The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-23

THE SITUATION.
The campaign would appear from recent accounts
to have reached crisis. No fighting occurred
yesterday in Virginia, but from the position of af.
fairs upon the receipt of our latest news there can
be very little doubt that an important action will
take place to-day.
The affair near Leesburg, which came off on Mon
day, was undoubtedly but the prelude to an advance
OF General Banks army, which, in all probability
will be made to-day. Our information concerning
the action near Leesburg is necessarily imperfect
owing to the suppression of tecgraphic dispatches;
but from ACCOUNTS which reach us by mail, and
which we publish to-day, it would appear that the
rebel army was commanded by our late active and
energetic Street Commissioner and experienced
officer, General Gustavus w. Smith, who it is said
was wounded on that occasion.
1t is now placed beyond doubt that the rebels
have complete control of the lower Potomac. Com.
mander Craven, who arrived in the flag ship Har-
riet Lane at Washington yesterday, reports that a
humber of vessels bound down have been
stopped, and are lying to under the pro.
lection Of the fotilla at Indian Head,
and that the Freeborn and Island Belle had thrown
several shells on Monday into the rebel rendezvous
at Matthias Point, which were answered by the
unmasking of q battery of eighteen guns, which
briskly returned the fire, and completely com.
handed the river at that point.
In connection with these facts it appears some
what prophetic that the programme now being
carried out by the rebels was foreshadowed months
ago. 1t was then freely stated by the agents of the
Southern government, who were going out in steam
ers to Europe, that Washington not the point of
attack designed; that the rebel army intended to find
its winter quarters in Baltimore, relying upon the
resources of Maryland for it's sustenance; that the
Potomac was to be crossed above and below the ma
tional capital. And it happens curiously enough
that at the present time the rebel army in front of
Washington has suddenly changed its position
no one appearing to know to what particular
point the main body has betaken itself; but from
all our recent reports we do know that force
of from twenty-five to forty thousand men occu-
Ply the batteries on the Lower Potomac, and
that, according to the official report Of Com.
mander Craven to the Navy Department,
which reached us last night, that portion of the
river is efectually closed by the rebel batteries
For some time past these batteries were silent,
and it was supposed that at many points
they had been Abandoned; but no sooner
does the report of the starting of ma
val expedition from Annapolis leak out
than battery of eighteen guns is unmasked
at Matthias Point. At the same time the Upper
Potomac is menaced in front of Gen. Banks com
mand by large force of the rebel army at Lees
burg, under Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, who, with the
energy for which he is proverbal met the adj
vancing columns of Gen. Stones division on Mon.
day, and by the power q superior numbers COM
PEELED them to fan back to the river, after con-
test which lasted throughout the entire day.
Our dispatches from Washington, as will be
seen mention ttat General Scott is making an
effort to supcrsede General Mcclellan, and trans
Ter the command to Major General Hallcck, who
II now on his way from California; but there can
be very little doubt, we think, that the Presiden,
understands too well what the wishes of the nublc
rs well as the interests of the nation and tho safety
Of the government demand, with regnrd 10 the
present administration of military affairs in
tLs Army Of the Potomac, to make anv
change in its commanding officer Just now.
General Henry Wager Halleck is one of the four
Major Generals of the United States Army. He
was born in New York, and entered the Military
Academy as West Point cadet in 1885, He stood
fhird in the class aud was brevetcd Second Lieu.
tenant Of Engineers, july !, 1892 He was acting
ttH"o Professor Of Engineering at the Military
f"t from July, 1899, to June, 1910. In 1871
'a "ta Of . military work on Bitumen
e@H First Lieutenant in