The daily Evansville journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1862-1863, 1862-07-02
The Situation.

Our dispatches this morning give US, at
last, an insight into the military move
ments on the Chickahominy during the
latter part of last week. Gen. Mcclellan,
it seems, has contemplated, for some time,
contracting his line of battle by swinging
the right wing of his army, which at one
time reached Hanover Court House, back
on James River, at the same time ex-
tending bis left wing so as to open commu-
nication with the gunboats, storm Fort
Darling, remove the distractions in james
River, and then son to Richmond" This
new line, with James River as its base, pos
sesses, say the correspondents several ad-
vantages over the old, not the least OF
which is the removal of the troops from
the malarious influences of the Cbickahom-
my swamps, and the severe labor which
has been imposed on the army for several
weeks in the construction of bridges and
roads through dense forests and over i'm
mense quagmires, will no longer be neces-
sary or required. Whether the rebels OBJ
tanned information of General McCIellan's
inteRtions or not, they imme ii-teiy &C ed
as though they had. Jackson's army was
recalled from the Shenandoah Valley, and
in conjunction with a heavy force from
Richmond, made a furious assault upon the
right wing, with the intention of convert
ing its Fetrograde movement into a panic
and reut. The heroic gallantry and steady
discipline of General Porter's division
foiled them in this undertaking.
Slowly and deliberately the division swung
back, fighting inch by inch, without disor.
der, and without fear, until 1t gained the
position assigned it by Gen. McClellan'
when it made a stand. Furious at the pros
pect of the escape of their prey, the rebels
in overwhelming numbers, crowded with
frantic efforts against the human wall, and
doubtless would have succeeded in break
ing Porter's line, b ad not reinforcementS
from Summers division arrived in time to
stay the onset of the rebel hordes and aid
in holding the disputed position.
The reporters claim that Gen. Mcclellan
succeeded admirably in his stragetic move
ment, and that Richmond must Immediately
fall as a consequence of his success. So
far as we are capable of understanding the
situation" General McClellan's line runs
-------w-----s~--~a4 ~AS wtHg
touching that stream near City Point, dis
tant about fifteen miles from Richmond.
1t will be seen by this manoeuVre, that the
main body of the Union army is farther off
from Richmond than they were before the
execution of this movement. 1t is quite
evident Gen. Mcclellan designs that the
gunboats shall take prominent part in the
capture of the rebel capital. Having storm
ed the batteries at Fort Darling, he seems
to intend that the gunboats shall remove the
distractions in the river, and proceed at
once to attack the city.
We are not so sanguine of a speedy sue
cess in this undertaking. The rebels have
always regarded the water approaches to
their city as their most vulnerable part, and
have been making herculean efforts for the
past two or three weeks to repair this de-
feet in their defenses. Gen. McClellan's
new line looks to US as one of defense rath-
er than offense. Only one end OF it seems
to look towards Richmond, the bulk of it
facing in another direction.
1t is also apparent to the tyro in military
matters that the whole OF Central and East
ern Virginia is open to the incursions of the
rebels so far as Gen. Mcclellan is con-
cerned. He is operating as though be felt
satisfied the rebels would never abandon
their Capital however tempting might be
the opportunity for raid on Washington.
His calculations ought to be correct, but
when we remember how egregiousiy our
officers have been deceived in their calcu-
lations of rebel movements, we confess we
should like to see a few more men between
the rebel army and Washington.