Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-08-23
The War virginia.

We may fairly congratulate'the friends
oCthe Union IN the practical conccntra-
ton Of the Union armies in Virginia.
true, the movement isnot yet completed
bat all its hazards have been safely over.
come. Gen McClellan's army has retrea-
ted from Ilarrison's Landing to Yorktown
and Fortress Monroe without firing shot,
and is either on its way 10y water to the
ltnc OF the Rnppahuon,ck and Rapiian.
or very soon will be. II an emergency
should require it, that army could in good
part be brought to the support Of Gen.
Pope within rorty.cight hours. That Gen.
Pope will fight no battle until thus rc.en
tprced, and that the Rebels canuo, COM
pei himi to fight ii theSwould, is morally
certain They have the Rapiian to cross Z;
their transportation is INADEQUATE their
artillery cannot be moved over Virginia
roads at rapid rate, aud they are not
the men TO rush upon such an army rs
Pope's with muskcts alone. Surprise
should be out Of the question, since an
army Of Sixty to One Hundred Thousand
Men is not u be maneuycrcd, concealed,
and advanced like a squadron Outrageous
or Il band Of guerrilIas Even if Gen.
Pope should be so rash as Ia risk battle
under existing circumstances rather than
retreat Gen lIalleck is too wary to per
init it. We shall have no more conflicts
between half our force in Virginia aud all
that the Rebels can scrape together; if
we should, the whole country would brand
whoever is responsible for it AS traitor.
In August, 1862, we are apparently about
to do what should have been done in June,
lSGl-mass all our forces east of tbs
Alleghenies and alyance straight on
Richmond. Whenever this shall be resolu-
tcly done, under competent leader, we
believe the Rebel Metropolis vii speedily
fall, and probably without battle The
division aud dispersion Of our forces, under
incompetent or faithIcss leaders, has been
the cause of all our past misfortunes; it
must be that we shall henceiorth avoid
that blunder.
There is report that Gen, Burnside is
to command the combined array in the
field; we cannot say how we'll founded,
but we believe the country would rejoice
To hear taat such is the fact. Gen. Burn
side is one of the very few among our mil.
ilary leaders who have been required TO
achieve important results with inadequate
means, and who have never once cncOun.
tered even repulse. His forlitude and
perseverance in preseuce Of the fearful and
protrac:ed storm that near.y destroyed his
fleet at Hattesas, while be was unable
from their excessive draft, 10 work them
over the bar, was the fit plelude to his
crushing victories ut Roanoke Island and
Newbern. His whole North Carolina cam.
paigu will figure in history as the most
Creditahle and successful in the past his
tory of the war.
Gen. Halleck, ii is understood, remains
in Washington as Commander.iu Chief,
With power to select and 10 change his
Generals in the field That he isquAliEed
for bis most responsible position, the coun.
try believes and he is to justify or forfeit
that confidence by his selection of COM
mAnder OF the Grand Army. In dischsrg.
ing that momentous trust, he must know
no favor aud regard no mans sensibililies.
II the right man is ever so Odious or ever
so obscure-if be has been the victim Of
others errors or the sport Of inimical ca.
balls, he must be appointed, no matter
what upronr may thus be excited. II there
is second corporal whom Gen. HAlleck
knows TO be the right man TO lead the
Grand ARMY, let him at once be placed at
the bead OF it, The Republic is now to he
saved or lost, aud nothing else can be al.
lowed feathers weight in the scale where
in the Nations destiny bangs suspended.
We await with painful interest the first in.
deation Of Gen. Halleck's choice ola future
commander OF the concentrated Grand
( Army