Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-09-04

The E fleet of the Recent Battles ON the
Popular Mind OF that City-The Com-
motion and Confusion that Prevailed
there last Week.
letter from Col Forney 10 the Philadelphia PressJ
The sound OF contcning cannon is again heard in the
capital Of the nation. lIy the curious process OF war
we have once the shores of the Potomac the
armies which were assembled here not many months
ago. Burnside hns come hack from North Carolina,
NcCiellcn has rctUrh-, from tue james River Bnnk-
has come down from the mountains. hcCleen Is vir
tunlly nj the head oi Hs large army he
minded before. Our expeditions to the coast lavr
been either interrupted abundoned-the war Oh the
Peninsula hns terminated IN virtual admission thn the
campaign was magnificent mistake. The rebellion
cannot be pursnnhrd away from the Pootnnr Here NJ
the heart oi the nnton must meet and Rrapple with
the great enemy ri the mutton, II Is Impossible
precisely what the nature Of this cnmpnisn will bG but
every Indication points To season ot mccssnnt aud bit
Ter warfare The Rebels desperate ior unless they
strike decisive blow immediately, the armies OF the
Republic will soon he donhrd 10y the lcvirs under the
Presidents call Our own solliers--lcd by new Gene
rails inspired with the enthusiasm Of the North. aud
chastened by repeated mislorlune-will make this
poign one Of immortal deeds.
There is much excitement to.dny, md muuy anxious
faces mny he ON the Avenue. THIS return of
our homes is by nomenn- pleasant thing nor isi nli
agreeable Ia retire night uncertain whether shall
awnkc IN the morning citihens oi the Union prisoners
Of the Coniedcracy. But as have claimed before in
this correspondence while cndcavOring Illustrate the
condition OF Affairs around me. the proximity of the
Rebels to Washington does not indicate anything more
thnn the NATURAL result OF the policy adopted hy the War
Department Now lint we look upon ns something Of
the pnst, we must admit that IL daring sclrme.-
70 wlidrhw an iniese nry from lis position on The
banks OF narrow aud difficult river and transport IL To
another aud distant buse in the face of yigant nnd
powerful foe, wns magnificent undertaking. All the
cniionrnilrhnds n,d rolling stock. they wcrc
virtually within day Of Washington Mcclellan could
his army IN less than week, days, aud
Il WIS possible thai Ice might ndopt the Nnroconc pol
icy, fall on Pope aud crush him before Burnside could
urye To his assistance aud have Washington before
MrClelnn'- TRANSPORTS had rounded Acqun Greek The
battle Of Cedar Mountain wus the prelude tn this pnn
The gnllnn defense OF innks crippled the army u jack
lalt ...e lttN.t
cruit his forces aud obtain re Inducements Lee met
hln-iheir armies were united, aud then came the ad-
vnncc upon Washington
lu the meantime our forces were neither idle nor blind
ind Pope crossed the Rnpdan IN pursuit ol Jackson he
would have been captured or cul To pieces Mcclellan
wus not near enough 10 support him. Burnside not
srong enough nnd he compelled 10 rrnnn ut Fred
| cricksburg rs protection To the Lower Potomuc lie
could no, make the Rnppunnnock the line ol operations
either offensive defensive, Tor left the valley open
aud exposed Washington In the danger of flank move
meni By wny OF I.ecshurg or Eiwatds Ferry His mol.
icy was Obvious one, aud we iis WISDOM
Abandoning Culprppcr aud retreang, ms il were in the
direction Of the Occoqunn, he len open the Warcnto
rond and exposed Manassas To the Rebels. The Rebels
rapidly advanced Their cavalry mndc a raid on Cat
leu's Station, aud captured some trunks Of linen aud
hosiery, and another raid on MnnnSsns where serious
,lann9e wns done, party because our troops inc
hccnt and bcculne pnnc.strcken, Fmboldcned by hi,
success Jackson threw his whole army us he supposed
IN the rcnr OF Pope, ud advanced upon the Warrcnoi
road evidently contemplating march upon I.ecsburg
| nnd nn advance Into Maryland,
This was the position Of affairs few dnys ago. Le
US how il stands to-day, write you This letter In
the midst OF thousand rinors nnd what am say.
ings merely an honest Interpretation OF these bewilder
ing events Mcclellan had arrived at Alexandria. III.
various divisions were enabled Ia come within support
ing distance of Pope by the delay which the Cedar Noun
lnn victory ni subsequent retreat occnsloned Jackson
was In iull march. lie was within Two days Of Wash.
gon there was no nHnarcn' obstacle to his advance
Now we learn, however, ihut while he was looking
proudly on Maryland Pope had thrown a column be-
yond Warenlon completely isolung him from the sup
porting Rebel army, while Iieinzlcnlan is the road
from Alexandria 10 oppose his nnrch sigcl aud Me
Dowell hurrussg him IN the flank, Banks, nm told
Is in the nn,l lnrper army than ull under
mund Of Mcclellan, disputes his march, This is I'll,
ing terribly exlrcne himself hut competent Judges
ireah from the field OF battle say thai nothing pre-
ven, him from being captured or ailnihilaed,
This will probably be the end OF this last attempt tc
take Washington, IN the meantime, here we are vina
| In condition oi suspense aud Excitement The dull
roar OF distant cannon IL heardor we fancy that II |,
hcud. Every that arrives from Virginia IL closely
questioned Troops are moving IN all directions II 1,
impossible 10 go beyond Balls Cross Roads without be
sgnSrso",d he nm, ssr osS,S' sma II m%.nso, ~ ,
should comeif by hny terrible dspensaton Of Prnyi
deuce deicat should come to our arns shall max,
orabe n the defenoe Of Londonderry against james, o
Of Iladajos against Wellington. Thus far our slrateg,
and bravery have signally ,riamphed; and am stating
the belief OF those whose ofnions nfr worthy of
alteration when say that Washington was never saie
| than nav,
II seems as Il tho bnnks OF this benu,f and romantic
river are 10 became s,orcd ~ history aud remembered
IN song, Time IA avengng Tnne--for al Manassas we
are svengng Menassas In this little edge OF Virginia
under the hills whose blue peaks look ing down upor
deeds OF magnificent vnlorwiihm a limit OF territory
which any horseman might traverse on a pleasant after.
noon, the armies Of the Rebellion are engaging in the
| death struggle with the armies OF the Union Cham.
ploned by hundreds OF thousands OF her hrtlyesi sons
Freedom defends her life with the sword aud under the
walls Of our capital slavery and ,edilion are dying in
wound that " made to-day will be forever bleeding -
| God bless the Republc, whose children are doing so
Monty hn' u may KNOW no hurm' OCCASIONAL.