The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-17

4
of Gen. Scott, on both sides of the river, at and
near Washington. But the military movements
here have been connected with very important
combinations to both parties, in the Great Val
ley and in the Western division of the State.
To hold the Great Valley, and to command its
vast supplies of subsistence, and to prevent the
| movements across from this valley of federal
corps upon the rear of Beauregard at Manassas
Junction, Gen. Johnston, for time, occupied
the gap and the heights at Harper's Ferry,
where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers unite
and pass through the Blue Ridge. But finding
at length this trap-like position untenable,
Johnston abandoned it and fell back into the
heart of the valley near Winchester, from which
| point, if threatened by an overwhelming force
under Patterson behind him, he may push on
some eighteen miles to the Manassas Gap Rail-
road, which, after a ride of sixty miles, will
bring him over into the camp of Beauregard.
Western Virginia, in support of the rebel
cause, was assigned TO Gen. Garnett and bis ten
thousand men, and to some scattering detach-
ments under Governor Wise and the illustrious
Floyd, of Mr.. Buchanan's treacherous Cabinet.
These champions of Southern rights were to hold
Mcclellan in check in the West while Johnston
would hold Patterson in check in the valley,
until Beauregard in the East might find some
opportunity for bouncing upon Washington.
A splendid system of combinations, truly,
but ruinously spoiled by the late achievements
of Mcclellan. Having liberated Western Vir-
gna and practically dsarmed the enemy in
that quarter, Mcclellan, with twenty thousand
men, may suddenly pounce upon Johnston in the
valley in conjunction with Patterson, with
twenty five thousand men, and surround him
and capture bis whole force of twenty thousand,
if he does not clear out in anticipation of some
such disaster.
We think the campaign in Virginia is virtu-
ally settlcd--that Johnston cannot risk battle
in the valley without suffering crushing de-
fcat-that he cannot join Beaurcgard before
Patterson can join Gen. Mcdowell Immediately
in front of Deauregard, and that thus detached
or combined, the forces of Johnston and Beaure-
gard are i'll very great danger of decisive
overthrow. What, then? Taking counsel from
the fate of Garnctts column, it is quite posi-
BILE that, without eight, Johnston will first fall
back upon Manassas Junction, and that next
Beaurcgard, thus reinforced instead of risking
an action with one hundred thousand federal
troops will fall back upon Richmond, tearing
up the railroad behind him. And then! Why,
then, it is possible that he will next be COM
PEELED to evacuate Richmond, and that, too
without much b!ocdshed, inorder to save him
self and his army from final surrender.
The formidable combinations Of Gen. Scott
are sufficiently developed TO enable the dullcst
intellect TO comprehend bis grand design. 1t is
to concentrate upon the strong points of this
rebellion such overwhelming forces as to secure
a decisive triumph with comparatively tri-
fling loss of human life We are exceedingly
2ratiled with the conviction, too, that this grand
design will soon be completely fulfilled, and
tha: with the overthrow Of the rebel cause in
Virginia, this whole Southern rebellion will
speedily fall to pieces.