The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-08-28

Arm, with sales of 200 hhds Cabas at full prices
Coffee steady, with sales Of ], 200 bags Riofor
stocks and prices we refer to another column Freghts
excited, scarce and rates decidedly
higher. Grain shipments active, including for
Liverpool at 1Od l1d in lk and!bags. At the close
I'D were asked at which some wheat, in bags
ported For Hour IS. asked To London wheat
reported at f2d and cosr at 3s. Cd. To Havre wheat
was engaged in an American vessel at pc in ships bags
The Present Extraordinary Activity at
neutrality-suspicious. Events ut Hand.
From fhe extraordinary activity introduced
into the government. lat Washington within the
last few weeks, in the reinforcement and in the
training of our armies, in the strengthening of
our naval forces, in the collection of warlike
materials, in the seizure Of rebel spies and ennis
ssries, male and female, and in the suspension
Of the circulation of Northern incendiary seces-
sion newspapers, it is evident that there is some
new and exceedingly active power at work at
headquarters, and that some stirring events are
close at hand.
What new and wonderful power can this be
which is thus bringing order out of chaos, chang
ing Incidence into energetic action, indifference
into that sleepless vigilance which has an eye
upon everything, and which is inspiring the 60
vernment the army and the country with con-
fdence and enthusiasm? We answer that our
young Napoleon, Gen. Mcclellan, lately called
to the command of the army of the Potomac,
is the wonderful magician who has produced
all these remarkable transformations and re-
forms. lie is very busy all the time.
From day to day, for many days, we
have heard Of him inspecting this camp
or that camp, and with every visitation
we are assured Of the improved discipline and
efficiency of our troops. And still his reinforce
mens are pouring in, and still he is hurrying
them up. Depend upon it, Greeley will have
no occasion to lose his patience and revive his
war cry of Coward to Richmond" as an order
to General Mcclellan.
We are confident from this incessant activity
on his part that there is something in the wind
within and around Washington, nor should we
care to announce it if we did know; but we
have every reason to believe that not only has
General Mcclellan secured our capital against
all possible contingencies of assault but Thu t
he will soon be ready to assume the offensive.
His contemplated plans and combinations we
may safely leave to be disclosed by their prac.
teal enforcement; but with that experienced
and sagacious old soldier, General Wool, at
Fortress Monroe with the vigilant Banks on the
upper Potomac, with the. tried and approved
Rosencrans in Western Virginia, with the heroic
Anderson in ohar AZ ~
full Prentiss at Cairo, and with the able and in.
trepid Fremont, Siegel and Sturgis mastering
an overwhelming force in Missouri, it is quite
possible that the next forward movement from
Washington will be associated with a series of
other Union army movements from the vicinity
of Norfolk to the neighborhood Of Memphis.
Our readers will remember that shortly after
the appointment of General Mcclellan to the
military department of Western Virginia, COM
plants began to be made that he appeared to
be doing nothing but travelling about from
point to point, and from camp to camp of the
Union forces; he was here to-day and there to-
morrow, and for two days together 1t was diff
cult to locate him. But he knew what he was
about and he kept his own connsels Otenght,
at about nine o'clock, his little immediate army
of heroes were aroused from their slumbers and
moved forward upon forced march, and other
cooperative detachments from differents points
in the mountains were in like manner put in
motion And what followed? "A succession of
Union victories, complete and decisive, result
ing in the destruction, capture OF dispersion of
the secession invaders, amounting to fifteen thou
sand men, in the course of afew days, and the
liberation Of Western Virginia
With these late events before us. we are con.
| iilent, from the present energetic and
! comprehensive military proceedings at
Washington, that before long not one.
but several, terrible blows will stimuli
taneousiy be given to this hydrahcaded mon
ster Of secession and we have an abiding faith,
too, that they will be given to some purpose Gen.
Mcclellan knows the weak points Of the enemy
and, best of ALL be knows how, when and
! where the blow should be administered If oul