Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-06-14
THE VIRGINIA PLAN OF THE CAM.
PAIGN

The New Orleans True Delta has . very in
teresting letter from its special correspondent
at Richmond. Though reaching US in such a
round-abo way, it is nearly as late as any
| thing from newspaper sources which We have
direct from Virginia. 1t is certainly as i'm
portant, and reads "a though it were reliable
II am persuaded that within the six weeks
past the strategy of the Confederate Govern
ment has undergone q change-or at least that
It has been caused TO take on the appearance
| Of change.
All eyes are turned at present towards Ma
nassas junction. The enemy has m assed some
70 600 or "a 900 troops at and about Alexan-
dris, and their numbers at last accounts were
increasing by constant arrivals by land and
| river: 1t is apprehended that they mean to
attack us at Manassas Junction, who're We had
yesterday about 10000, increased perhaps to
$4,000 men, under Gen. Bonhsm, which were
being rapidly reinforced from this city. Civil
and military men here differ, however, as to
the designs Of the enemy in that direction.
Some regard the demonstration at Alexandria
as feint to make important movements else
where-perhaps upon Norfolk or Yorktown,
or Aquia Creek, or Harper's Ferry, or some
other psint.
But Gen. Lee, who is by no means man to
jump hastily to conclusions, appears to put a
literal construction on it. He proceeded in
person to Manassas Junction to-day, pretty
fully convinced that "by the act" Of Lincoln's
trooPs-as our Congress word their war decla-
rations-it was soon to be the scene Of sharp
and bloody contest. But there is no telling
Before this reaches you the telegraph may tell
you that the enemy continues to pursue pol
10y OF gradual and almost imperceptible inva-
sion, accompanied by a succession Of small
losses and irritations inflicted upon the Con-
federate army, until, to save its prestige at
home and abroad, and to save itself from utter
disaster, 1t will be compelled somehow and
n fri Of in
great and decisive pitched battle.
The massing Of Southern troops at various
important positions still goes on vigorously
Richmond is the general rendezvous for in
coming volunteers, whence as soon as inspect
ed and properly outftted for active duty, they
are distributed where they seem most needed
According to a rough estimate, 1 think that
there arc at this moment in active service in
Virginia about 50,009 Confederate troops
namely: about 5000 at or near Manassas juno
ton; about 5, 900 at Fredericksburg and Aqua
Creek; about 10000 at Norfolk and its neigh
borhood; about 5000 at Yorktown and Will
liamsburg; about 1900 at Hsrper's Ferry.
Of this aggregate, nearly all, exclusive of the
forces at Harper's Ferry, are 30 posted that
they could be concentrated by railroad at any
point between Norfolk and Alexandria within
twenty -four hours
About &c, 900, I should think, might be flung
almost at once upon the enemy, wherever he
might plant himself along that line. But to
mass this number at given point might leave
too scant force along the ssaboard and bays
constantly menaced by the enemy's war ships
and transports for landing troops. You see,
then, where is the difficulty. With his ships on
one side, and his numbers on the other, tie
enemy aims to outHank US both and make it
hazardous to attempt combined movement
upon Its center. see nothing for it but to
swell our numbers as rapidly as possible, and
hold him in check on the right-that is, to-
wards the ses-while We turn his flank on the
left and overthrow him in the center