The Burlington weekly hawk-eye., 1862-11-08
TIE Advanee..TWo Routes..Thelr Ree,
pectlve AAvantngeo.
/ li osFfespondsacs Of ths N. 7. Tribune.
HsAoA"A AAsAsAS 0u.s
Tuesday Evening. Oct "a. 1870

i osrresPondsaes Of shs N. I. Tribune.
PLEASANT VALLEY, Nd,
-. Tuesday Evening, Oct, 2s, iss2.t
II mas been we'll known for weeks that The
main force Of the enemy has been ct Winchester
ever since the retreat from Maryland That biz
center was intrenched at Winchester, his ex-
treme right rested on the Shenandoah at Berry's
Ford, and his left at Bunker Hill.
On the boundary of this nearly equilateral tri.
angle. whose sides are about ten miles In length.
the Rebel army was skillfully posted, With ali
the advantageous points fortified. Winchester
being the base OF operations, it was necessary to
keep open line of communication from that
position through the mountain gaps to Rich
mond Deserters and intelligent contrabands
have informed us that along this line of commu-
nlcstion, which, in the event of defeat, would
become the line OF retreat, depots of supplies
have been established.
10 these depots all the grain and provisions
rom the lower end of the valley have been sent.
In falling back the enemy will therefore be
marching toward his supplies, and hence vould
be the less encountered with trains A pursu-
ing army could do him but slight damage, and
woold soon become exhausted and embarrassed.
10 move against the enemy thus posted and
thus provided against disaster, two main routes
onereo. One against his front and left fank.
rom Harpes's Ferry and Shepardstown through
tCharlestown and Martinsburg. This route in
sured the defense of the Upper Potomac and
forced the enemy at once to fight or to evaeuate
Winchester.
II ne stood and gave battle, which would have
been quite probable, his line Of retreat was open
ana safe, and again the Rebel army would have
escaped from McClellan's grasp. If the enemy
chose to evacuate, or even to retreat after fight
BY passing through Ashby's Gap, he would be
able to concentrate his entire Army of virginia
at Manassas Junction, and to fall With his whole
force upon Sigel, whom Mcclellan, with heayy
trains moving on q slow and cautious march.
would be wholly unable to succor, and second
Bull Kun, with . Patterson failure to match
would be the result. =
The enemy, moreover, would all this while he
between the National Army and Richmond. and
could. therefore, employ his entire force. We
would be compelled to retain large force for
the defense of our Capital. By this -oute. the
advantages of position were mainly with the en-
emy. His calculations had evidently been based
on such movement How Gen. Lee has been
disappointed aud entanged in his own snares will
soon appear.
The other and more strategic route lies thro'
the Leesburg road against the enemy's right
flank at Berry's ford.
Harper's Ferry being we'll garrisoned With a
small body OF sroops, commanded by loyal off,
GERS, could be held against any force the enemy
might send against it. A few troops posted at
the lords below and above Shepardstown, and at
Wiliamsport, would dispute any attempt to cross
at these points.
Nearly the entire Army of the Potomac could
thus be made available in movement sgainst
the enemy at Winchester. Inasmuch, also, az
an advance by the Leesburg route would in It
self protect Washington, the whole of the army
commanded by Banks would be able to co-ope :
rate with the Army of the Potomac.
! 1t is not at all probable that the enemy would
await tie attack of our combined armies, but
finding his rear threatened he would retreat with
all possible speed toward Richmond, passing
through Gordonsvie. By reference to a map
of Virginia, it will be seen at a glance how i'm
mensely in our favor would be the advantages
in such race to Richmond. Being on the in
side of the arc of circle, and moving over the
shorter lines, the National army would constant.
ly head off and extend back along the entire lefS
flank of the enemy, making it utterly impossible
for him to reach and defend his Capital
| If, however. in some foolish freak of military
revelry, Gen. Lee should determine to give bat
tie ut Berry's Ford or at Winchester, defeat and
disaster would be the reward of his folly.
The National aTmy passing through Smokers
and Ashby's Gaps, would flank the enemy's
right, get between him and his supplies, and
drive his whole army into the mountains or to
the Potomac, which he could not possibly cross,
if vigorously pursued.
Lee is quite too shrewd commander to allow
himself to be thus disadvantageously placed, he
will not, therefore, be likely to fight at Winches.
/ ter against force advancing through the Gaps
from Leesburg. No battle need, therefore, be
looked for in the Immediate future, but tough
and an exciting race for Richmond, with, per-
haps, battle at Front Royal or Manassas Gap:
or if as reported it is true that the enemy has
already evacuated Winchester, he may not be
intercepted this side of Gordonsville.
The Army of the Potomac now in motion, lie
moving on this route so pregnant with advan-
tages to our cause. It is believed another op.
portunity will not be let slip, but that every ad-
vantage will be seized upon, every opportunity
improved, and if at all possible the enemys army
defeated and his capital occupied.
All things are now ready, and before the BIZ
tings of winters frosts are felt, the nation may
have occasion to rejoice over the success of her
arms and the Rebellion crushed out of Virginia.
! What - the Question:
The great question now before the people of
Missouri is, by some. supposed to be, whether
they shall or shall not adopt some plan Of eman-
cipation-whether :hey shall get rid of the dead
body of slavery, or hug it still closer to their
bosoms, indugng the fond delusion that they
are warming it to life, while in fact it is chilling
them to death. Such, to the casual observer,
would, indeed, appear to be the issue-but il Is
not,
Slavery in Missouri is q dead, stiff and stark
carcass. It has no life in it. 1t is breeding q
distemper in our social, moral and political at
mosphere. The question is not whether We shall
essay to galvanze this putrefying body into life,
but whether the remains shall be removed FROM
our very doorstep, and decently hidden from
our sight; whether our nostrils shall continue to
be assailed by its intolersble stencil, or whether
We shall free the air and relieve our sense by the
ordinary methods of burial.
In plain English, there is no question of ema,,.
cipatron no~ before the psype Of Missouri. Eman.
cipation is toregone conclusion-a fixed foct.
It is reality to which We cannot, if we would,
close our eyes. True, no act Of Emancipation
has been passed-no proclamation O freedom
has been issued, so far as Missouri is concerned,
giving liberty to the negro. Yet the negro to-
day in Missouri is virtually free man-freer