Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-08-09
Late Gossip from washiugioa.
Correspondence Of the Chicago Time2I
THE CsPfTOL. CONSIDERED SAFE.

/ THE CAPITOL CONSIDERED SAFE.
| WAsHINGTON, July 3I.-You will see in
few days, in the papers, statements to the eif5c
! that the rebels have in contemplation an attach
/ on Washington, with view to capture and hold
| that city, and take captive Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.
Seward and Dir. Stanton and that in order C
accomplish this design, they are nOw making
and wiz continue to maks a great many demon.
STATIONS On other and far distant points, with
the intent to distract the attention OF the gov
eminent, to scatter and dissipate lis energies
and to make it necessary FOR the United States
to keep large forces Of troops at points distant
from the capital, in order that The latter may fall
q mere easy prey to them. These stories have
originated with secessionists. They are being
circulated heye, and Hili OF course, IN time, find
their way into print. l need not gay there is no
truth in them II the rebels could, BY any PCS
sibility, get possession Of the city, they could
aud would hold it. Bus they know, as well Is
our own commanders, that for them 10 get pos
session OF Washington is physical impossible
ity. The distance they would have TO march
wculd be the hrst and, Of ITSELF an insuperable
obstacle Before they could march half the dis
tsnce, they would be attacked ii front and on
both hsnks by Union armies in overwhelming
force, and utterly cut 70 pieces Even If they
could succeed IN bringing an army belJge Wash
iugton, they could never take the city. Is de-
lenses axe perfect. Literally, "Our castles
strength could laugh q siege 20 Scorn." The
thirty-two forts around the csy are 10 perfect or
der, their ATmaments in full strength and the
gunners well trained Tda exac. condition Of
the detenses Of the city are perfectly well known
at Richmond Diagrams Of al the forts, and Of
all the roads aud approaches around Wash
ington, are IN the possession Of the rebel war
cthce Il is ths knowledge thus obtained, Of
the af=av-fh Of .1rf-rerr -rs sr,,
city that viii deter the rebels from attacking l.
AIH OF THE COsFEDERATEs.
1 am convinced, from careful observation for
Elsny weeks, thai the rebels design. frss Of 81 ,
70 attack and anniHiiate AIcCIeilau's army, then
90 attack and retake Norfolk; and a; the same
tina - regain possession OF Tennessee and
Kentucky. The events which are Low taking
place III Enese tIo States are only the precursors
Of what may bo expected a month hence. 4
rebel attack on Cincinnati and ST. Louis. ard
even On New Orleans, is much m0ze probable
than an attack Ou tiis city. General Holmes
has been ssnt to command tine military Depart
Ioat west of the Mississippi Unless there is q
large force OF United States troops az ST. Louis,
he viii probably organize an expedition having
ia view the capture of that city. Those Of your
readers who have examined that city with a mil
isary eye iyii rem cub7r that Is is place easily
a
force there now, OF course the rebels will not
dare attack IT, II there Is not, and the rebels
take It, they viii be sure to plsce such a force
there. Ihen there is Norfolk. lis Gefenses are
not what they ought 20 be. Whatever they are.
they are fully known 20 the rebels One letter
csrrisr from Norfolk to Richmond was arrested
last week. Bat q dozen others had preceded
him. and got safe with their Letters t5 Richmond
Therefore, say, If we want 70 retain Norfolk,
more troops ought TO be sent there.
PRECARIOUs SITUATION or MCCLELLAN.
McClallan's army IS really in great peril, and
the administration is cUipzbls IN Coucsaiiug the
fact from the people. Il IS a humiiiatiug fact,
but it is a fact, that he is dependent upon the
presence OF the gunbOstS alone fer his safety
from Day to day. Tne bulk Of the rebel army
at Richmond is still uesr that city, including
80 600 troops on the right bank OF tee james
riyer, below Manchester, and es far down as
Fort Darling. Bat $4,000 Of them are between
Mcclellan, the White Oak Swamp, and the
ChickahOminy; 20 0o0 Of them are At City
Point, and 2O,OGO st Dancing Point the mouth
of the Chickahominy. When they are ready,
when the three ir0n-msiled vessels which they
are bui!1ing at Richmond sre completed (and
they are very near done now what IS there to
prevent the rebel hotilia from engaging our fee!
while their land fO.ces, in overwhelming
strength, make 2 furious attack on Mcclellan
little army' | place this warning on record
HOW, as | placed on record On toe I6;h Of June
q waning which If it had been needed, would
have saved Us the disasters Cf-the memorable
Seven Days 1t is time to speak plainly. The
country Is being lulied By the siren song that
Mcclellan has been reinforced.
Tie country may be deceived BY this assU-
rance, but his sHeHy arc not. They know Nc
Clellan's force almost TO a man And they will
profit By that knowledge. Whatever force con
Siisute Gen. P0pe's army ought T. be sent 10
hsTris0n's landing a. once, BY way Of Fortress
Monroe. There are no other troops that can be
Obtained to reinforce Mcclellan The troops IN
the West ere all needed there. The troops near
the Cumberland Gap, q. Yicksburg, al New Or
leans, il North Carolina aud northern Virginia,
are all needed where they are It is idle TO de-
pend on any part Of tie 100000 troops called
for a month ago. Ginstenths OF them sre f0rn-
ing new regiments, aud viii not be available for
six months. Nor can Gen. Pope march overland
by way OF fredericksburg, lie would ind
Chickshominy in the Moth Anna, the South
AnEs, and The PamuDkey, before he reached the
veritsbe ChickRhomiHy. The rebels have
enough troops to keep McClsilan where h. is,
while they annihilase POPe's separate command,
II It comes by that route.
What, then, is the path Of safety Let Pops
join Mcclellan, and then let an immediate sd-
vance be made Oh Richmond. If Richmond Is
not taken before winter, we vii loose all that ws
have hitherto gained by tho war