Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-16
Important lIOvemeufs By the Army Of the
POtOmao---McCiell1n Withdrawing HE
Whole Army from the Peninsula.
Correspondence n. Y. Tribune.l



For week past 1t has been well under
stood here that the army of the Potomac
was on the eve Of an important movement,
though concerning its real character there
was nothing beyond conjecture. The num-
berless suggestions, however, all concur
red 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 desired, and yet the most diff
cult to do, was to get away from It, and
that he was going to act accordingly
That precisely this he is with great c,p-
tiOn now doing is believed to be the facG
and there is no longer any motive for dis
guisingit from the public.
For the last forty-eight hours transports
loaded heavily with troops have been COM
ing down the James River, and, without
stopping here, have gone directly up the
bay to one of the rivers leading into Vir-
ginia. Yesterday the great body of the
army had orders to be ready to move from
Harrison's Landing, with six days rations.
As they will not cross to the opposite side
of the James, we get some idea Of the real
design of the motions recently made in that
direction. If, as is said, the rebels were in
duced to march s strong force out of Rich
mond toward Petersburg to meet the ex-
peoted advent of McClellan's force in that
direction, 1 presume the only purpose he
had in view in crossing to the opposite side
of Harrison's Landing was achieved.
If that was feint, what is the reality2
If the rebels expected our army to appear
on the right bank Of the James, they have
been disappointed, for 1t has gone in an
other direction. Where2 Before this goes
to the type-setter's hands, no doubt the
question viii have been answered-the
whole thing explained-perhaps written
with tragic characters in blood. That the
pontoou bridges which went up the river
yesterday, accompanied by a very large
force Of engineers and sappers and miners,
are designed for the Chickshominy, is not
wholly matter Of conjecture.
This being so, the lnferenee--nOt only
from this, but from variety of other cir
eumstances and facts-is that the great
body Of the Army Of tbs Potomac is05ent to
lVithdralV from he Peninsula while the re-
mainder re-embarks on transports and
proceeds down the river. That this is the
plan now in process of being executed is
the current impression, not to say belief
the result Of the best information to be
had on the subject. Successfully carried
out, it will prove great appointment
and perplexity TO the rebels, and the restor-
alton of the Army of the Potomac to po-
81 ion of activity and usefulness. For the
last six weeks 1t has been little less than |
close prisoners.
Moreover, while it will be complete |
confession Of tho absolute failure Of the |
Peninsula campaign, the withdrawal Of
the army intact will be an achievement |
Once across the Chiokahominy, the old /
road back to Yorktown will be open to II,
though It can scarcely hope that its rear
guard will escape pursuit and perhaps fu-
rious onset by the enemy.
For some time Gen. Mcclellan has been |
sending away all the men, hundreds and /
thousands in the aggregate, who could not
march ard DO heavy duty. He has dtsin- I
numbered himself so far as possible ofwhat /
ToGld prove an hindrance to rapid move
ment; and he has, moreover, reinforced /
Pope and Burnside with some Of his very /
best troops, who Will by this tine have ar
rived on the scene Of operations in that /
part of Virginia.
Grant that Gen. Mcclellan, intention is
to fall back as far as Yorktown-Bhat and |
where then? We may safely conclude that
the first object sought is the cooperation of
all the forces operating against Richmond, (
q thing impossible so long as the army Of
the Potomac occupies its 'new base"
Whether this can be done best by transpori.
ing the troops to AcquiG Greek, Fre6ericks-
burg, or Urbanna, or by proceeding up the
York river to some point where q land
march could bo taken up, are doubtless
settled in the general plan which have
detailed as the prevalent conf njecture.