Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-13
The Armies of virginia.

borhood of Washington, and at its oc-
cupation Of many Of the old camping
grounds of the army of the Potomac,
and rejecting that what is done cannot
be undone, it may be well to consider
the situation of our army, and that Of
the rebels, in respect to their future
movements. 1t is always foolish to as.
sumo the office of prophecy of the fu-
ture, and worse than foolish to assume
it, when one has SO scant a knowledge
Of the present, and Of the most impor-
tant details of the events of few past
weeks, as we possess; yet, as it is that
future to which the minds of every one
is directed at the present moment, we
have desi -ed to express our own con-
victions in regard to it.
Taking advantage of the compare
lively small force under Pope, lying
between Richmond and Washington,
and the time which must necessarily
elapse in the transportation of the ar
my of the Potomac to point, where it
could effect junction with the army
of Virginia, the rebels by rapid and
we'll conceived series of movements
upon our right flank have compelled
General Pope to retreat to the neigh
borhood of Washington, the only point
where he could receive, in sufficient
season, the necessary reinforcements.
1t cannot now remain matter Of
doubt that it was a part of their plan
to detain him by feints in the front, at
such distance from his base, until,
having turned lis right flank and rear
by an overwhelming force, his escape
should be no longer possible, and the
destruction or surrender of his army
certain. In this they were entirely
bafAed, both on the Rapidan, and the
Rappahannock. In order to receive in
sufficient time the reinforcements in
which alone lay his salvation, Genera
Pope fell back to Centreville.
Again the rebels menaced his right
flank and the City of Washington, and
threatened his supplies. This last po-
sition, but a days. march from Centre
vile, afforded far better battle ground
forour troops,-in fact one that we had
prepared ourselves. 1t was one at
which there was no possibility of
cutting off our supply trains. 1t placed
beyond the remotest danger the
national capital. 1t was central point
from which our troops could be moved
in any direction where an attack might
be made whether to the north or
south. For these reasons, doubtless,
General Halleck ordered the army to
fall back to Washington.
Tie offensive movement on the part
of the rebels, has been one not merely
of advisability, but of necessity
rather of desperation. 1t was not
merely that they hoped to defeat or
destroy General Pope, or recover the
ground over which We should retreat,
but that they had reached crisis in
their insurrection, where to remain
quiet would be suicide. Their leaders
locke out upon the cord of .blockad.
ing vessels bound tight around the
coast, depriving their people of the
commonest necessities oflife, and caus.
ing countless misery. They saw
conscription dragging to the wal
their whole fighting population
and even clutching at the boys
and old men. They perceived nc
means of filling up their decimatcd
ranks, when those that now serve in
them should be no more. They saw ev
cry house in Richmond a hospital, aud
every train bearipg South hundreds o.
the sick and wounded. They knew
their broken credit, their exhausted
exchequer, their failing supplies
Looking to the North, they beheld Q
people, of their own free will about tc
pour forth 100000 more troops,-unin
iured by the war, which had already
proved their own ruin, either in credi
or resources They felt that they mus
make a last desperate effort. They
have set their lite upon the cast, ant
knowing this, they have given every
man and every gun to Gen. Lee, ant
sent him northward. If this, their las
} great army shall be destroyed, they
: will be lost forever. ..
Knowing these things, there Seems
to be but little doubt but that the reb
els will cross the Potomac,and attemp
to invade Maryland. They cannot af