The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-10

rhs Rebel Army and Their Coneress-
WhtoIl VIII Farst Os Brought int0 Ac-
ton!
Without sfnele battle of any magnitude. we
are drawn to the conclusion, from recent
events--to say nothing Of the late unsccounta.
BILE aud extraordinary Gag of truce from JEFF
Davis to President L'ncoln-that the backbone
Of our Southern rebellion Is already broken
The misguided Iegtous Of JEFF Davis, which
but few weeks ago took up their nortbward
line Of ma: ch in the confident expectation of an
early occupation of Washington, have been
compelled, arst to halt within days march Of
our capital, then TO retreat from several ad.
vanced positions, and now the ONLY fear Of Our
army mepacirg the msie camp of The rebels u!
Manassas Junction Is that they viii fall back
upon Richmond without risking the hazs;ds Of
battle. In the petty guerrilla tactics which
they have adopted, We have an admission OF
their weakness and In their cory resistsacs to
the advancing column Of General Patterson
we have the proof tha. they possess little or
uothiog OF thai lofty courage, heroism or con
fdence peculiar to q good cause. 1t would
terprise or their leaders, Wholesome fear OF
federal bayonets, and that, in abandoning their
designs upon Washit gton, they are all at sea.
1t Is apparent, too, that unless saved by some
interposing armisuce, the column Of Johnston.
near Wincht ster, and the main body of the
rebel force in Fairfax county, lighting sepa.
raiely OF combined, will be beaten; for. frcm
The overwhelming Union forces gradually
closing in upon Johnston and Beauregard, their
decisive defeat or demoralizing retreat ON
their part appears Inevitable. Meantime, from
the new regiments now nightly added to The
imposing army corps of General Mcdowell
and from the heavy reinforce ueots en- route 10
engiheu the column of General Patters on, 1t
Is probable hat, before the expiration of this
week Johnston or Beauregatd or both, will be
required to fight or to ay.
VIZ are Inclined to the opinion, also that It
il now a part OF The general pan of tie rebel
leaders to avoid, IT possible, a general battle
until the meeting of their Confederate one
house Congress in Richmond, on the 10th of
J July. And here the questions are suggested,
Why has This Confederate Congress been moved
up from Montgomery to Richmond? aud why
I ia il called to assemble pending the extra sss-
sion OF the Congress at Washington, if not for
the purpose of some sgertures or negotiations
for peace, Or for an armistice? We sus-
pect that ths rebel leaders are fully
aware of their inability to prevent
The onward march of the federal
force into the very heart Of the cotton States,
should this war 60 on, and are fully sensible,
too, OF the dangerous consequences to their
slave population from such an invasion. The
State of Virginia has been dragged, headlong
and against her will, into this rebellion, TO
bear the brunt of the war; and to settle 1t, one
way or the other, Without riskiDg an invasion
of the cotton States BY Northern troops
Accordingly; we believe that, with the over
throw of the secession cause In Virginia, the
work of suppressing this whole Southern rebel
lion will be substantially consummated.
! In this view Of the subject, looking at the
overwhelming and sill increasing federal
army columns menacing the rebel forces in
Virginia at every point; and considering the
| call of President Lincoln for four hundred
thousand men and four hundred millions OF
dollars, for crushing campaign; aud consider
ing the temper Of our Congress and the war spirit
of the loyal States, and their preponderatnQ