Daily national Democrat., 1861-10-20
Dallp Natlonal Democrat.
Position OF Affairs on the Potomac.
Grrom the New York Times

Time is always necessary to disclose the
real significance and effect of any act or
event. An apparent misfortune may be far
from being one. while success is often pre-
indie to a disastrous defeat. Our present
strength is the result of the Bull Run cisas-
trr-the unfortunate position Of the rebels
the result of their victory. Upon every prin
ciple Of war they should have been in Wash
inytou week after the battle. To delay the
assault till we recovered our losses, and ac-
cumuIated such force as to render attack,
not only upon that city, but any movement
with view of crossing the Potomac too haz
ardous to be attempted, was to lose a crown
ing advantage, and to suffer all the conse-
quences, of IA disastrous defeat
Such, in its results, have the rebels already
sustained. They have accumulated a vast
army upon the Potomac with no other pur-
pose, hereafter but to act on the defensive.
We presume all idea of an advance, either
against Washington or into Maryland, has
been definitely abandoned. Either movement
would, in all probability, end in an over
whelming defeat. Such conviction, on the
part of the rebels, we regard as the turning
point in the war.
In the first place, they proclaim their in
ability to realize the great expectation OF the
South-the capture and destruction of our
capital-an achievement believed to be easily
accomplished, which was the the great object
OF the campaign, and which, as display of
power, would end the war and secure their
independence To abandon such a purpose
will be fatal confession of their weakness,
and triumphant testimony to the strength
of the enemy. Results more palpabe, Tut
really no more decisive, must follow. 10
accomplish their great purpose they accu-
mulated their whole available strength upon
the banks of the Potomac. To what earthly
use is this army now to be put? It's only
alternatives are to remain qrietly in camp,
or to retreat southward Either choice would
please us equally well. In case the rebels
remain in camp at Manassas, they are thou
sand miles from the point Were we are pre-
parag to strike decisive blows. An eXpedi-
tion will meet with but comparatively slight
resistance. Only small number of able
bedie3 men remain in the extreme South, and
these must be without the training or equip
nlent necessary to constitute an elective
army. We could not consequently, desire
matters TO be in a better position. If the
Virginia army remains in camp in front of
Washington, the Southern sea coast falls an
easy conquest. If it retreats, it will have in
It's rear General Mcclellan with at least l50,-
600 troops in the finest condition and spirits,
and amply provided for rapid pursuit To
retreat hefore such an army would be little
better than destruction. To await its attack
at Manassas Junction would be to leave the
greater portion Of the rebel States almost en-
tirely undefeuded and the flank of the rebels
completely turued They have in their zeal
4allen into "A trap from which we can see no
escape With our fleet we can now antici-
pate any movement southward, and achieve
4 :
tended. In effect, the rebel strength has
been allured 10y phantom into the extreme
corner of their widely extended territory,
where it is equally powerless for offensive or
defensive operations, leaving the most vul-
nerabe points naked to our blows. We are
steadily pushing eoUthward upon the west,
as well MS upon the seacoast We shall soon
be in the rear of Virginia, East Tennessee.
as well as upon the Albcrmare and Pamlico
Sounds and cut off the great line Of coiHnu-
uication in that State as well as that through
North Carolina, which is already seri-
ouey threatened. An array situated as is that
of the rebels in Virginia, upon the very apex
Of the triangle that forms their territory,
must be soon put ont of fighting condition
tom the very apprehension of disaster.
Such is the aspect Of military affairs in the
East Assuming for the rebels all they claim
In numbers and tnal IN It's cuMmlssallat ana
munitions OF war their army is equal TO our
own, they have outgcueraicd themselves.
They have rushed madly to their frontier,
where they are poVcress for advance or for
self-defense A greater military blundcr
could not have been committed. But the
rebel army on the Potomac has really but ore
alternative, which is eventually to retreat
towards Richmond, however disastrous such
movement may be, It cannot long be mnin-
Gained in its presei.t position IN sUtlieent
strength to resist an attack from our own
forces, which will remain in their ntrench
snents only till they are fully prepared for
offensive operations, When we consider the
time required, will al cur means, to properly
eduip cur owR forces, it is perfectly evident,
that in absence all such means, the rebels
must soon be in most pitiable plight. AL
ready are they suffering what an unprovded
army always sulfers-dscase in all its shapes,
and, as consequence, discomfort and de-
moralization 1t was the want Of suitable
equipment that robbed the rebels Iof all ad-
vantage of their victory, and which has since
s,araiyzed all their action. There has never
been time when they were not really de
fea;ed with any adequate preparations on
our part. These are now nearly completed,
sms we shall not be long in seeing the most
satisfactory proof of our superiority.