Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-11
From TILE pENINsrLA.

met with anything like the disaster which the
first reports would indicate That the new
aspect Of affairs is what Gen Clcllan desired
in any event, is not claimed by any one. But
the insuficicncy Of the force at his command
rendered it impossible for him to hold his
extended lines against the largely augmented
force with which the rebels were preparing to
attack him, and compelled him TO contract his
line in order to save his army from total annie
hilation. The immense amount of stores az
White House was tempting bait for the
furnishing rebels. and they determined TO
seize them at all hazards. 10 guard against
this Gen. Mcclellan removed his supplies
I from White House and the York river round
on TO James river under the protection of the
I gunboats, ard withrcw his right wing entire
ly,--moving his whole army on to the banks
of James river. In doing this the rebels made
the attack upon bis right even after the re-
/ treat had commenced, and we're badly beaten
according TO their own accounts. Amid the
close pursuit of the rebels, Gen. Mcclellan
has succeeded in taking his army safely to
the banks Of James river, with much small
or loss than was at first feared and is now
safely posted under the protection of his gun
boats, where he is awaiting the arrival Of
large reinforcements which are rapidly being
sent to him.
Taking tho whole situation. of affairs on
the peninsula into consideration we can see
nothing discouraging to final success Gen.
McClellan's lines of defense are contracted
within the ability Of his forces to hold, while
the rebel lines arc extended in corresponding
degree He has taken his army out of
the swampy, sickly low lands Of the Chicka-
hominy and is now on the high and healthy
lands on the James river. Gen. Pope, from
shenandoah valley, is rapidly pushing on to-
wards Richmond while Cen Burnside from
North Carolina will be heard from in due
time TO cooperate with Gems. Mcclellan and
Pope Should the rebels in the mean time
attempt to push down thes peninsula towards
Fortress Monroe, it will only be TO render
their capture an easier and surer work. If
they still continue massed at Richmond, the
combined forces that will be thrown upon
them, with the aid of the gunboats, will
route them and force them TO surrender. We
doubt if even now it is possible for them to
make their escape from Richmond il So,
their limited supplies will speedily do for
them the work which the inadequate forces Of
Cen Mcclellan have not been able to accom-
plish
We make such extracts from the cores
pondence Of the New York papers as throw
,he most light on the new aspect Of affairs I;
and, so far as we can see, there is MOTH
ing to discourage the hearts of the people
All that now remains is to hurry up 'he re-
Inducements, and trust in the bravery Of our
gallant so diers to drive the rebels to the
"last ditch"
The Fortress Monroe correspondent of the
New York Times writes follows
Whatc,er may be- the impression in Nev Yors, thore
b. but conclusion arrived at hero hy az Intelligent
people 200 spite OF 4 that the army pelers and other
skDdaalng coakcrs have to say. aud iht a that the
terrific battle which has been raging 7r re last four or
five days has eSh1itcd thc moot mtsi! strategy on ihc
part OF Mcclellan, and bravery Zoo himself his oihccrs
anil his mcn So far from there being anj thing like dc
f.al iu his position. t is eminent success aud he enc
uy, without intending H. could not have better con'Ned
hive Just boon on board The George Washington
which arrived This morning with 81 scN and Wounded
among othcts Gen. Meade, ard bug Gen. W A. Hni-
man, OF Selgsicks ds.siou-the former wounded very
severely by Tie fragment of she'll passing through his
body and thc latter PROSTATE by sickness have had
l1nl and interesting conversation with of the patti
euts-a Captain % the Twenty thd Pennsylvania and
man nj great intcigeuc,--aud glad 10 hnd, not
only IN he facts De advanced but In tae cheerful and
cluddent ctuok of the dreadful struggle going
ona MI CONFORMATION Of the opinion 90 earnestly su,-
.r..I I.r fFf Fines md is rms ma
lhc whole affair s Simply this As soon as Mcclellan
di,coyereqoy she bold RAID of Stuart near the White
Hau.e and utler ndcau'ns-that the enemy bad an n-
tent upou that point ne at once come 20 the concusloh
% turn that 90 account; and boy Turing them on 90 "A
spot that could be- OF ultimate use 20 them and too
far removed ifom ms own base oi "peTAuons' gonoen
tate his forces the James rycr where he could have
ihc aid of our gunbuasthe terror OF the rebels For
this reasnn-and long before amy descent was made upon
Purtrrs right wug-Gen. Mcclellan mad caused TO be
removed to his centre a he army stores provisions Nc
from the White House, and all the rest by transports
down the York river, leaving hnt small portion there
lvaously estimated at nom IS oOj TO $4,000, though
probaby nearer ihc FIRST sunni o. be- destroyed IN the
uf the enemy approaching sooner than they could
remove 10
So certain is this tina, many days elapsed oefurc thcr,
any dcmunstratouuf the White House loaded YES
so,s coming down thc York u'cr and up the
James, with what intent people did not MsH kno"
though they do uotr An this being arranged. orders
given f1r iorter's wing 20 f back add ne nl do
ig so cht att5ctc hy the rchc. The result wa, HAT
anr great siausher ou hoth sides McOlean hss feae d.
,d tht Nrp spnt he intended on he james rYer with al
hi- equipments and allowed the rebels to go into ht
vgy nap hc had prepared for th'm Dces this look Ike
dcfatt
Much excitement prevailed hero yesterday, Monday
when news came o tuc bloody work Of the last day
and hc Unfortunate that army on rauous which
must soon be exhausted THIS fear Is now, however
trcly removed Boats loaded with provisions rapid
y going up the James River n abundance, and twev,
vessels had already unloadcd when my Informant left
which WAS six o'cOck last evening. | was also in
formed that Gen Mcclellan Is in strong position,
der cover from Runboats, and able to mold his unit
roiniorcemenis come. The latter know rapidly
ON the way 10 hm--though whence and ia what mauuel
an not At liberty 20 say Well sustained In the posi-
tion he nov holds there be doubling his
Some people here contemplating NOT only the posi-
bity but the probability Of the rebels yenturng down
the peninsula as far us Yorktown, and further
almost 10 be hoped that they will have the foohard
ness To do So They might thereby gain the glory o
shedding more human blood, but they will only be rush
ING on her own destruction Shut up between the York
aud James rivers without plank ahoat 10 confront ou
uuuboas on them, Il is difficult 10 see how they could
either hold anything sustain themselves there while
Nefy man taken from their forces 20 there Is only in
creasiug MoClellans chances uf entering Richmond.
IL Is the province OF those Of your correspondents who
were on tine battle field to give the details Of what passed
under their own eyes. am merely giving you Impress
ions derived from those who actually took part in The
fights and who betay the remotest symptoms Of de
spoudence. They all assured me that never did Gen
eral live gho commanded more thoroughly the love O
his men, aud Of them said, with deep emotion, ha
there was not man n his army who would not die io
him Should calamity befau our noble young ohefaiI
before Richmond through lack Of strength before
nm min irrum urf