The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-18
n0
Important News from
Washington.
Passage Of Gen. PattersOn's
Corps d'Armee Across
the Potomac.
Probable Occupation of Har-
per's Ferry by the Union
Troops To-day.
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Important Movement Of Gen. Butler
against Yorktown.
The Recent Threatened Attack Upon
the Capital.
Desperate Situation Of the Sc
cession Cause.
QuarreIs Among the Leaders
of the Rebel Forces.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM the WEST.
Spirited Proclamation of Gen. Lyon to
the People Of Missouri,
&C., &C., &c.
Our SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.
Desperate Situation of the Sc
cession Cause.
QuarreIs Among the Leaders
of the Rebel Forces.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM the WEST.
Spirited Proclamation Of Gen. Lyon to
the People Of Missouri,
&C., Sc, &c.
Our SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, June IL, 1851
PASSAGE OF GENERAL PATTERsoN's DIyIsIONACRoss
THE POTOMAC.
Information reached the War Department 10 day that
General Patterson has crossed the Potomac at Williams
port, and s now marching, at the head Of his grand
column down the Virginia banks Of the Potomac towards
Earpers Ferry It Ia probable that General Patterson
viii be in fun possession Of Harpers Ferry by
morning
TIE THREATENED ATTACK UPON THE CAPITAL-THE
DESPERATION OF THE REBEL CAUSE.
With every passing hour the rebels losing not
ly every prospect, but every possibility Of keeping
their hold upon Southern sympathy. Now is
their opportunity 10 do something elae than rere be-
fore the advancing coumns Of the Union Tb9is
longer any doubt that their intention 10 attack this
city ast night this morning. The whispered expeca
Of suspected secession sympthzers here the out
spoken boasts OF noted dsunion;ss the preparations
destroying the Lopg Bridge 10 of renforcements
Gen Mcdowell from this sde ,he display Of signal lights
in the neghDorhood OF all the prominent points Of attack
The OF the assassin who fred at General Tyler
the several attacks upon pickes and the inevitable
military necessity that the attack should be then
if at all, furnish convincing evidence Of this deagu
has become essentially necessary for them TO strike
where their whole project will soon be grand
and diegraceful failure. Tie retreat from Phipp aud
Romrey, and Harpers Ferry and Big Bethel and Jefier-
The border States those where the rebellion
ooncocted that ia failure. The prestige it acquired
while the federal government looked with folded
ia already ost the doubtful glory OF the reduction OF
the starved out garrison Of Fort Sumter is tn
eclpeed by the fight OF rebels from every ntrenchment
that has been approached by federal force.
The only chance to the ground thus lost and
10 arrest the constantly increasing belief in the inab
ty Of the rebel leaders to maintain their position
attack Washington before the concentration in
this neghborhood Of the troops under Gen. Mc0elaud
and Gen. Patterson in addition to those here, and
before Gen. Butler s ready to advance upon their
BY way Of James river. After to night the opportunity
for this movement will have passed. every additional
day weakens the rebels and strengthens the federal
forces. While portion Of the federal army passes
through Western Virginia into Eastern Tennessee to
operate with General Prentiss the main body of the
divisions Of Generals Patterson and McClellaud will
rapidly follow the retreating rebels 10 the direction
OF Richmond, where, in q very short period, they
will find themselves completely surrounded by an
overwhelming force, and cut Off from Southern con-
nectons General Johnston about be at Harpers
Ferry.
It is well asceraIued fact that the rebels have not the
TO maintain very large concentrated force
either at Richmond or any other defensible point
in their possession and while their soldiers may
be willing to fight without pay they must be
fed and clothed and provided with munitions
and transportation. II, under these circumstances with
their whole army dspited by successive retreats while
the country behind them awakened to the veness Of
the frauds pracced by the rebel leaders getting up
this civil war; attempt s made TO stand Richmond
the fate Of the starved out garrison Of Sumter will
fall with heavy retrbution upon the whole rebel army
with jeff Davis and Beauregard at its head and Floyd
and Wigfan and Toonbs and Pryor at its rear.
CONDITION OF AFFAIRS AT MANASSAS JUNCTION.
cUARRzLS OF THE REBEL LEADERS
gentleman who lie thoroughly acquainted with the
country 10 and abous Manassas Junction. having lived
there for many years. is military point the
most untenRble position in Virginia He regards il az
utterly impossible for the rebels to hold It, Harpers
Ferry and Leeeourg in the Of the federal gov
eminent, it will be easy matter, he Says to eur
round il, ard not at all difficult to cut the
rebel army Off from Richmond. If General SOFT
should attack them they might and probably would,
good defence, for they strongly fortified It
is undoubtedly she policy Of General Scott, who under
stands we'll and s familiar with the position Of affairs
there, to surrosad them with an immense army, or
cause their retreat, he did in the Harper's Ferry
affair
My informant, who seems TO be well posted in affair
ut Richmond says there is trouble among the generals
Lee and Beaeregard at loggerheads. Tho former
Has always insisted upon making attack upon Wash
ington, and to carrying vigorous against tho
North, while Beauregard on tho other hand opposed
such policy When the matter WIS submitted 70 JEFF.
Davis he sided with Beauregard and against Lee. At
that time Lee Was in command After Davis decision
he was suspended by Beauregard who n now in com.
mand OF the Department Of Aexandyia With his head
ssuarteYs at Manassas Junction
OCCUPATION OF LEEsBURa BY UNION rnoops-rup
FIGHT At SENECA.
gentleman who rode down the towpsth of the cbesa
peake an Ohio Canal reports that a. five O'Clock vestor
day Afternoon the Union troops were In quiet p,eseson
Of Leesburg.
He also confirms TIE report that Major Everett's com
and at Seneca had ha brush with the secees,onists,