The Memphis union appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1862-1862, 1862-08-06
Plans of the Rebels for the Summer
Campaign.
They Haze Determined to Attack Washingtoal
Their Plans for the Capture Of that City
TIE Var Meeting at Baltimore, Sc.
!orresp0ndsnos q the Sew Y0rk HeraId.

y
TIE Var Meeting at Baltimore, DC.
Correspondence Of the New York HERALD
BALTIMORE, July %, ls62.-From the
source indicated in my last letter have
learned the following news from Richmond
If correct, the facts are Of great importance:
The plans of the rebels-to be accomplished
by the summer and fall campaign-are now
fully developed, and embrace both offensive
and defensive operations. Among the latter
is the defense net only of Richmond, but also
of Charleston and Savannah, Mobile, Vicks-
burg, and the great Southern railroad from
Gordonsville to Chattanooga The arrange
ments that have been made for the defense Of
these places are such as, IN the opinion of the
rebel authorities, place them beyond the
possibility of capture.
During the summer force will be main
tanned in Tennessee and Kentocky, and in the
center and north of Virginia, chiefly for the
purpose of making il necessary for the United
States government to keep large number of
troops in these States, in order to protect Gin
cinnati, Ohio, and Indiana from invasion, and
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad from being
captured. If strong Union force is kept in
these States is 1t not intended to engage it in
battle, or to cross the frontier; but rather to
retire into the interior, and seek to draw the
Union forces after them. But unless strong
Union force is kept in these States, it is be-
lieved that the rebel leaders seriously intend
10 attack and capture both Cincinnati and St.
Louis. The chief offensive operations of the
campaign, however-indeed the only one that
is known to be resolved on--is an attack on
Washington. This, improbable as it may
seem, has really been decided on by the rebel
government. Not only so, but the details of
the plan have been arranged, and the particu-
lar troops to make the attempt have been
designated.
According to the calculations of the rebel
War Department, it will require only l25, 900
troops to defend Richmond and to maneuver
on tbe;peninsula, 900 to defend the rail-
road from Gordonsville TO Chattanooga, 80 :
900 to defend Mobile, 10000 TO defend Vicks-
burg, $4,000 for operations in Tennessee and
Kentucky-total, 225, 900. For the attack on
| Washington 100000 picked troops are now
being massed at Richmond, Gmdonsville,
| Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Burkesville.
| Besides all the troops enumerated above, they
have several corps of reserves, as they are
called, amounting to l55, 900 men but as this
| number, with the others, would Just make up
! the zoe, 900 troops which they claim to have
| in arms, the probability is that they are the
newly raised conscripts, who have been pul
/ into camp of instruction and are being drilled,
/ so as to be able to act as reserves. The expe-
dition against Washington is to be commanded
| by General Lee in person. Gen. Beaaregard,
Gen. jackson and Gen. Johnston are all to
| have commands in it. 1t is not known when
the expedition will start but the impression
prevails that it will be soon. 1t is designed
| TO make the whole movement suddenly. The
city is not to be invested, nor is anything like
regular siege approaches contemplated. If the
present plans of the rebels are carried out, an
attempt will be made to capture the city either
| by strategem or by assault, or by both.
All the operations on the James river and
the Peninsula are feints. The rebel leaders dc
not wish to drive Mcclellan out of the Penin-
sula; but they do wish to keep him there
| They will keep enough troops at Richmond tc
make that place secure, and will then continue
to vancouver small bodies of troops in front o.
| Mcclellan, at City Point, at Dancing Point
and Gloucester Point and down the Peninsuls
near Williamsburg, Yorktown, Newport News
and Fortress Monroe, so as to keep Genera
Mcclellan where he is, and if possible to in
duce the United States Government to senC
him and Gen. Dix more troops. All the ope
ratiors of the rebel forces in Tennessee ant
Kentucky, and all their demonstrations t9warC
Cincinnati and st. Louis, are also for the pres
| ent mere feints made with the intent to draw
toward those points, and to keep there as man,
j United States troops as possible. In word
the policy of Che rebels during this campaign
will be to menace and threaten SIS many differ
ent points as possible, in order to distI act tn,
attention of the Union Government, and t.
make it necessary for the latter to keep at dis
tant points large bodies of troops. On thei
part their admirable system of railroads vii
enable them to concentrate any required fore
st any desired point in very short time.
H baA oai1 10 q