The New York herald., 1862-08-07

AHc AeDeA army ana Hts Leaders ut Rich.
mond, and Their Plans and Purposes.
Where; now. is the great rebel army of Yir-
ginias Is it engaged in Strengthening and ex
tending the defences of Richmond, or is it NOV
ing off stealthily for . sudden dash in over
whelming numbers upon General Mcclellan or
upon General Pope, in view of triumphal
march into Washington? What is the present
programme of the rebel leaders-an aggressive
or defensive war' Are we prepared to meet
them, north or east of Richmond, at a moments
warning, or Ii General HaIleck satisfied that
they have not sufficiently recovered from their
late terrible losses to resume for some days or
weeks to come offensive operations! These and
many other similar inquiries are now uppermost
in the public mind.
In reply, in the absence Of any unquestionable
information, we can only advise our readers to
wait in patience for the satisfactory intelligence
which will soon be furnished by actual events
Meantime, among the abundant rumors afoat.
1t is said that the bulk of the rebel army of
Richmond has been withdrawn to the south side
Of the James river, and it is conjectured that
this movement means an evacuation of the city
from the presence of pestilence, or for the
purpose OF procuring supplies. But it is also
reported that, while considerable rebel force
is at Petersburg, meditating descent upon
Norfolk via Suffolk, much larger force is
spreading itself across the upper country,
eastward to the Rappahannock and westward
into the valley Of the Shenandoah, from the
central position Of Gordonsville That there Is
pretty strong rebel force at Petersburg.
and another strong column at Gordonsvile. we
know from the actual Reconnaissance of our
own troops; and that the rebels have drawn
back their lines from the Chickahominy we
know from recent exploration from General
McClellans army over the line of his late re-
treat from Gaines Hill
From these facts we conclude that while the
rebel leaders at Richmond do not anticipate
any further danger from the Chickahominy.
they are preparing for possible attack on the
south side of Richmond, while threatening an
advance upon Washington from Gordonsyille
BY way Of Manassas or the Shenandoah valley
and Maryland. The seizure of Washington. and
Southern revolutionary coup d'eta at that
point, comprehending the reconstruction of Me
government Of the whole Union or the dictation
OF the boundaries Of separate Southern con-
federscy, was the original scheme Of the leading
conspirators In the work Of this rebellion.
Henry A. Wise had openly proclaimed this
design In 1856, In view of Fremout's election:
but he proposed to confne bis threatened raid
Of that day TO the robbery Of the Treasury and
the government archives. In 1860, however
be became the head of ON extensive band Of
consprators in Virginia and Maryland, whose
object was nothing less than . regular French
revolutionary coup detat, to be consummatsd
by sudden descent upon Washington OF ten
thousand armed men on or before the inaugu-
ration day Of President Lincoln.
General Scott can tell how this bold, daring
and dangerous scheme was discovered and de
fcatcd; ~. still, by the hre-eating rebel lead
ers Of the South, Of the school of Wise. Rhett.
lverson, Yancey and Beauregard. the seizure of
Washington has been adhered TO as the crown
ing victory Of their Southern confederacy. Il
appears, however, that Jeff Davis has always
been opposed to this enterprise as the most
foolish and disastrous that could be attempted
in behalf of Southern independence: and that
bis opposition to Bcauregard had not little "a
do in restraining the rebel army from an ad
4. bee upon Washington after the battle Of Bull
IN. Davis and his party. then, had full faith
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