The Kingwood chronicle. [volume] (Kingwood, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861, 1861-06-15


to the Point Of Rocks, and SO on up to cut of
his communication with Pennsylvania while
the same object could be promoted from
Shepherdstown and the point opposite Will
Transport If Gen. johnson had intended
to retreat at once from Harper Ferry, he
could have done it by means Of the road to
! Winchester, whereas, he has ordered two
hundred baggage wagons to Harper's Ferry
showing that he intends marching down the
valley Of the Shenandoah river to position
on his second line of defence between Lees
burg and Winchester His preparations for
retreat, therefore. are conditional upon his
communications hereafter being cut off, No
good general can neglect to take care Of his
means Of retreat. Now, before attacking the
centre, Gen Patterson WILL Of course, know
what is to be done to provide against the
danger Of his own communications being
interrupted in the manner stated. How he
will do this, We prefer not to discuss At present
The third line Of defence Of the rebels cx-
tend, from Fairfax Court house and Manas-
tlIiStlcli Di1 lilC CdSl w VII lilG
west. and is very strongly fortified Before
the United States troops had crossed the Po-
tomac, this line stretched to Alexandria and
there was line Of flank defcnces from Aqua
Creek along the whole bank of the river to
Williamsport. This was broken BY the ad-
vance Of Mcdowell column but the ultimate
advantage OF this move will depend upon the
subsequent conduct Of the campaign. As we
explained Oh Wednesday, this advance looks
to an attack on Manassas junction, and cutting
off the communications the Harper 5 Ferry
rebels, an operation, the perfect success Of
which requires the occupation Of fStrasburg and
Winchester by Mcclellan 5 corps. Theread-
or will see, therefore, that the operations of
| these three armies must be Simultaneous IN
order to be effective IF the army under
/ Mcdowell were to take Manassas junction
before the armies Of Patterson and Mcclellan
reached their positions, it would be difficult to
keep open the communication with Wash
inuton, as the line would be threatened on
both sides
But supposing all this northern ground to
i be cleared Of the enemy, their next line Of
defence would evidently be that Of the Rap
pahannock river from Culpepper Court
House on tie west, to Aqua Greek On the
east, the main point Of attack being Freder-
icksbure, because that commands the rail-
way approach to the city Of Richmond. Be
j fore this line could be reached the accumu-
lated armies on both sides would attain the
most formidable dimensions by the union of
/ their various divisions Patterson and Nc
Dowell. reinforced constantly from Washing
ton, would conduct the operations, while Nc
C!ellan 5 corps, sweeping down the valley to
Staunton, would secure the mountains a
ganst the enemy retreat in that direction,
and be prepared to take. III due time the rail
road Via Charlottesville to Richmond. -
Were il not for this important fact, and the
simultaneous danger from Buffers corps on
the southwest, the retreating enemy might
delay the advance OF our troops at every sue
ccssive river, and render our progress very te-
dious
From this state Of facts it is clear that very
careful and thorough preparations arc requi-
site for speedy success in Virginia There
has been no unnecessary delay. General
Mcclellan has already 1000 men in Grafton,
and has conquered nearly all Western Virgin
ia. HeAcan not move from Grafton until all
his forces shall be gathered, with abundance
Of artillery. cavalry and munitions Of war. as
well as good baggage train. General Pat
terson is delayed BY the want Of artillery, and
he has too much sense to make any impor-
tant movement without t. Until these two
armies shall be ready, there would be no use
/ in the armies Of Mcdowell and Butler advan-
cling. except in the preliminary movements.
/ The enemy has evidently staked the whole
Of his strength on the defence Of Virginia,
I which is peculiarly fitted by nature for a great
battle ground The object is, of course. to
exhaust Us il conauering that one State, and
so induce us to relinouish the attempt upon
the rest Of tho south 10 aid in this scheme
the rebel capital was removed to Richmond,
and the main resources Of the south are con
centrated there Even the force intended
for the attack on Fort Pickens is being grad
ually weakened to send men to Virginia.
Well aware Of this, the comprehensive plan
of General Scott proposes that at the same
time when the grand attack begins in Virgin
ia, the western army shall move down the
valley Of the Mississippi from Cairo 10
this end men and munitions Of war are gath
ering now at Cairo, and instead Of waiting
there for the army Of Pillow, our troops will
in due time go south, taking every point On
the river which is practicable.
/ It is great blunder in the pursuit Of hap