Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-05-30
SITUATION IN VIRGINIA..

The correspondent of the New York Times,
with Gen. McClellan's army, gives the fol-
lowing account of the position of things in
Virginia
The army before il undoubtedly much demoralized.
Had ao not direct evidence VI this We could hardly sup
pose 90 boz otherwise sfo The experience they have had
OF disappointment and defeat Butther leaders des
pcrac, determined and able, and, making fun allowance
Tor dissatisfaction, there st elements Of strength in
their army which should NOT Dee overlooked The very
extremity Il their situation may induce the rebcl Cen
erals 90 bring the contest 10 AN issue b,Ire dtmoralza-
ton shall stun further weaken them and the control
are obtaining ~ their Of supply
crease his determination sin II Is altogether GER
tain that they may uotatauduu Richmond and ia frth-
er back Indeed. b. is not unlikely that the question
whether they will do not is yet open with
them, depending much upon the result OF movements
cl-evhetc and tho course Gen Mcclellan shall take here
Willamsbugh has shown how closely the rebels are
watching 90 take advantage OF any circumstance IN their
ayofi and while following up his expressed det,rmina
uon % " crowd them % the wall, q General Com
manding shows disposition to avoid exposing himself
by undue i'm etuosity.
This Is necessary for though we have greatly the adj
vantage Of the enemy in artillery, Hong range small
arms they are able to here with force outnum-
bering our oWn-a fact which should not have venIed
tumcnu0n, had not Mr. Stanton NJ TO publish Gen
McOlelans statement To that cffect.
AZ moderate estimate the Confederates had York
town eighty or ninety thousand men. These have re-
treated beyond the Chickahomuy aud, far can be
asc raned, row occupying the region lying between
that liver and the James, ready 20 concentrate upon
Richmond where is reserve nl some 10 OOl men 40 n
crease their force about 100000 To these are now to
be- added the $50 falling back from Norfolk jackson
Is cr,dited with ten fifteen thousand twenty thousand
have been in the neghborhood Of Gordonsylle under
Gnsiavus W smith, and Holmes and Whiting are rcpoi'-
ed ON the Rappahannock with 10000 more. portion Of
these forces may be already with the army from York
town, and hear of Gen Whiting having been in the en-
gagemcut at Wilamsburgh. But il is probable that the
rebels have upward Of 75 900 now in Virginia so
ocated that with their control uf the railroads. they can
concentrate them in less than day upon Richmond.
10 oppose this force we have McClelans army, now
moving toward Richmond, on line parallel with the
thlckahominy on the north NJ that stream the rebels
beng opposite him, the south This force is at the
time write, with its main body forty miles from Rich.
mond-the advance hrpg to-day reported at Bottoms
hidge, hneen miles from the city. Then have Nc
lowell az or near frederioksbuTgh sixty miles 10 the
notthwarii Banks at stlunton, hundred and ten
miles 10 the northwest and Burnside moving up from
suffolk seventy or eighty miles to the southeast
before eaeh OF these detached commands the rebels have
forces holding them check and ready to withdraw at
the proper moment upon Richmond 10 meet Mcclellan
destroying as they go the railroads and bridges behind
men, ana leaving the three other Generals TO make
progress as they can toward junction with the
army here.
As MI stanton assumes the direction Of military move.
mcnis ne can doubtless tell what arrangements have
been made for bringing these forces on in time 10 assist
Mcclellan should the emergency require it Not being
possessed Of his secret shall not undertake 10 guess
lest might indiscrcety publish IT, But il IA onlv ns
ihat should be borne IN mind that Gen Mcclellan no
longer mas such control n these several detachmeus as
VIII enable him 70 secure their unity Of action Each is
Az independent corps responsible directly to the War
hpafm, n aud acting under The orders II the Seoreta
~ WIN Whai mas been done upon this Peninsula, aud
Nha Is yt 20 come Gen Mcclellan Is % be accredited
Out pel 0nd ihat, not Little consideration will show
ua ms situation y even tasking the best efforts
OF R'ncIaiSip lie needs TO he cautious and wary and
he county should be prepared 10 await his movements
-coenseiing no haste, giving expression no unthnk
ing ramoisoi impaltnce. Results may follow speed
lhry may be delayed Let Us be prepared for either
me campaign IN Virginia draws near ms close For
months twas for III defence NJ our own Capital; now n
8 nr the possession Of that u the rebels Here il pro-
g'e'si Tee 1t prophecy Tor the future.