Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-05-22
THE ASPECT OF AFFAIRS,


Wy Yard in our possession, the Merrimac
sunk, West Point secured as depot for
our army, General Mcclellan pressing
upon the enemy within few miles of the
city of Richmond, we may reasonably
anticipate that, supported by the co-ope-
rative forces OF Mcdowell, Banks, Burn
side and Goldsborough, Gen. Mcclellan
will be able to destroy the rebel host be-
fore it gets out OF Virginia. The N. Y.
Evening Post presents the case clearly:
The capture of Norfolk gives Wool
direct communication with Burnside, who
can now be reinforced quickly and with
out the hazard Of a sea voyage, and will
thus, if his small army is properly
strengthened, be ableto give cheek to the
enemy in North Carolina.
We hear no more of the report that
the army of Johnston and Lee had cross
ed the James River, and it seems proba-
BILE that the whole force is before US on
its way to Richmond,
Our York correspondent gives in ano
Their column, some statements of captured
rebel officers, to the effect that the plan
of Davis was to fall back from Yorktown
upon Richmond, to concentrate the whole
rebel force in Virginia at the capital, and
to draw our armies down to that point
with the hope of defeating us so far from
our base and depots, that defeat might,
by vigorous pursuit. be turned to destruc-
tion-and with the alternative if, contra
ry to their expectations, they should suf-
fer defeat, to retreat across the James
River, and by burning the bridges behind
them, secure a safe retreat Southwark to
their homes. For this last move of a
desperate game this.is sufficiently good
but our pursuit has been so hot as to in
terfere materially with it. A stern chase
is long chase, ashore as well as at sea
and the fact that our army must be fed,
and is marching constantly away from its
supplies, gives the rebels additional ad.
vantages. But fortunately the distance
to be traversed is short-the enemy's de.
pots are but days march ahead. Gen
Mcclellan telegraphs that company Of
the 9th cavalry captured yesterday (Sun,
day. 1000 bushels of wheat and 1000 Of
corn-and our troops may reasonably
hope to subsist on the enemy's rations, il
their own supplies fail to reach.
With West Point and Norfolk in ou1
possession, Richmond isl far enough in.
land to make the hazards of battle for us
serious, even if the chances of victory OF
defeat were equal, which they are not
The Galena and the gunboats with her
should be by this time up to City Point
and can prevent any attempt of the flying
rebels to strike off to Petersburgh. Nc.
Dowell and Banks will, it may be sup.
posed, so cooperate with Mcclellan as to
keep the fugitives within the bounds sci
for them, without hasRs.;,dihg themselve;
too greatly. Burnside should proven
their retreat through North Carolina, i
they get out of Richmond-and shoult
they attempt to make their way over the
Southwestern railroad, by Lynchburg, in
to East Tennessee, then Fremont viii
have an opportunity for a blow-whilt
Mischief and his gallant band have reliev
ed US of any fears of the Eastern rebe
army rushing suddenly to join Beaure
gard, and enabling him to turn the tide
of victory against us in the West.
As the tremendous drama draws to 8
close, events hurry on faster and faster
; victories which were weeks apart but
lately, are now scarcely separated by
days-and hourly bulletins would, now
that it really 'thunders all aronnd,' scarce
ly be too frequent. -
With the Monitor and Galena released,
we may hope to hear before many days
that our flag once more floats over Fort
Sumter. The naval victory on the Mis-
sissippi, reported by Capt. Davis, Foote'S
successor, must give us Memphis and the
whole river in week--and while Gen.
Halleck prudently refuses to give his OPP
ponent the chance of battle, his maneu-
vres are surely overcoming Beauregard,
to whom retreat is defeat. -.n "