The New York herald., 1862-10-08

oaHAsy - Acoss ouc nuuufeu tn0uSonQ 6trOng
under General Lee, was at the date Of our last
advices, encamped between Charlsstown and
Winchester, apparently awaiting and expecting
an attack from General Mcclellan. The next
rebel column in importance was that of General
10. Johnston, at Culpepper Court House, con-
sisting of three divisions, equal, probably, to
forty thousand men. There was also a con-
vile; but in all that region of country east Of
the Blue Ridge, from Culpepper Court House
to Leesburg, there appear to be no rebel troops
beyond a few squads of scouting cavalry.
From this distribution Of the rebel forces it
would appear that General Lee has abandoned
all hopes of every other line of communication
with Richmond except that up the Shenandoah
valley and across tde Blue Ridge by way of
Culpepper Court House, or by way of Cor
| louisville. Had he been able to hold on to
Harper's Ferry he might have commanded the
more direct route to the rebel capital by way Of
lIeesburg and Manassas; but with Harpers
Ferry in our possession General Mcclellan
holds this route whereby should Lee attempt
? retreat up the valley without fight he may
be headed Off or left far behind in the race for
Richmond. Hence the necessity to Lee of
drawing General Mcclellan up the Shenandoah
valley, and hence the probability very soon of
tremendous battle in the neighborhood of
Winchester. From the tone of the Richmond
journals it appears that Lee is not averse to this
engagement, but is prepared for it, and does
not absolutely despair of turning the tables
against General Mcclellan and driving him
back into Maryland.
Our only apprehension in the matter, how
ever, is that Lee may possibly deceive our
scouts by thin line of troops, so disposed
in front as to present the appearance of great
army, while the bulk Of his forces, horse foot,
artillery and trains. are hurried up the valley
aud across the mountains to Culpepper Court
House and Gordonsville. Once at these points,
or at either of thom, his forces may be moved
northward towards Washington or southwark
towards Richmond, as circumstances may invite
or demand. Strategy, in fact, is the only hope
remaining to Lee. He must csntrive to delay
Mcclellan and get some days ahead Of him, or,
in the march to Richmond, of some two hundred
and fifty miles, he will be overtaken, beaten
and cut to pieces. That Richmond is Lees OBJ
ject we have no doubt; that he is fnessing to
draw General Mcclellan up the Shenandoah
valley is manifest and that he will slip off if he
can. as Johnston did from General Patterson
and from Manassas, and as Beauregard did from
Corinth is very probable.
But all the appearances and probabilities
more strongly indicate an impending battle
near Winchester. Our victorious army of
Antietam, heavily reinforced, completely
equipped and reinvigorated, is eager for the
advance, while the losses and necessities of
Lees shattered, ragged, hungry and exhausted
troops, more than all other causes, have COM
PEELED him to halt in his retreat Since he
started in pursuit OF the army OF General Pope,
Lee has lost, in killed. wounded and missing,
probably not less than fifty thousand men, His
losses in Maryland. according to the careful
estimates Of General Mcclellan were thirty
thousand, and in his numerous battles with
General Pope, from the Rappahannock to Bull
run, the losses of Lee, we dare say, were fully
up to twenty thousand men. Lee was, there
FORE apart from all considerations of strategy,
compelled to halt near Winchester to repair
damages. The Richmond journals inform us
that now, bis damages being repaired, he is
ready again for action; and from the very ne
cessities of bis position. as we have indicated
we think he will be compelled to fight. if for
nothing else. to secure, il possible, his retreat
TO Richmond
Thus anticipating very soon a great battle
in the Shenandoah valley, we also anticipate
crushing defeat of Lees army. and from this
defeat the a1rsost uninterrupted advance of our
forces to Richnond, the occupation of that city
by our troops, and the expulsion of eve4T veg
tige Of the rebel army from Virginia before
Christmas To this end there ere other power.
>ful movements afoot in addition to- those of
General McClellsn's army, SO that the result
cannot be regarded as doubtful Considering.
too, that Virginia. north of Richnondy for mill
tary purposes, is reduced to desert, and that
such, to q greater or less extenA is the condf-
ton Of all our rebclious States and that for
the winter clothing of their troops all their
materials of public stores and private families
were exhausted last winter-that even the
cheapest cotton goods are now selling at Sa-
vannah at dollar and half per yards it not
apparent that with the overthrow of the great
rebel army of Virginia the whole fabric Of this
rebellion will come to the ground.
Dreadful as are the wants and privatons of
our revolted States, they may prove to be
future source of congratulation to those s,l fer
ing people, in compelling them to surrender
which will be their salvation. We. expect this,
because Southern men. with aal the courage
and tenacity Of despair, cannot live without
Good rov rocist tho. snovz and fro.Sts NJ xp;nfa.
IN the rags which may have served for a sum-
mer campaign: We anticipate, therefore,
during this present month, such adefeat Of the
rebel army of Virginia as will result in a gene
raj collapse of this exhausted rebellion We
rely upon President Lincoln and General Hal
leck 80 TO push forward the war as to defeat