New Orleans daily crescent., 1861-10-24
Federal SpecuIntIons about the Affairs on
the Potomac.


We, says the Memphis Appeal fDd in the Gin
cinnati Commercial of the 9th the following arti-
Gle, speculating to the POSITION strength and in
tention of the Federal army, under Mcclellan.
That paper holsters up Northern courage by max
ing great promises, the fulfllment of which de-
pends upon successes that Beauregard and his
forces will braVely and certainly prevent Let the
Commercial mark cur prediction
THE News FROM WAsH1NGToS.-The situation at
Washington is made intensely interesting by Nc
Clellan's forward movement. 1t is certain that
our Grand Army is gradually advancing, and that
heaVy divisions OF troops are now several miles in
advance of the Potomac Notifications. The att
tude of our army has been slowly and surely
changed from defensive to offensive. The rebels
are no longer invited to cross the Potomac or as
sail our forts, but solicited to accept fair
field fight
Our columns are now further advanced than at
any time before the advance of McDowels army
They are mastering the situation, learning the
ground, and becoming accustomed to movements
by brigades and divisions in the face OF the enemy
The advance, instead of being grand struggle at
venture, like that in July, is systematic and solid
| AS his lines are extended Gen. McClellan's per-
sonal activity and vigilance seem to increase. He
IS with the troops constantly, and they know their
| leader. His moyements-pushing forward here
standing fast there. now creeping at snail's pace
| cutting roads, and planting batteries, and then
sweeping from point to point with celerity-re-
US Vi IN w WeStefn Virginia, which
resulted in hemming in and destroying Garnetts
army. Whether, if the enemy do not give battle
| sooner, he will push on to Manassas we can, of
course, only conjecture. But the presumption is
and we are justified in making it by his own words
| that he does not mediate falling back.
| 1t was McDowell's misfortune to find himself in
| front of the enemy at Manassas. under tremend-
GUS pressure to force the fight without delay. He
could not stop to secure his position on the range
of hills beyond Centerville because the hour was
| approaching when the three months men, who
were the flower of the army, were to be disband-
ed and the shameful fact is fresh in memories,
that one of his regiments and of his batteries
| deserted him because their time up, and in his
| own expressive language, proceeded to the rear
| to the sound of the enemy's guns. Mcclellan has
| no troops with him whose time is up. They are all
with him to the end of the war; and he can take
| his time. Then Mcdowell depended upon Patter.
sons division to give employment to Gen. Johnston
and would have won the battle, if his expectations
| in this regard had been realized We may be sure
that Banks will not fail Mcclellan. His division il
within striking distance, and will strike We should
not be surprised to hear at any moment that he hat
crossed the Potomac, and was pressing the enemy's
| left wing
If the pending fight comes off at Manassas, the
chances are the enemy will be found much stronger
there than on the 2lst of July, but the attack will
| be made in far different style. Mcclellan has now
| as many regiments as Mcdowell had companies of
| cavalry, so that there will be no danger OF trouble
on the tlanks, and he has at least four times as
many field guns as Mcdowell had, and they are
heavier in calibre and longer in range, while his
| supply of ammunition will be unlimited The
chances are the enemy will decline to risk battle
| in the open field, and await the assault. If So we
| expect Manassas will be taken by regular ap
proaches, and that the masses of infantry will moi
be hurried forward before artillery has cleared
the way. 1t is McCiellans well-known opinion that
this war will be decided by the artillery; and we
anticipate such artillery duel at Manassas as the
world never saw, save at SebastopOl.
| If there be any truth in our recent telegraphic
dispatches, the hopes built upon the cooperation
of Gen. Banks column have already proved, like
most sublunary things, vain, aeeting and delusive