Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-28

| torcements II now holds the northern Dahk
Of that river, guarding every ford between
Fredericksburg and Warrenton Springs,
and holding, throughout Its whole line,
positions Of great strength. The railway
bridge is believed to be impregnable by any
force the enemy can send against 1t. The
fords are all difficult for artillery, and ell
easily defensible with limited forces.
When left Gen. Pepes headquarters yes
terdsy evening, it was believed that no
reason for alarm any longer existed.
The Rebel plan was simple and well con-
ceived. Johnston rapidly advanced his
army by rail from Richmond to Gordons-
vile, drew q straight line from Gordons-
vile to Washington, and put his columns
in motion. Marching on that line, they
were to turn the lefs flank Of Gen. Pope's
army on the Rapidan, and destroy it.
Still marching on that line, they were to
turn the right of Burnside's army ct Fred
ericksburg and destroy IT, Then the road
TO Alexandria became q public highway,
for Mcclellan would either still be on the
Peninsula or out of reach on the river.
Before he could arrive, the decisive battle
would have been fought at the gates Of the
Capital. The movement thus clearly plan
ned was promptly attempted. Why has it
failed
There are two reasons First the bat
tie Of Cedar Mountain. Second, the in
slant and admirable retreat of General
Pope.
When Jackson crossed the Rapidan, and,
on the 9Th of August, advanced in force
toward Culpepper, he led the advance of
the Army Of Richmond. To him had been
intrusted the duty of annihilating the Ar
my Of Virginia, the strength Of which he
certainly underrated. The desperate bat
tie on the 9th, fought by part of the forces
ofa single corps, brought jackson to a sud
den stand, and he finally reorossed the
Rapidan, TO await the advance Of the ap-
preaching columns from Gordonsville.
The loss of that week was fatal to the
Rebel campaign.
But Gen. Pope, inAexibly pursuing his
purpose at all risks, to cover the retreat
Of Mcclellan, advanced to the Rapidan,
still threatened the Rebel lines, and was
still exposed to the flank movement they
meant to make on the left. In spite of the
delay, therefore, success was possible, and
the Rebel plan was still pushed with char
aeteristic energy and determination. Halt
ing their leading columns till all had ar
rived, they again advanced to the Rapidan,
and this time with their whole available
strength.
If with this army Johnston had fallen on
Pope, he would have crushed him but he
could not reach him to strike the blow.
On Monday the enemy was within day S
march Of the Rapidan. The news came
/ before noon, and before three o'clock Gen
/ Pope had put his trains in motion, and is
sued marching orders to his army. By
Tuesday night they were across the Rap
/ pahannock.
Tho Rebels, therefore instead Of defeat
/ ing Pope on the left, and crossing the Rap
pahannock unoppOsed, as they confidently
expected, found that Pope could not be
caught, had bafied them by his rapidity,
and that with his whole army on the north
bank Of the river, he stood ready at all
! points to dispute its crossing In thirty
/ six hours this General, whom they expect
/ ed to find asleep by the wayside as they
advanced, had moved eighteen miles a
] train Of FIVE thousand wagons and an ar
my of must not say how many thousand
men, and on the northern bank Of the Rap
| pahannock was awaiting the advance Of an
army three times the strength Of his own
There remained to Gen. Joseph Johnston
| two possibilities-to force a passage in
/ front, or to attempt flank movement tC
the left on the WarrentOn road. If he at.
tack the bridge, he must move his army,
which never yet fought except under cover
/ across an open plain mile broad, exposed
to such an artillery FIRE as no troops in thC
world could Withstand If he attempt q
! ford, he will fare no better. If he goes I,
! the left, it is long and dangerous march
and the delay is fatal.
So stood the two armies Thursday night
There had been cavarly skirmishing on
/ Wednesday, in which we lost some meI
killed and wounded; Col. Kaage of the lst
New-Jersey among the latter. On Thurs
| day, there was moro or less artillery prac-
tice on either side, with no decisive or i'm,
portant result, and it was reported that 9
dash at one of the fords had been made ant
repulsed. 1t is very doubtful whether thC
expected battle will be fought. The Rap
pshannock line is too strong to be attacked
by a General who never means to fight unit
he is sure Of success. Every days delay
is loss to him,a gain to us He knows II
| and if he means TO attack, will do it as sopI
as his army is in position. If there is NJ
battle to-day or to morrow, I do not belieFt
the Rebels will bring it on.
There are details of the march and o
subsequent events which omit, because
write to make two points clear, viz: thai
the Rebel plan, Gs originally conceived, is
already foiled, and that Gen. Pope's army
about which know there is public anxiety
is, to the best Of my knowledge and belief
in no imminent danger; on the other hand
is strongly posted, reinforced, and confd
ent Of success. In order 10 make these
points, have stated some facts concerning
the movements and position Of our forces
but not one which is not necessarily, from
the nature of the case, already known L
the enemy. Relieved from duty with thC
army Of Virginia by the order ofGen. Hal.
leck, excluding all correspondents, 1 hnt
on arrival here, that all news from tha
army has been carefully suppressed, anC
that the public mind is, because Of tina
silence, causelessly and most unwiselJ
alarmed. cannot think disregard any
obligation by declaring my conviction tina
the army, which is known to have retreat
ed, is already in a position Of safety ah'
strength. The remark attributed to Gen
eral Halleck, that "if the Union army Is
cape serious disaster this week, he has b
fear for the future" expresses, also, tn
opinion of the Generals in the field.
A Camp Of Instruction ut Harpsr's Ferry
Correspondence Of the y. Y. Timesl