The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-12
THE SITUATION.

-AtAouSu lho plCsCut Wiling al 10
quiet along the Potomac" there are indica-
tons of great battle pending in Maryland.
And were it not for the fact that heretofore
in this war, after a series of battles, many
weeks are consumed in recognizing and re-
covering from the conflict, we should antici-
pate an immediate battle. Jackson with an
advance of the rebel army is at Frederick
City, some 40 miles Northwest of Washing
ton, and it is supposed another rebel force
has crossed the Potomac between Jackson's
army and Washington. The rebels having
put the Potomac river between them and the
sacred soil their defeat will be their destruc-
ton, we should think. At any rate the I'm
ion army will not let them 60 on in the path
they have marked out to "any very great ex-
tent" without trying titles once more. Our
forces are being organized and pushed uptbe
river towards the rebels, and we look for
decisive battle in Maryland, ard a great In
ion victory.
Since our last the smoke has cleared up a
little from the battle ground in Virginia, and
We can see little clearer into the conflict
and the causes of our defeat than We could
one week ago. We copy elsewhere from
correspondence of New York papers in regard
to the battles near Washington, and from
them We get most Of the information respect
ing the disasters which there overcame our
army. 1t is now confidently asserted that the
rebels did not outnumber our army, but that
by thanking Gen Pope they got in his rear,
captured his supply trains and came near
cutting off from retreat large wing Of the
Federal army. 1t Was only by the intrepidity
of some Of our generals and the brave soldiers
under them that our army was saved from
utter rout. And this salvation was purchas-
ed by the life blood of such Generals as
kearney, Isaac Stevens, and thousands Of as
brave and loyal soldiers as ever drew the
sword. But the army of Virginia was saved,
and fell back in order and disorder to the
Notifications about Washington.
In this unfortunate movement Gen Pope
has disappointed the high expectations of his
friends. His capacity as commanding
general is doubted, he is "relieyed" of his
command, and he goes back to the depart
ment in the west where he was more success
ful. Gen Mcdowell is also furlonghed, and
We hope he will never again command in the
Union army, for any general of whom there is
such general distrust by the soldiers, whether
guilty or not, cannot be efficient. Gen Nc
Clellan is c.amored for the soldiers we are
told, and the government vas obliged to
reinstate him commander of the army of the
Potomac. SO here we are again with the
enemy almost under our guns at Washing
ton, and Gen Mcclellan endeavoring to bring
order out of disorder, recognizing the army,
filling up the decimated regiments by new
troops, and getting ready for a new start.
Let us have one more advance or Richmond.
with "a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull
all together"
The rebels boast that they will carry the
war into the Free States, and that they will
make those sections that they visit feel the
devastins effects of war as that part of Virgil
MA feels it which Las been traversed the past
year by contending armies. The bold push
toward Washington, and the daring raid into
Maryland, would seem to indicate that they
mean to make good their threat. The Union
armies, after year of offensive movements,
are now entil el " upon the defensive, and a
great share of our troops are now behiud the
Notifications about Washington. Still it is
very doubtful if the rebels attempt to take
Washington. Their program seems to be to
Hank the Union army, and get on to Balti-
more and Philadelphia. This seems to be
the only course left for the rebels, except ut
ter defeat They are without food. without
suitable clothing, arms or ammunition. For
the last two weeks they have lived simply by
thanking the Union army and capturing its
supply trains; and their only hope now,
naked, bleeding and half famished as the
masses of the rebel army now are, is to get
into Maryland and Pennsylvania where there
is subsistence, for in Virginia the con.endins
armies have utter y stripped the country OF
every green thing.
The policy Of the rebels throughout the
seeded states now seems to be invasion.
They are leaving their Notifications and
strong positions in the South and are enter
( ing the border States. In Tennessee and
hen'ucky they are outianking the Federal
forces. Our western cities are threatened by
an advancing and ruthless rebel army. They
even talk of marching upon the good old
Quaker city OF Pennsylvania PHILADELPHIA.
w course no one can foresee the boundary
where these rebel triumphs shall stop bu,
our confidence is in the new 600 OOO troons
that are raised, and a renewed and determin.
ed vlsor that shall be infused into the GOV
eminent by the moral power of the people
that shall 60 forth with them.