The national Republican., 1862-09-04
THE SITUATION.

THG BITUAThuNs
The movement of retreat upon Washington
may now be said to be contaminated, with its
consequences, the evacuation Of Fredericks-
burg ard Winchester. 1t was obvious that II
was determined upon when our army at Cen
trsville, reinforced on Sunday, did Tot renew
the combat suspended by mutual exhaustion
on Saturday. Centreville could only be held
by attacking the enemy. As defensive posi-
tiou, il was untensble, as the enemy could turn
IL by a movement 10 the direction Of Chair
Bridge.
We are satisfied that Gen. Pope wished Ia
fight, but was ovsrruled from headquarters
here.
1t Ia 30 time. now, to discuss the policy oi
this retreat. There were certainly some con-
sidsrations in favor of It, and we must all hope
that it will turn out for the best. But inas-
much as it bears upon the future, We feel
bound to express our most unhesitating con
viction that 1t was q retreat before an enemy
OF inferior numbers. We are not now intend
ing to repeat the general views which tend To
show the impossibility Of any such numbers,
two hundred thousand men, as are conceded 10
the enemy In some quarters. 1t Is sufficient to
say, that nothing indicates that number, or
even half Of It.
II the enemy had had one hundred thousand
men on Saturday, he would have annihilated
General Pope on that day. He would have
cut of General Banks on the next day, or would
have renewed the attack on General Pope, or
would have done both things. And on the
subsequent days, be would have followed up
our treating forces with vastly more energy
than he has done. 1t Is safe to conclude that
the vigorous and able men who control the
affairs Of the rebels, make the best use Of the
means they have. They know that our new
ievies are rapidly coming, and If they have
failed to do anything during the last week, 1t has
been from the want Of power, not from the want
Of enterprise.
The supposition of rebel force Of two hun
dred thousand men, is still moro violently
absurd.
What will the enemy now do" Will he at
tempt to cross into Maryland 10 the hope
OF arousing the secession elements there, Or
will be content himself with having driven us
clean out Of Virginia. and return to his old
policy Of wearing US out and breaking down
our finances by protracting the war Weshsll
see what we shall see, and ii ia safer to pro-
phesy after the event than before It. But IN
influenced by the clamors and noise about US,
we abide resolutely 10 the conviction that the
enemy does not now, any more than he ever
has done regard his condition as desperate
one, or as calling for desperate measures.
We have had an infinite deal Of nonsense
about starving The South, subduing the rebel
lion by pressure, and the efficacy of the ana
conda system generally but the real truth is
that IT is precisely in a lonpwar that the slsv'
states, assuming that slavery is to be trestet
as sacred thing, have the advantage over th'
tree States. The rebel leaders have, so fal
acted upon that theory, and will, We believe
continue to do 80 to the end.
How would the rebel army, If 1t could ge
into Maryland, ba received by the population
of that State Upon the whole, wy think, no
with favor. The ssveholdiug counties Of Mary
land are rotten to the core, but the reverse
true Of the northern counties and Of the city q
Baltimore The physical power oi the State
on the side OF the Union.