The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1862-11-20

per's Ferry upon Lee in the Valley.
His subsequent movements clearly dem
onstrate the fact that however his proverb
ial reticence may have induced him tc
keep the secret of his plans in his owr
heart (for fear that if any one here knew
them they might possibly come to the
knowledge Of the enemy and thus tC
plead embarrassment from want ofsupplies
which MAJ not have seriously existed, hi,
declensior to move when ordered so to dc
was really occasional by his conviction
that if he waited until the rise of the river
made him $4,000 stronger for the move
ment from his immediate command, and
10000 stronger from this vicinity, he
could fight, not onl; with the assurance OF
victory, but jnst wiere rietory could be ike
| ly to end the ,cqr IN taror of tie union
Had he essayed the battle in the valley
without these additional 80, 900 troops. he
must have fought when and where Lee
chose. Had hc been victor Gus in it the re-
suit would have SIMPLY beer more or less
loss of men and material on both sides, as
at Antietam, with many othor subsequent
battles as they fell b ok at mountain pass
es. in al of which the rebels would have
had choice of position. He evidently pre-
ferred to wait until the elements permitted
! him to move in greatest force. la his pro-
greSs to the point where he proposed to
! fight the enemy-where he knew we'll the
enemy must f9ht or soon surrender Rich
mond without a battle--he left, AT every
gap through which Jackson (who remains
in the valley with from 5000 TO 10000
troops) might possibility threaten his rear
sufficient guard to hold quite long en-
ough to secure his communications with
his base Corporations and supplies, and he
steadily pushed has army on for the field
of his cwn choice. We refer to the banks
OF the Rapidan; the threat Of Richmond,
because it is the defence Of Gordonsvile,
through which the rebel capital receives
three fourths Of its supplies of every des
ciiption. IT. knew as we'll that Lee must
! fight there to the sacrifice OF lis last man
in is defence. A. that, il victorious there,
/ Richmond wonlI speedily be as much a.
his mercy, a, Washington would be at
Les with the Potomac as closely block
AIDED a. jane River i, It's commanio All n
with Fre'ieric1 by turnpike as seriously
threatened as Petersburg now is from Sff-
ok, and with Andpolis Junction in the
hands Of victorious enemy.
We're such the situation OF Washington
the time for VIII ch it could continue to
hold cut could easily be counted BY hours:
aud it is evident to us that Gen. McC,el-
Ian plan OF campaign contemplated get
Ting Richmond into that situation within 2
week from to day a. fur,hest But Il has
been determined by his superors in com.
mand that the cause Of the country would
be safer in other hands; and with his ad
vance within thirty:wo miles of the point
where the battle must take place that vii
probably decile the fate of the war, he l.
prompt to Obey the order directing him to
repair 20 Trenton, New Jersey, and there
awai. furthur orders.
Though we have not Yet seen his fare
well address to his army, We learn by tele
graph hat in it he does his best to nerve
it to proper discharge OF its duty in the
momentous struggle which he says is or
the eve of coming off; doubtless, as We ex
plain above.
To those who like ourself, have placed
our trust in him rs the great Union Cap
tain of the age, through good and evil re.
port, we have 10 point to his patriotic con
duct in the present crisis as furnishing the
example it is their duty to follow. He
takes no thought Of self at this time, hi:
heart and mind being wrapped up in the
Oauoc VI hio OOuHli % i"'oi'0u III 'h'
momentous crisis to which his almo>
completed movement had brought tha
cause. His friends should, as one man
accept the action of his superiors in com
mand here as thing accomplished; to bt
made the best of to secure, with the com
mand Of the army in other hands, the glo
rious decisive victory for :he good cause
he would surely have ac! ieved within bu
thirty or forty miles of the point at whicl
he had arrived when ordered personally
to retire from the field.
Beware as the potter said TO the luml
of clay. I'll be burnt first as the ella,
sail to the potter.