.
rest BY General Fremont and restored to his com.
mAnd