Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1861-06-14
The Position.

tant events. Every day is bringing the
hostile lines nearer together and masslng
up the hostile forces, which cannot, in the
nature of things, remain long face to face
without a collision. From rapid glance
at the position of our forces it will at
once be seen in what direction is the drift
Of military events at present. General
Butler, at Fortress Monroe remains COM
paratively quiescent, and it is as difficult
to detect his plans from the management
Of his forces as it is ordinarily to read his
thoughts in his face. Nothing signif-
cant, either, is to be gathered from the
movements of Gen. Mcdowell on the
south side of the Potomac He is
strengthening his position, and that Is
about all. But when we look toward
Harper's Ferry, We perceive different
state Of things-not by itself considered,
but according to the country gentleman's
description of his residence, a., "the cen
ter of very large circumference
Washington itself must be considered
for the time being one of the sPokes lead
ing to that hub" as we have accounts
of eight regiments and some odd compa-
MES marching and under orders to march
from the capital in the direction of Har
per's Ferry. From Baltimore and the
Relay House four thousand troops have
already been thrown forward to Freder
lex Junction. about twenty-five miles from
the Ferry. At Chambersburgh the gath
ering still goes on, consisting Of COM
pete army in itself, volunteers, regulars,
infantry, cavalry, and artillery. The in
dications are that nearly $4,000 troops
from this point will advance soulhward
by different routes, the movement having
commenced under Gen. Thomas. Sev-
en- thousand of the number are reported
at Greencastle, and it is conjec'ured that
a large part of these will advance TO
Williamsport, up the river. where they
will Join with a detachment of General
McClellan's forces and penetrate to Win
chester, Va. to cut off the rebel retreat.
1t will thus be seen that from Cumber-
land, round eastward in a semi circle to
Washington. there is a combined move
ment upon Harper's Ferry Of between
10000 and 10000 Federal troops. I'm
less therefore, Gen Johnston has PROMPT
and liberal reinforcements from rebel
headquarters, he must retreat or be rout-
ed.
We know not what the rebel strength
at Harper's Ferry Is, and the coalition
Of the men has been the subject Of tree
: oncilable contradictions. But VIC assume
that there are ten thousand fair fighting
men there. They must retreat. The
only saving clause in their case is the
supposition that thev form but single
feature in some comprehensive rebel plan
for distracting our forces in the nick oI
time, which shall save them from attack
or make contest feasible. Is there any
such plan? Two or three have been
suggested, involving a rapid crossing Of
, THE Potomac at different points. ard q
. rising at Baltimore. We confess there
e are bad signs in the latter neighborhood
But HE transfer of CadwalIader to an
other field, and the appointment of Gen
! Banks at Baltimore, with an adequate
e force, shows that the government is OF
the alert to make ali tight and snug il
that quarter. As to rapid advance move
y menis of any extent on the part Of the
e rebels, they are simply oUt Of the quei
i ton. The government has the inside
track by virtue of locality and weil-dis
! tributed forces, and can defeat any scheme
4 of that nature.
= The only policy apparently LEFT The
rebels is to concentrate, fall back, take {
= good position, and await the result. Ru
= NOR AYERS that Gen. Beaurogard ha
. fixed on Manassas Gap for that purpose
| where he proposes to intrench all biz
5 available forces, withstand the Fedora
u troops until their constitutional impa
:; thence has demoralized them, when he
4 will "overwhelm and destroy them y
a But this ingenious programme will re
It quire such a long time for its develop
: ment that we shall have leisure to con
: slider it sufficiently hereafter. At pres
+ ent, the question of interest relates +
h Harpcr's Ferry, and it is apparent tha
few days will disclose its solution
. Boston Journal