Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-30
ARnco for 3 NatIon,s LIle.

Upon the eastern field Of operations,
within the past month, was performed the
most mOmsntous move Of the Nineteenth
Contuiy,-a move pregnant with all pros
psrity or all adyersity to the Nation for all
time to come. 1t was a race, the stakes for
which were the destiny Of this whole cOun-
Try. Mcclellan was to be removed from
the Peninsula with the army, or remnants
Of Il with which he commenced his Sec
end march to Richmond FIVE months ago,
How 10 DO this was the problem. Tho enc
ny was wary and desperate, and Of char
aotor which the seven days battles had
shown was not to be despised To change
9 base Of operations at any time is hazard
oes, but doubly so when vigilAnt enemy
iB ct the back Of the man@uvering force.
Gen. Halleck saw the necessity and the
way to meet it. Theenemy must have his
attention Withdrawn from Mcclellan while
he moved his army. To effect this, Gen.
Pope was sent down to Gordonsville, not
alone with his army, but with his prOcla-
nations, to force attention on the part Of
the rebel authorities. As was intended,
the rebels came out in force to attack Pope,
Pope engaged and defeated Jackson at Ce-
daP Mountain, but was every day gaining
mare than a victory, namely, time. Every
day was 20 much added to the chances of
joining the armies. Mcclellan was hard
at Work,-and was embarked upon trans
ports before the grand consolidation plan
revealed itself to the foe. Then the race
began, with Mcclellan and the rebels as
The competitors and Pope as the goal, he
falling back all the time after the advance
beyond Cedar Mountain, and placing such
difficulties in the way of the pursuing enc
ny as burnt bridges and obstructed tracks.
II Gen. Pope could be Overtaken before
Mcclellan reached him, the combined
rebel armies would win the victory, push
on 70 Warrenton, Manassas and Washing
ton, taking each in its turn. If he could
not, then the combined Federal army, and
With it the capital and the nation, would
be safe. It was two hundred miles by
steamers, against seventy by land. Those
were The days which Washington CORES
pondents, not permitted to tell the whole
truth, characterised as " the most momen-
tous Of che war" And so indeed they
were. Atno time in all the war had the
Federal capital been in such actual danger
as then. But transportation triumphed,
the steamers did their work, Pope did his
duty, and the country was saved. No won
der the Administrative officers then held
protraeted sessions, and spoke in tones
oninous Of evil. Those were the dark
days Of the Republic, as we may now say,
when the danger has passed, never to
come again. Now, our generals are ready
for the impending decisive conflict.
P.s.-The dispatches of yesterday, re-
eeiEsd after the above was in type, show
that all danger is not yet passed. The
rebels, foiled in that race, are endeaTOring
BIZ bold dashes Of detached forces, to ac-
csmplish what they failed to do en- masse.
But this does not detract from the impOr-
tanee Of the before mentioned contest of
speed, for had they won then, our defeat
would have been certain; now, the ques-
ton Of victory is yet to be solved.