, 1862-09-20
The News.


On the 4th and 9TH of July, it is alleged, con-
ference of the rebel Generals was held at Rich
mond The result Of their deliberations are thus
reported: "Lee and Beauregard advised the
invasion of the North at three points, namely
from Cumberland or Williamsport into Pennsyl-
vania from Louisville and Cincinnati into In
diana and from Paducah and Cairo into Illinois,
1t is alleged that the following plan of operations
for the remainder of the summer campaign was
agreed upon First-The immediate obstruction
of the JONES river so as to make it impossible for
Mcclellan to use it as means of communication
with the Government, and for their transporta-
lion or reinforcements or army supplies. Second
The occupation of Williamsburg, Yorktown and
the entire peninsula. Third-The recovery of
the whole of the territory of Virginia, and the
suppression of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
Fourth-The recovery of New Orleans, Memphis
and the Mississippi river, and the expulsion of the
When these objects had been accomplished, the
Lee and Beauregard plan was proposed Fifth
To make the Potomac and Ohio rivers at once
their base of operations and frontier line, and to
transfer the seat of war from Virginia to Mary
land. Sixth-To hurl upon Washington from
Richmond a column of two hundred thousand
troops. BY the capture of that city, the liberia
ton of Baltimore, and the invasion of the North
at the three points named above, becoming in turn
the invaders, they hope to make it necessary for
us to heep at home, for the defense of our cities,
fully five hundred thousand troops"
The offensive movements of Loe in Virginia,
and Kirby Smith in Kentucky, indicate that the
rebels may have really adopted this threatening
programme and commenced its execution during
the month of August. AT the time of the adop-
ton of this plan, it must be confessed that the ma
tional forces were not so distributed as to offer a
formidable resistance. 1t seemed to be an easy
achievement to overwhelm the comparatively
small army north of Richmond and march on
Maryland In the west there was no obstacle of
consequence, to the rapid march of large army
through Eastern Kentucky to the Ohio. The
preparations since made to receive the enemy and
defeat the consummation of their hopes are prob
ably due to the wise and vigorous action of Gen.
Haleck. With only three corps, Pope succeeded
in holding the combined armies of Lee and Jack
son in check upon the Rappahannock until the
arrival of McClelans forces and new levies ena-
bled him to confront the enemy with an army Of
adequate strength.
But this concentration was not effected a mo-
ment too soon for by a bold and rapid move
ment Lee and Jackson passed the Rappahannock
near the Blue Ridge made descent on Manassas,
capturing and destroying Government stores of
much value, and threatened Washington and
Western Maryland. But here their advance was
checked. The quick and skillful dispositions of
Pope forced Lee to draw in his advance divisions
and meet the attack of the national army on the
old field of Bull Run. The battle began at day
break on the morning of Friday, Aug. 29th, and
ragged until after nightfall with unabated fury, the
enemy fighting strictly on the defensive but stub
bornly contestng the ground. At the close Of
this bloody day, the rebels had been forced back
at all points, and Pope's army occupied the field.
On the next morning. Saturday, Aug. 30th, it
was discovered that the enemy were falling back
on Bull Run mountains, and Pope promptly
moved forward to pursue and attack. He had
been reinforced by Fitz John Porter's veteran
corps. We have no intelligence of the result oil
this days struggle. The slaughter is said to have
been appalling, but Union men at Washington, al
the latest advices, were sanguine Of great sue
cess. Mcclellan is in command of heavy re-
serve at the National Capital and Alexandria. L
all goes well, this is likely to be the decisive bat
tie Of the war.--Sac. Union.