The New York herald., 1862-04-12
The Numbers OF the Insurgents In Arms
and Preparing for the Field.

The Numbers oe the Iasurgents In Arms
and Preparing for the FtcId.
we publish to-day two letters from our Baiti-
more correspondent, dated March 10 and March
20, containing statistical statements OF the
rebel troops, which are somewhat corroborated
by the news from Fortress Monroe, which we
yesterday, with the sanction of the
military authorities. These letters we did not
publish at the time of their date, because there
was then such clamor about Quaker guns"
and mere handful of rebel troops at Manassas
and Centreville, that nobody would believe the
figures. They are now, however, highly in
structlve, and are more likely to meet with
attention after their accuracy is ascertained
by the spies of our generals in the field.
From these statistics, derived from
the official papers laid before the Mill
tary Committee of the Confederate Senate
it appears that on the LIST of March last, there
were at various points within the lines
of the enemy 465,O00 men; and Of these the
army Of the Rappahannook numbered l25. 900,
and that of the Chesapeake 45,00O-total in
Virginia, 100000. It is now evident that these
figures are not far out Of the way, and
that not q man has left Virginis for
the Southwest. The news we published
yesterday shows that the rebels win be
able to concentrate, if they have not already
concentrated, at Yorktown upwards Of 100000
men, while they will have at the same time
enough of force to encounter Banks and Nc
Dowell. A severe battle may therefore be OK
pected at Yorktown Immediately. The rebels
have not retreated, and do not mean to retreat.
from Virginia till they are defeated in terri
BILE pitched battle. This news disposes of the
deception and treacherous stories in the New
York 7ribame and Times about the flight Of the re-
bel troops from Virginia. They have not fed, nor
have they reinforced Beauregard. The rebels
who fought at Bull run on the 2lst of July are
still in Virginia, and, reinforced, by drafting
and conscription, by great number Of other
troops, will undoubtedly give battle at York
town.
We hope there will be enough Of Union
soldiers there to overwhelm them with defeat
Certain it is that the War Department appears
not to have been aware of the rebel strength
Even General Wool who is on the spot, has re-
Gently stated in despatch that our army
would meet with but few troops in their way
How much better for Mr.. Stanton to have di-
rected his attention to this point than to be
troubling himself about statements Of news
papers in Philadelphia, which are Of no manner
of Importance, 1t would seem that the enemy
are well informed of all the movements Of our
army, far better than any newspaper pro-
prietors, while the War Department at
Washington knows little or nothing of their
movements. According to rebel authorities,
with the force now in the field, and $50, 900
in camps Of instruction to be placed in the
field, the insurgents in arms will number by
the lst of May 1000. The census returns
show that all the slave States, including the
border States, have only million of men be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty-fve and
therefore it is apparent that this wild estimate
Of 100000 men in the field on the LIST proximo
is bosh, and got up for effect. But with the
power Of the rebel government to draft men, it
is not unlikely that they could have an army of
100000; but all above 100000 would be
nothing but an unarmed mob OF men forced
into service against their will
Ii seems strange, nevertheless, that cavalry
regiments should be disbanded by our
government as no longer needed, when
every available man, whether of horse,
foot or artillery, ought to be brought
into requisition. The greatest folly that
could be committed is to dsspise the enc
my who fought the battles of Bull run and
Pittsburg, and who astonisbed the country and
all Europe by the destructive naval operations
of the Merrimac in Hampton Roads. move
ment of which we uttered warning note in
vain as we shall now, perhaps, sound the alarm
in vain about the vast land preparations Of the
same foe.