The New York herald., 1862-03-16
THE SITUATION.

General Mcclellan has issued spirit-stirring
address to the Army OF the Potomac, at tho head
Of which he has placed himself to lead them on to
victory. II is dated from his headquarters ct Fair
fax Court House yesterday, and cannot fail to in.
spire the army with confidence in their General
and enthusiasm in the cause. For long time,n
he says, 81 have kept you inactive, but not with
out purpose. You we're to be disciplined, armed
and instructed. The formidable artillery you
now have had to be created. Other armies
were to move and accomplish certain re.
suits, I have held you back that you might
give the death blow to the rebellion that has
distracted our once happy country. The patience
you have shown and your confidence in your Gen.
eral, are worth o dozen victories" He assures
his soldiers that the Army of the Potomac is now
real army, magnificent in material, discipline,
equipment, and perfect in its commanders. He
declares that the moment for action has arrived ;
that he can trust them to save their country. and
that he will bring them face to face with the
rebels, and can only pray God to defend the right.
He continues in this bold, manly strain, to an.
nounce the probabilities of the fuiure:-" In what
ever direction you may move, however strange
my actions may appear to you, ever bear in mind
that my fate is linked with yours and that all do
is to bring you where I know you wish to be-on
The decisive battle field I. is my business to place
you there. am to watch over you as parent
over his children, and you know that your General
loves you from the depths of his heart. 1t shall be
my care-it has ever bcen--to gain success with
the least possible loss But know that If it is
necessary, you will willingly follow me
to our graves for our righteous cause. God
smiles upon us Victory attends us Yet would
not have you think that our aim is to be obtained
without manly struggle. will not disguise it
from you. that you have brave foes to encounter
foemen well worthy Of the steel that you will use
so well. shall demand of you great, heroic exer.
tons, rapid and long marches. desperate combats,
privations perhaps We will share all these to
gether, and when this sad war Is over we will all
return to our homes, and feel that We can ask no
higher honor than the proud consciousness that we
belonged to the Army of the Potomac
With this patriotic and soldierly appeal the gal.
liant young chieftain enters upon his active cam.
pagn. II is evident that the grand Army of the
Potomac Ii not to return until the rebellion is
crushed out and the war brought to a happy ter
minstiou. In hailing his onward career we have
but to echo the prayer Of Mcclellan, that God may
defend the right.
The cavalry reconnaissance under Gen. Stone.
man on Friday, on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad, distance Of twenty-four miles in
straight line from Manassas, resulted in finding
that section Of country whsiy abandoned by the
rebels, and discovering evidence everywhere of a
perfect rout Of the enemy. Reliable information
establishes the fact that the evacuation was com.
mcnccd on the 7th inst, in consequence Of infor.
nation received BY the rebels that Gen Mcclellan
was about to throw large army between ,iauas.
sas and Richmond. 1t has been asccrtained that
the rebels could concentrate fully 90, 900 men at
that point, without reducing their forces at Win.
chester, Leesburg or occoquan.
We give to-day q map of the new line of the
rebel dcfences south Of Manassas. II forms the
arc ola circle, Of which Richmond is the centre.
""d Port royal on the Rappahannock and Cumber.
'''d Gap 10 The Blue Ridge Mountains the extreme
sr' md ieft, tac whole defensive line embracing
ne 'oriiisd banks of the Rapidan and Rama.
.r"ock rivers. The two strong points at Gordops.
and fredericksburg are enclosed in this lin.
~ '' the railroad communication by The vir.
aud the Central and Tennessee roads
. n1isbors Of valuable guns and is.,ro,.s
I,qs cf 'iss as bsng oroogit awav 30