The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-09-04

of supply is ample for their subsistence,
the chief difficulty in the way of their adj
vance is relieved, and the improbability
of the movement abates in proportion.
is it then to be understood that Wash
ington is in peril? No more, / answer,
than has threatedi it for fortnight The
danger may have approached nearer, but
is the same which has impended since
the movement from the Peninsula began,
which has hitherto been averted by
the rapidity of General Popes withdrawal
beyond the Rappahannoek, by the sud-
den rise of that river, which enabled
Sigel to hold at bay through successive
days the impetuous advance of Jackson;
by the further rearward movement,
which, under cover ofSigel's efforts, was
effected securely and completely. When
Pope had transferred his army by ma
neuver at once hazardous and slillful
from the Rappahannock line to that
which rested against Bull Run Noun
tains ON the right, the position ought to
have been secure. He had exchanged
his wings, the extreme right on the riv-
er becoming the extreme left, and the
strength of the position receding with the
movement of the army to the, right g
1t has already been said that MeClel-
Ian retired from the Peninsula with re-
uctance, and only after a peremptory
repetition of the order by General Hal
leck. 1t remains to be stated that his
delay after arriving at Alexandria is the
cause of the recent disasters; that if it
/ be true that the army is in Pope's rear,
and the capital threatened, he only is re-
sponsible In the crisis of which the de-
cisive moment was swiftly approaching,
Major General Mcclellan has for two
days delayed his advance in order 70 de-
termine a question of preeedencc be-
tween General Pope and himself. s
The line along which General Pope s
army extended was of greater length
than his troops were competent to
cover. The point at which the enemy
has entered was point which MeClel-
lan's forces were to guard. This delay
has exposed it to incursion, and may
have imperiled the safety both of the ar
my and the capital
When General Halleck assumed com
mand of the Union armies, he sought to
restore them to a position from which
offensive movements might once more be
possible. The attempt involved the safe
ty both of the army on the Peninsula,
which was to be removed, and of the
army of Virginia, which was to cover
Nc Clellan's retreat. have already ex-
planned the plan that was adopted Its
Unexpectedly complete success in its
most dangerous movements is at once
the evidence and the trophy of the geni-
us which planned it. Bat the crisis was
not over when the different corps of Nc
.Clellan had reached Fredericksburg or
Alexandra, or when Pope was beyond
the Rappahannock
The capital was still menaced by the
rebel advance Before it could be deem
ed to be safe, the line of defense marked
for the occupation of our armies was to
be drawn and, covered completely. Once
occupied in force, the danger was pass
ed, and from that position the next adj
vance was to be made. .i -. "a fov
Tonight is too soon to say whether
the purpose so nearly matured must be
Observation-Disclosures delay in execution
on our side, and audacity in attack by
the rebels, may compel us to prolonged
defense, or precipitate battle at the
gates of the capital The single point
left unguarded may have endangered OF
broken the whole line. If the enemy has
passed in force within the circle, the
campaign is to be fought on their plan,
not on ours. If they do not or cannot
hold their interior position, their ad.
vance is failure, their position defen-
sive, their capital already threatened