, 1862-09-10
Correspondence OF the Chicago Trlbune.1
WAEuTEaro,. Eopt & 1GGq

Correspondence OF the Chicago Tribune.1
WASHINGTON, Sept 6, 1862.
The capital Is still safe, thanks to what! To
tie gunboats? To the clerk regiment, still
without colonel, still awaiting marching
orders? Or to the 194, COO soldiers, OF whom
not more than one third are raw troops, which
are marthalled on the Potomac under Major
General Geo. B. Mcclellan? Two hundred
thousand will be here long before this letter
reaches you, and Jet the clerks are drilled daily
and some Of the gunboats still lie in the
stream. Still there is vague feeling OF ap-
prehepsion in official circles.
Should stuArts cavalry take possession Of
Annapolis Junction tonight, and cut our one
railroad; should Fitz Hugh Lee again send
impe1ti1ent dispatches to the war department
over the Baltimore line, should Stonewan
jackson march into the monumental city,
welcomed BY the Inhabitants, nobody now
would be surprised II the withdrawal Of the
rebel forces which achieved these successes
~ers not accomplished successfully, there
would be astonishment, nearly 200, 600 SOL
diers acting en- the defensive! All quiet on
the Potomac, save where the silence is broken
by the enemy's guns at Harper's or Edwards
Ferry, OF the crack Of his rifles at Balls Cross
Roads. Munson's Hill, which the Nunson
family have prudeutly deserted, will soon be
| in his possession. Our rear is re-
I gsrded as insecure, but for the defense Of
theirs, no precautions need be taken. To
march from Washington to Richmond, over
land, is, aud has always been Impossible.
Sufficient ss transportation caunot be pro-
yided; the sslong lines Of communication
cannot be kept open; the roads are too bad.
But to march from Richmond to Washington
and that, too, by roundabout road-to
drive back ard within the fortif cations,
an army, which lacked oalJ leaders, and
upon the top Of all this to march thirty mlle5
turthtr to Il line from which to threaten Mary.
laud aud Pennsylvania the easiest thugs iu
the world. All, these sad contrasts! One csn
not bear to pursue them.
hear good pat1iets talk Of making peace
with the rebels, at this OF all moments. IL 4kt
peace uoao when We are worse than defeated
disgraced, utterly ruined, unless we righ. our
, sclves with the cannon and ths blyonet
| Were We now to make peace on any terms
we could not look any independent power
the QUEEN Of the Sand wich 1alands, the Presi
debt Of Hayti, or the Emperor Of Lilliput, il
; the face!
am writing In the capitol, which has beer
| taken, but not Jet occupied as hospital
f The rHo chambers arc filled with beds, a1t
I | the corridors btlo VI are crowded with stretch
= err. The next battle will fill all; and th
White House, which il almost the only lar55
t building, esave Corcpran's palace, remain
b ing unappropsiated by 1he surgeon general
Will have to be taken tor the u:s OF tn
wounded. The presidential servants ar
q already busily deny ing that it is now in ocau
d paiion. Aleza.dr dria il like Washington on
vast hospital, even rebel mansions there II,
e ing been put into the surgeons hands. An
n TO what good end all these Wounds an
), deaths, alI this suffering on the field, and i
IL this grief ut thousands Of tiresides9 70 whs
C good end are our sy]diers pouring eut the
= llood like water, and each family sending il
d chosen ones to do battle fur their couu,rg
: Without leaders, what guod can come of II
r great sacrifices OF tae people?
/ so, for man with head, heart hand,
IL One Fill, strong Hlan in Il blatant laldl
u pu4 who care- lot To be great
u But ae he raves or serves the state."
n Still, we are getting on; slo*ly, to be sur
= hut we are getting on. After the first bait
at OF Bull Kun, there YVES no inquiry into Il
le causes OF our defeat and no demand tor
., court of inquiry By any Of the officers G
u gaeed. Only last August were tho tacts,
ct sulLe portion Of them, communicated to Il
u public, in The speech Of SENATOR Chandst
ne Never have they been made the subject OF
4 vcs1iga1ion BY the executive, still less t
g. cause Of punishment. But now the force
rs public opinion compels the iostttuting o1
=, court Of inquiry aud will compel The punis
20 mrut Of every one, general commanding
IS subordinate officer, who is found to deser
We It, Gen. Pope has been relieved altogeth
Gems. Frz john Porter aud Mcdowell ha
IN been Temporarily suspended, in order tt
nd they may have leisure to attend the cou
~ =, nh:ch the latter, at least, has dem md
"a, Whatever the judgment, it Is BY no nlea
prohable that Pops OR Med sell will resu
to lis command in this army; for both h
asst ut.t4t saaaoa rhish ;s tha nec.ssarv r.
ng dltion Of victory. And vicfory must be achis'
To- nlpeit at the cost OF Injustice to indlvldu