New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-14
FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Impsrsnns Movement BY tho Army sf ske
Potomac.


Pstsmac.
FORTRESS MoSRoE. Aug II, 1897
For week past j. has been we'll understood here
that the Army Of the Potomac was on the eve Of IN
important movement, though concerning its real char
acter there was nothing beyond conjecture. The
nuDberess suggestions, however, all copeurred in
one thing, and that is, that Gen. Mcclellan had
come to the conclusion that with reIer-nce to bic new
base the thing most to be desired snd yet the most
difficult to DO to get away from il, aud that be
was going to act accordingly Tut precisely this he
is with great caution doing believed to be the
fact and there is no longer any motive for Disgusting
it from the public.
For the last forty-eigbt hours transports loaded
heavily with troops are comb g down the james
River, and, without stopping here. have gone di-
rectly up the bay TO one Of the rivers leading into
Virginia. Yesterday the great body of the army
had orders to be ready to from Earisons Land
ing, with six days rat,ons. AS Trey will not cross
70 the opposite side of the James, get idea
of the real design Of the motions rSeerdy made in
tina, direction. II, as il said the Rebels were n-
duced to march large force on OF Richmond to
ward Petersburg to meet the expected advent Of
Gen. McClellans force in thai direction, presume
The only porpose be had 10 view in crossing to the
opposite Of Harrsons Landing achieved.
II THAT was feint, what il the re.lityi II the
Rebels expected our army to sppenr on the right
bank of the James. they have been disappointed for
it has gone in another direction. Where 7 Before
this goes to the type-setter's hanhs. no doubt tho
question will have been snswered-the whole thing
explained-perhaps written Nth trugic cnaae,ers in
blood. That the pontoon bridges which went up
the river yesterday, accompanied by very large
force Of engineers and sappers and miners, are de-
signed for the Chickahouiny, ia not wholly matter
Of conjecture.
This being so, the inference--noj only from this,
but from variety of other circumstances and facts
-is that the great body Of TIE Army Of ne Potomac
:, about 10 nik1r0w dorm the psntnsnia, while the
remainder re-embarks on transports md proceeds
down the river. That this Is the Ilsn now in tho
process of being executed is the current impression,
no, 10 rsy beef-the result OF the best information
10 he had on the subject Sssc-s fully carried out,
il will prove Q grea, disappointment and Perp'sxny
10 the Rebels, and the restoration oil tue Army OF
the Potomac to position of acrivi'ya usefu'nesa
For the last six weeks Is has been little less than
close prisoners
Moreover, while il will be q complete confession
If the absolute failure Of the Peninsula campaign,
the withdrawal Of the army intact will be An
achievement highly creditable TO Gen. Mcclellan.
Once scross the Chickabominy, the old road back 10
Yorktown will be open to it, tbonsn il can scarcely
hore that its rear guard will escape pursu,, and p9r
haps furious onset, by the enemy. -
For some time past Gen. Mcclellan b. a BEEN
sending away all the men, hundreds and sbo.sands
in the aggregate, who could NOT march ad DO heavy
duty. He has disencumbered him .If 40 far a
possible. of what would prove b;ndranee 70
rapid movement; aud he has, mo- cover, re-euforced
rope anu o nu; ;II bv mi. time Of his very oes.
scene Of operations in tat ar, of Virginia
Grant that Gen. McC' .ei,sn,s in,est,ou Is 10 fill
back As Tar ~ iornto' H,-what aud where then
We may safely coneio de thai the fist object sought
il the cooperaih OF all the forces operating sgslst
Richmond, thlnp impossible so Ling ms the Army Of
ths Gun he do,e best by transporting the troops to
Acqua Creek, Fredericksburg, or Urbanna, by
proceeding in transports up tie York River ~ some
poiot where land march could be taken up, are
points doubtless settled in the general plan which
have detailed - the prevalent Conjecture.
To indnlging III print IN as ml as this there cen
be no serious objection II the specula ions and
coDjectures are groundless, they harmlcss-per-
haps they may prove OF some service, since there Is
~ least u bare possibility that the enemy may DO
msled by thsm. Ii they prove to be uainly correct,
the enemy will have first found the fact out through
their own sources.
Several Runboits belonging TO the James River
Hollls have lately moved down far as here, where
they still remain. Commodore Wilkes spends con-
adorable OF his time here and ha, provided quarters
or his family at the Hotel Hospital de Hyseia,
where / Understand other families have procured
rooms. I will here remark t. III il The Governments
does not intend to further occupy this bull og az
hospital, 1t should be SUR. udered to Mr.. Willard,
the proprietor tor the accommodation of tho pubhc
otherwise submit that the sick men whom l see To-
day lying by under s shade arc best entitled
to the occupancy Of the building and the hospital ac-
it is 20 we'll calculated ~ afford. a.
q hotel, Mr. Willard, and not the Government, ~
the proper party 10 manage tho establishments.
5 p. M-Ihe llariison's Landing LOAF orings
nothing of interest. Tue general understanding
WAS in accordance with the above. c. d. p.