Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-04-01
ine Fa ng Back f he Army of tae Pot0.
1ne Enc nv Forte -.

We learn that the government not only cor
diaiy approves the stfagetlc moyemrnt of Gen.
Johnson III Changing his iine OF deience, but that
he question OF falling back from the OLD line of
the, Potomac was conhded entirely To his own
ulscretIon some weeks ago Dy ths President HIM
self.
1t is now ascertained that some 3 or 4 weeks
before the army tel back, Gen. Johnston visi
Ted he President and disclosed to HIM the ex-
traordinary plans compasset by the enemy, which
made 1t vlIaily necessary, III his opinion, to fall
back aud gan ze a new line of defence. H..
stated his cOnvictions that the eneny, by move
ment OF some iorty o. htty thousand troops thIo
Harper's Ferry and the Valley designed to fall
u ON his rear, aud proposed to deeaL this oDject
by confronting him ON a new line of uefence.
For the space OF three weeks before the army
lett Its entrenchnlents at Manassas preparations
were being Made Tor failing back, by The quiet
and gradual removal Of the vast accumu iaLlonS
Of army stores and with sach consumnate adj
dress this managed that our own forces had
no ldeA Gf what was intended until the march Was
taken up. The first lntIma ION the enemy had of
the evacuation OF Manassas was the smoke OF
the soldiers huts that had been free by ur ar
y, tn, last co umn Of our forces retired
We assured that The advance Of the move
ment. IN Gen. Johnston rear, already at
Snlckersvllie, Gap IN the Blue Ridge.
That The strategic pans OI the enemy were
cumpletely folled oy TINS ma terly movement OF
Gen 10 ,fStOn Is quite evident in the tone OF
dlsdppO INT ment ana veXaiOn III which the N orth-
eru newspapers refer to the evacuation of AanaS-
sas, which, unless there ha been some discon-
cert ol their own strategy by such an event, they
would be likely to regard as considerable ad-
vantage ON their side III citing them further into
the territory of rginia.
The most, if not the only successful stragetic
movement OF last years Campaign was General
Jonnston's evacuation OF Harper's Ferry and his
movements IN the upper portion OF the Valley.
TnlS evacuation of the extreme line of the Up
per Potomac was extensively m isunderstood, and
brought great uea. OF popular aud ignorant
censure upon Gen. Johnston, VINO WAS cnarac-
teristcaly resOiv 10 lea his vlndicaiion to
the progress of events. His movements then,
threw back the enemy's plans at east ninety
days, aud it is confidently stated that e same
extent of dlsappolntm ANA disconcert on the
enemy's- side will be the result Of the late change
OF our line of defences.
The advantages accomplished in the falling
back OF oar army are, that II has ioed the STRAIT
egc plan of the enemy almost at the instant of
It's accomplishment, besides bringing our forces
into position 10 encounter any demonstrations
that the enemy may make III new ulrectioLS.-
Tha excitement of locOmOtion and change OF
scenesWere said, too, to have had the most hap
py effect upon the spirit OF troops, who are,
together IN better fighting trim than they have
ever been since the battle of NJ .nassas. Our
readers may rely upon 1T that the aspect of af-
fairs in the direction u he Potomac Is, in every
respect, cheering and oeLcouraglns s.-Eramine