The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-08-22
Important Movements by the Army of
the Potomac---McClellau Withdraw
ing his Whole Army from the Penin-
sula
Correspondence N. Y. Tribune.

correspondence ~ ]. lrlbnne. j
FORTRESS MONROE, Aug. 12, 1869.
For week past it has been well un-
derstood here that the army of the Po-
tomac was on the eve of an important
movement, though concerning its real
character there was nothing beyond con-
lecture. The numbe.less suggestions,
however, all concurred in one thing, and
that is, that General Mcclellan had come
to the conclusion that with reference to
his new base, the thing most to be de-
sired, and yet the most difficult to do,
was to get away from it, and that he was
going to act accordingly. That precisely
this he is with great caution now doing
is believed TO be the fact and there is no
longer any motive for Disgusting it from
the puolic.
For the last forty eight hours transports
loaded heavily with troops have been
coming down the James River, and, with
out stopping here, have gone directly up
the bay to enc Of the rivers leading into
Virginia. Yesterday the great body of
the army had orders 10 be ready to move
from Harrison's Landing, with six days
rations. AS they will not come to the
opposite side of the James, we get some
idea Of the real design of the motions
recently made in that direction. II, as IS
said, the rebels were induced to march a
strong force out Of Richmond toward
Petersburg to NEE! the expected advent
of McCielsan's force in that direction, |
presume the only purpose he had in view
in crossing to the opposite side Of IIarri-
sons Landing was achieved.
If that was a feint, what is the reality?
If the rebels expected our army to appear
on the right bank of the James, they have
been disappointed, for ii has gone in an-
other direction. Where =? Before this
goes to lhe type-setter's hands, no doubt
the question will have been answered.
the whole thing explained perhaps
written with tragic characters in blood.
That the pontoon bridges which went up
the river yesterday, accompanied by a
very large force of engineers and sappers
and miners, are GesigLed for The Chicka,
hominy, is not wholly matter OF con-
lecture.
This being so, the inference only
from this, but from variety OF other cir
cumstances and facts-is that the great
body Of tile 1rmv of The Potomac is about
to a0ithdrow from tile Peninsula, while the
remainder re embarks on transports and
proceeds down the river. That this is
the plan now in process of being executed
is the current impression, no. to say belief
the result Of the best information to be
had on the subject. Success fully carried
out, it will prove great disappointment
and perplexity to the rebels, and the res
toration Of the Army of the Potomac to
position Of activity and usefulness. For
the last six weeks it has been little less
than close prisoners.
Moreover, while it will be complete
confession of the absolute failure of the
Peninsula campaign the withdrawal Of
the army intact will be an achievement
highly creditable 20 General McClelan.
Once across the Ckickahominy, the old
road back to Yorktown will be open to it.,
though it can scarcely hope that its rear
guard will escape pursuit, and perhaps
furious onset, by the enemy.
For some timo Gen. Mcclellan has boon
sonding away all the mon, hundreds and
thousands in the aggregate, who could not
ulaIcn anu w peu'y uut1' llo Hds ulsiu-
numbered himself SO far as possible of what
would prove hindrance to rapid movement;
and he has moreover, reinforced Pope and
Burnside with some of his very best troops.
who will by this time have arrived on tho
scene OF operations in that part of Virginia.
Grant that Con. McClelans intention is
to fall back as far as Yorktown-what and
where then We may safely conclude THAT
tho first object sought is the corporation Of
all the forces operating against Richmond,
a thing impossible so long as the army OF
the Potomac occupies it's "new base
Whether this can be done best by trans
porting the troops to Acqua Greek, Freder-
icksburg, or Urbanna, or by proceeding up
the York river to some point where land
march could be taken up, are doubtless
settled in the general plan which l have
detailed as the prevalent conjecture.