New Orleans daily crescent., 1862-04-05
The Falling Back of tAe Army of the Po-
tonlac-The Enemy E,oiled.

Richmond
We learn that the Government not only cordially
approves the strategic movement of Gen. Johnston,
in changing his line Of defence, but that the gues-
ton of falling back from the old line of the Poto
some weeks ago, by the President himself
. 1t is now ascertained that some three or four
weeks before the army fell back, Gen. Johnston
vlrited the President, and disclosed to him the
made i, vitality necessary his opinion to fall back
and organize a new line Of defence. He stated his
convictions that the enemy, by movement of
some forty or fifty thousand troops, through Har-
his rear and proposed to defeat this object by CON
fronting him upon new line of defence.
For the space Of three weeks before the army
left its entertainments at Manassas, preparations
were being made for falling back, by the quiet and
gradual removal of the vast accommodations of army
stores; and with such consunlmate address was
this managed, that our own forces had no idea of
what was intended until the march was taken up.
Tbe first intimation the enemy had of the evacua-
ton of Manassas was the smoke of the soldfers'
huts, that had been fired by our army; and as the
last column of our forces retired, we are assured
that the advance of the movement on Gen. John
ston's rear, was already at Snickersvlle, gap in
the Blue Ridge.
That the strategic plans Of the enemy were COM
pietely foiled by this mastery movement of Gen.
johnson is quite evident in the tone Of disappoint-
ment and vexation in which the Northern newspa-
pers refer to the evacuation of Manassas, which,
unless there had been some disconcert Of their
strategy by such an event. they would be likely to
regard as a considerable advantage on their side,
in letting them further into the territory Of Vir
ginia. gs5
The most, if not the only, successful strategic
/ movement Of last years campaign was General
Johnston's evacuation Of Harpers Ferry and his
movements in the upper portion Of the Valley
This evacuation Of the extreme line Of the Upper
| Potomac was extensively misunderstood, and
| brought great deal Of popular and ignorant cen
sure upon General Johnston, who was characteris
tically resolved to leave his vindication to the
progress of events. His movements then threw
back the enemy's plans at least ninety days, and
it is confidently stated that the same extent Of dis
appointment and disconcert en- the enemys side
will be the result Of the late change Of line Of
| defences.
| The advantages accomplished in the falling bacf
Of our army are, that it has feiled the strategic
plan of the enemy almost at the instant of its &C
| complishment, besides bringing our forces into
position to encounter any demonstrations that th
enemy may make in new directions. The excite
ment, Of alocomotion and change of scene wer
said, too, to have had the most happy effect upo
the spirits of our troops, who are, altogether, i
better fighting trim than they have ever been sine
the battle of Manassas. Our readers may rel
upon it that the aspect of affairs in the direction
the Potomac is, in every respect, cheering and en-
| GOurapinp.