Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-11
DESPERATE SITUATION OF THE
REREIS

which our arms have suffered during the past
two weeks, We are not inclined to believe
the advantages Of the present situation are
all on the side of the rebels. II some of our
plans have been interrupted and defeated,
sohave the most important of theirs miscar.
ried. On our part it has not been supposed
that II was the design TO commence forward
movement before the new levies arrived in
Virginia. The task which the Commanding
General set himselfto perform, was the ex-
fication Of Gen. McClellan's command from
the Peninsula, and to repair the blunder of
attempting to reach Richmond in that direc-
son by again consolidating the armies so as
to be able to make the demonstration upon
the enemy from the direction of M anassas
and Fredericksburg. Gen. Popes movement
across the Rappahannock was doubtless but
mere feint to attrpct the attention Of the
enemy from the withdrawal of Mcclellan.
The vital object to be accomplished was
10 form junction of the various divisions of
our army before any one of them should be
attacked and annihilated by overwhelming
numbers Of the enemy This object has been
attoined, though not without some loss of
property and men, il is true. Nor does it
matter materially that this junction is formed
at last in front of Washington instead of on
the Rappahannock. Indeed there will prob
ably be some advantages in fighting the en-
envy in the vicinity of Washington, which
would not be enjoy led upon the line of the
Rappahannock. We shall be able to cover
our troops in strong Notifications and en-
wenchments, in case of possible defeat in the
open attack; our army will be near their.
base ofsupplies; and resources can be more
readily brought up in the emergencies of
battle. So that. on the whole, we may say
that Gen. Halleck has practically compassed
the purpose of the movements of the past
few weeks
But how is it with the rebels? In point
OF fact, as yet they have accomplished moth
ing which they purposed to when they
marched out of Richmond, unless it be the
capture of considerable quantities of our
sommissary stores; not vital loss to us,
however vitality necessary they may have
been to their subsistence Briefly, their plan
was to attack and annihilate Pope before
Mcclellan should form junction with him,
then hurl their victorious columns in over
wbelming numbers upon Burnside's division
and dispose OF that in the same way, when
the way would be open for a triumphant
march upon Washington and Baltimore, and
even an invasion of Pennsylvania would be
possible before the N orth could raise and get
another army into the field. This plan was
conceived in frenzy and born Of desperation.
The rebels perceived that they must con-
quor now, or never. II they waited until
our armies were reinforced by six hundred
thousand mccre troops, they knew that such
an army would sweep iiaa;roonsh Virginia with
the irrisistable force OF an avalanche. they
have attempted to carry out their plan and
have lost. At any late, they have not yet
won. They did net annihilate Pope, nor
Banks, nor Burnside, nor have they pre-
vented the successful junction of all these
forces,a the very point where the natural and
artificial defences are the strongest, and at
the same time the most advantageous on our
part as base OF operations. True, we have
lost many brave men in killed and wounded,
but all accounts agree that the rebels have
been punished more severely than we, their
losses in killed and wounded ana prisoners
being estimated as high as 10000, while ours
are placed at 10000.
The result then is, that the relative sltua-
ton Of The contending armies is about
thus
The Union forces are IN an impregnable
position, while those of the rebels are not.
Our army is near its base of supplies the
rebel forces are at least hundred miles
away from theirs, and the country they now
occupy is no better than a desert, so far as
furnishing supplies is concerned. They
would have starved before this but for the
capture OF our stores.
Oar army is being constantly reinforced by
thousands upon thousands Of well equipped
and hardy soldiers.
a The rebels received their last reinforce
ments days ago, and henceforth their number
instead of increasing will constantly di-
minish.
The Union army if defeated in the field,
can find safe Judgment within the defenoes
of Washington.
If on the other hand the rebels are de-
al