Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-09-17
A Glimpse of Things at Washington
Correspondence of the n. Y. Eyenjnr Pee,
RaItimppa

| had glimpse at things at Washinr
ton within the last forty eight hours Per
haps what | saw, or thought | saw. may
not be interdicted If not it will net he
un ninteresting.
Had it not been for the unnecessary do
! lays with which the army of the Potoma ac
was extricated from its cul de sac on the
James River and transported to the line
| of the Rappahapnoek, as reinforce,nents
| for the army of Virginia, it is now seen
that Pope would have never been obIig
ed to retire from the line Of the Ran;dan
The public eye is fixed upon the author Of
these delays, which came so near beina
fatal to the army of Virginia, AMI it will
not be long before the finger of indiena-
ton viii be directed with withering infiu-
ence upon the mischief makers
1T Is now evident that had Popes order
/ to the defaulting army corps at Alexan-
dria to move on to Manassas junction. and
protect his right from a descent Of the en-
emy through the Thoroughfare Gap. been
obeyed, his rear never would have been
gained by the rebels i'll force, and his re
treat back from Warrenton would not been
necessary. The parties to this failure can
not escape exposrre, and will be held to a
fearful responsibility
nc IdiuS III rope $ rear, which have
called down so much denunciation from
those prints that apologised for the fair
behind Mcclellan, were inseparable from
the long line of the fordaEle Rapphann-
oek, which could not be protected is whole
distance by the army OF Virginia without
the large increase of numbers expected to
be brought to it by the army of the Poto.
mac. 1t is q miricle that the enemy was
so utterly foiied in front, and reflects the
highest credit on the generalship of Pope
and his generals, as well as the bravery Of
his men
The plan Of Popes campaign has man
lfestly been changed by the failure of the
army of the Potomac to arrive in season,
and the failure of the execution of his or
ders mentioned in his last dispatch from
the field; but it was believed Yesterday
IN Washington, by those who ought to
know, that the enemy could not escape de
struction IN his attempt to get between the
army OF Virginia and the Potomac If
Pope was let alone. His dispatch hadn't
then been received but it has confirmed
the military judgement, and the continued
cannonade heard from Alexandria in the
direction of the battle field Of Cenrreyille
ali day yesterday, and part o. today,
would Indicate that the field of Bull Run
was being avenged at last by the overthrow
Of TIE rebels
1t is known now, that if by any possi-
BILE chance the rebels should ever rat into
Washington, it is their design to reduce
the city to ashes. Deleado est Ccrthaoo
Is their motto, and If they have time thew
will plough it up and SOW it with salt
This is the losical sequence of their war
against HufhdH iiDerCY, stfISi as tuey "otife.
Ella a ,.Jtt +in.
able. The contemplation of their reach
ing Washington, even by raid was by
no means comfortable up to last evening
and the continuous fir ne heard at Alex
andria, since alarmed the tim;d not a lit
tie; but the public confidence in General
Pope did not permit the prevalence ofany
extended fears The government had no
apprensions Of the result.
The campaign of the Peninsula, with
its frightiul and needless loss of human
life, It's enormous expenditure Of treasure.
its utter and huiliating failure, are most
interdicted topics in official circles at the
seat of government This seems to be a
healtliul indication that such another
blunder viii not be permitted again /
iou d another token Of returning health,
and that is, public men of all grades are
not afraid to iscuss the propriety of ex-
tinguishing slavery by the sword arm Of
the G vernment, the sentiment in favor
of its Immediately being done is very gen
eral The presence of the enemy over
the river in such uncomfortable proximity
has no doubt tended to inspire this senti-
ment and TO quicken it into life.
1t IS believed that an invasion of the
District OF Columbia by the rebels in force
and in spite Of federal resistance, would
result in the reinstatement and dcporta-
ton Of all the colored people they could
catch This prospect arouses no little anS
iety amongst those oppressed people, and
they are keenlv alive to the signs of the
hour. OF course hundreds would escape,
but more would fall into the hands OF the
enemy They trust largely in Pope,