Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1861-06-14
Tho Rebellion.
From the Boston Joornal.
The Position.

The Position.
We are plainly drawing toward impOr.
tan, sveuu. Every day Is bringing the
hostile lines nearer together, and mas'ing
up the hostile forces. which cannot. in the
nature Of things. remain long face to lace
without collision. From rapid glance
ut the position Of our forces IL will ct once
DO seen In what direction 10 the drift OF mil.
iiary events at present. Gen. Bntler. at
Fortress Monroe. remains comparatively
quiescent. and IL Is ne difficult, to detect HE
plans from the anssemen, Of hi. forces as
Is 10 ordinarily to read his thoughts in his
face. Nothing significant, either, Is to he
gathered from the movements Of Gin. Nc.
Doweli on the south side Of the Potomac.
lie 70 s,reng .henIng his position, and tina.
10 about oil. Hot when we look toward
IIarper's Ferry, NO perceive q different,
state Of ,hing.-not by itsoli considered.
but according TO the country gen'lemant
description Of his residence m -, tho centre
Of very large circumference
Washington itself mus, be considered Tor
the time being one II the 'pokc- leading to
that hub" as We have account. Of eight
regiments and some odd companies march.
ing and under orders to march from tho
Capital in the direction OF llarper's Ferry.
From Baltimore aud the Relay House four
THOUSAND troops have already been thrown
forward to Frederick junction, about tween.
~ Eve miles from the Ferry. ~ Chamb-
ersburg tho ga,horin: still goe, on. consis'
ting Of q complete army IN it.slf, volunteers,
regulars, infantry. cavalry and artillery.
Tie indication. Aro that tho nearly 1900
troop. from this paint will advance south
ward by 'iilsrent routes. tho movements
having commenced under Gen. Thomas.
Seven thousand Of the number are reported
at Grceuca.,le, and it is conjee,ured that a
large part Of thee will advance TO VII.
Transport. up tho river. where they will
Join with y detachment Of Gen. Mcclellan :
forces, and penetrate TO Winchester, Va.
TO cut OF the rebel retreat. twill thus be
.een that from Gun berland round eastward
in q semi.circle 70 Washington. there is n
combined movement upon IIarper's Ferry
Of between 10000 and 10000 Federal
troops. Unless. therefore, Gen. Johnston
has proup, and literal rcruforcemsne from
the rebel headquarters, no must retreat or
30 routed.
We know not what the rebel strength al
ila'per'. Ferry i.. and the condition OF 'h'
men ha. been tho subject OF irreconcilabl'
contradictions. Bot we assume tina, there
are 10000 fair hst,ing men there. They
mus. retreat. The only saving clause il
their case is the suppO.i.ion that they form
but single feature in some comprehensive
rebel plan Tor di'uae,ins our forces in th'
nick Of time. which shall save them from
attack or render a contes, feasible. II
there any such plan' Two or three ha''
been suggested. Involving arapid crossing
Of tho Potomac a, dlasrcu, points, and I
rising at Baltimore. We confess there ar
bod signs 10 the latter neiehborhoOd. Bu
the transfer Of Cadwalladcr TO another field
aud the appointment Oi Gen. Banks at BAL
timore. with an adequate force, show. ,ha
tho government !, on the aler, 70 make al
snug and ush, in that quarter. A.to rap
ia advance movements, OF any extent, OF
the par, Of the rebels. they are simply ou
OF the question. Tho government h" Oh,
inside track, by virtue Of locality and we'll
! distributed forces. and can defea, an,
scheme OF tha, nature.
The only policy apparently LEI. the rebel
!. 90 concentrate, fall back. take good 70
si,ion and await the result. Rumor aver
tha, Beauresard has 6ied On Mana.sa
Gap for tha, purpose, where be proposes Il
ln,reneh all hi. available forces, ~i,h',an,
the Federal troops until their constitution
al impa,isnee ha. demoralited them. ~bsI
/ no will o,erwbelm and destroy them.
but thi. ingenious prosra nine will requir
such long time for its Development, tina
NO .ball have leisure to consider 10 suth
GENTLY hereafter. At present. the question
Of in.ere., relates to llarper's Ferry. and Il
1. apparent tha, few days will disclose II.
solution.