The New York herald., 1862-09-03
The war Ina VtpginiA--Desptrate situa-
ttpa Ql the Rebel Array.

wy" ~ .sS ncOfi ArMy'
Cur latest intelligence direct from the army
Of General Pope is that he has advanced two
miles from Centrevile towards the late battle
ground. without any corresponding movement
OF the enemy. He is ready for them; but thcy
are evidently beginning to realize their des-
perate situation.
Their failure to follow up on Sunday morn
ing their partial success Of Saturday was
Confession that their grand enterprise had fail
ed. Every day which has followed mas been
equal TO the addition OF twenty five thousand
men to Genera! Pope's army, while it is alto
gctler probable that Lees daily reiniorcements
have been less than twenty-five hundred;
for between Manassas and Richmond, in
Guiding that city, he had only few thousand
reserves vt his command. We dare say that
General Pope fully comprehends his advan
tage in this respect. ard that he is not disposed
to lose his opportunity for o decisive reckon
ing. The two armies will not remain very
long confronting each other. AS base of
operations Manassas has ceased to be tenabie
to rebel army. Last year it WAS in the midst
corn. rye. oats. beef, pork and mutton. equal to
the wants OF considerable army for twelve
month. but now all that vast region is exhaust
ed. and for military purposes Manassas juno
ton is III the midst Of desert. General Lee,
with bis great army. even ii undisturbed, can
not remain there. He Must advance or fall
back. His direct advance has been arrested.
lie must, therefore, endeayor to push across
the Upper Potomac for raid among the grana-
ries OF Maryland, or move back into the She.
nandoah valley, or turn his face again towards
Richmond or run the hazards OF demoraiized
army from starvation, or q crushing defeat.
The encouraging information received at tho
War Department from General Pope and u General
Banks, (which cannot now be made public"
we accept rs signifying that the departure Of
General Lee from Manassas will. perhaps, be
precipitated. 1t has been reported that the
rebels have some thousands of negroes engaged
III the construction Of Notifications at all the
passes OF the Rappahannock, aud that that river
is 10 be their next line OF defence. We dare
say, however, that if decisively routed from
tsIeir present position, US we expect they will
be, the remnants of the rebel army from Ma
nassas IS in their first retreat, will push on as
last as possible to Richmond.
Meantime the gunboats from Commodore
Wilkes squadron, which have been ordered up
thc Potomac. will doubtless attend to any expe-
riments that may be MADE by he rebels on the
lower river to cross over into Maryland. or to
interrupt he passage OF our transports. Let
this suffice to quiet the nerves OF such timid
souls as may imagine that these gunboats are
intended to she'll the rebels out Of Washington,
should they get in by the back dspr. The gun
boats could she'll thdS out vs,t effectively
but in the rear. as in the front, Washington is
.ecureI by line of formidable fortiications.
Iietter than all, however. General Popc's army
would now be equal to all emergencies, with
out solitary fort in the front or rear Of Wash
ington.
Under the disorganiaing counsels of the abo-
lition brigade of Congress, headed by the WI
sons, Wades, Chambers. Sumne,s und Love
ioys. we find The war in Virginia il tue first
week OF September, 1862, somewhat Us it was
this time year ago. But the administration
bas learned wisdom from experience, and the
counaels of wiser men than orr abolition leaders
now prevail. The removal o. General McClei-
ian 5 army from the Richmond peninsula was
"a hazardous experiment. and but tor tie good
arrangement 1T that evacuation, and the skill
ana bravery of General Pope and his noble
amy, |: would, perhaps, have been a fatal
to the cause OF the Union. We
eas escaped by miracle the danger which
II ,raccd our national capital; aad now. with
or new volunteers coming forward by thou
eaas, he gc.ne u entirely 10 our own haads
elr. mere
IL e.. West. ~ in the East, the daring move
menta 81 the rebels towards tho trcc States
arc exciting some alarm. Bu'. with sbs men
anl The means NJ our command 10 punish their
i'.so.enee. thsre - no occasion for fear IL Is
he las. Sesperate struggle, tie last trick Of tie
rebel leaders to save their sinking cause. An
Intelligent traveller, Iust N from the South
west Informs us that the rebel army has alrc.-
iy a6sorhcd IT, able bodied men oil the
re- olted States. that nothing but old iaen,
women arG children are there 10 be found ut
home; mat tlere .s nstLing lett 10 th1se Stetcs
s9r wints- can paign. and that II, IN Tie mcs;-
t,se, ,le reocis sre defeated In single dccis W
battle cf sry laaMert, the war is substantially
.t ~ srL-
ri ~. the1,, hurry forward CIR new t.ocps,
ara begin toe work ba.oro us. iG ibe totul sx-
psls.ul VI he r.le. army iron. Virginia.
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CnrTnS 81 .pAsNTs--'rgv GEw Tgs.srrY
Pr5Ol.Arr,;5 -.t- great deal of dissatisfaction h.-
icen ooeas,oned b. tUe o4iis.d'cisry action 81
tn of1ears n command oi he United s.atcs
q sces IN re1,rf u ~. Marnnnsc nd si.inmant