Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1862-09-05
The Situation.

/ In tne whirl of the crisis it is difficult
to find any point of calm observation, but
still it is well to make out where we are
as accurately as we can. We shall do
well also to look matters fair in the face
We regard it as nonsense, therefore, to
claim that our commanders purposeIy en-
ticed Jackson into the rear Of Gen. Pope,
in order to get him in trap" We
never do things in that way. Gen. Pope
himself sufficiently disposes Of that no.
ton by saying in his dispatch, that as
soon as he discovered the fanking move
ment of the enemy and learned that the
division he had ordered to take post at
Manassas two days before had not ar
rived, be Immediately began moving up
his own corps. Thus he had taken steps
which had failed not through him-to
repel instead of inducing the movement
referred tc. Neither, secondly, is it true
that Mcdowell! Or Sigel has got in the
rear Of Jackson to interrupt bis rein
forcement from the main body Of the
rebels.
The truth of the matter probably is,
that the rebels have played over again,
and with increased vgor, their tactics in
the weeks fighting before Richmond
that is, while leaving small force in
front to occupy chr attention, they have
by rapid marches thrown the bulk Of their
entire army rounl our right wing into
our rear. 1t was in that way that the
British won the battles of Long Island
and Brandywiue a the Revolutionary
War. The principle of the movement
was, to bring a heavy attacking force in
to an unexpected position within our
lines, thus distrading all our combina-
TONS, so that small bodies of troops would
be hurried up singy to be cut off in de-
tail, till the rebel accumulation should be
such as to strike the decisive blow. 1t
will be seen that order to ensure the
success of such a plan, the rebels ought
to have succeeded n their first attempts.
and then allowed no delay, which, of
course, wonld accrue to the advantage of
our generals, by enabling them to bring
up their several corps IN season.
This is why we are entitled to expect
that this extraordinary crisis will result
in a decided and decisive Union victory.
The fights of Wednesday, Thursday and
Friday were in no sense rebel successes.
They did not hold heir own, while their
losses of life were immense, and the vast
ing Of every hour was an irreparable
loss. On Saturday they came nearer to
success, but they gained no material ad-
vantage. But let US see how the present
week opens. The rebels have got up the .
whole of their force, which has already .
been seriously crippled, even if not be-
gun to suffer for want of supplies In
the meantime, Burnside will have dis
covered that he has no enemy in front
worth attacking, and will hasten with the
principal part of his corps to the aid of
Pope. Summers and Franklin's corps
have gone down fresh from Alexandria.
Gen. Mcclellan at Washington, is re-
placing old troops with new, and sending
forward the former to the front. Large
bodies of troops, also, in anticipation of
rebel raid into Maryland, had been sta.
toned at Baltimore, the Relay House,
and on the upper Potomac. When it is
seen that the whole struggle is now to be
fought out on one spot, the most Of these
troops will be trasferred thther. The
greater part Of Reyes corps has been
left on the peninsula, bat having no enc
my down there, the transports, which I'M
loaded on Thursday and Friday, can
bring them up, too, 10 a day or two {
Thus twill be seen that jackson has be-
gun a game which two can play at, and
that we have the strongest hand. But
the struggle is of mighty proportions,
and certainly belongs not to a mans cal
Let is all spring to the res
cue in whatever way we can, and trust
Providence for a successful issue.-Ros-
tor JouyRak. 4