Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-18
Whntnftha RntnrnI

Prom the Philadelphia n. American Of Monday.
Within two or three days the bold, inso-
lent, and TO us inaIpressibly humiliating |
campaign of Lee 10 Maryland will be end
ed, and that force, varying from ten to two
hundred thousand, according to the ca
pacity Of the eyes or negotiations of those |
who have looked at II, will be safe across
the Potomac, somewhere near Williams
port. Are We ready then to carry the war
into Yirgiuia2 A fall campaign should
be Immediately entered on, as we hope it
was long since prepared for. The war Ia
without purpose, and we had almost said
without excuse, if we are not to subdue the
rebels in Vt least so much of Virginia as is
overlooked by the dome of the Capitol a.
Washington. The rebels who have come into
Maryland will go back by way of Wiuches-
ter and the valley we liHvo so discFsditably
abandoned, aud one column of the Union
army should be prepared TO follow along
shat valley again until our old camps of
June, 1851, and others of the early months
of 1862, which lie far along toward StAuu-
ton. be recovered aud occupied once more.
As to trapping, overwhelming aud cap
turing the several divisions of the rebel
army, we will, for awhile, omit all efforts
aud dismiss all expectations. To do so IL
is at least necessary to get to point where
they lie at ease rs soon as they get ready
to leave 1t, a task in which SO many fail
ures have occurred that it is not worth
while to stake much on hereafter. But we
can move vast bodies of well provided
troops by slow and guarded marches
through the enemy's country anywhere.
Such campaign can wholly clear the
country north of the Rapidan Of rebels be-
fore the frosts of winter set ia. Tho nation
cannot allow another winter stay of the
rebel forces at Manassas. The sickeuing
strain of contests for the possession of
plain almost within sight of Washington,
which has not on or near it one single fea-
ture of military strength, is too much for
this greatly tried loyal people to bear.
Some army must march and take posses
sion of it in the name of the Union before
the SHOWS fall, or the world will sp eW us
out of the list of nations for our military
inconpetenCy.
This episode in Maryland is a well plau-
ned attempt to so paralyze us that u fall
campnigu csnuot be attempted. 1t was
expected so to engage the main body of tho
army for atleast couple of months, aud
at the same time to so occupy Peuusylva-
MIA, at least IN alarms about home defense,
that nothing of consequence could be done
in aid of the national army. To divert half
our army at Washington to take care of
Maryland, while the other half defended
Washington, would, of course, render
campaign in Virgins impossible. To
threaten the Pennsylvania border would
keep the militia of that State at home
Tho rebel possession OF Virginia would
thus be secured, and the war be protrncted
another year, wearing out the patience of
Europe and perhaps of the loyal States
themselves, while the unclad rebels would
have little to wear ont, aud might gain
their case as the result.
These are evidently the rebel plans aud
hopes. They have succeeded so we'll at
the opening, that day of thanks has been
set npart By Jeff Davis to be observed
through all Secessia. Shall they succeed
in all that remains? The army is now oc-
cupied in Maryland and in defondiug
Washington, but We hope it may get rid OF
this engagement before the time passes for
a movement into Virginia. The State Of
Pennsylvania teens with movements for
defence, butit is not necessary that these
movements should prevent the formation
elsewhere of regiments for the war, and
| the putting of those regiments into the
field. The army of Lee shakes its weapons
in defianse at the Territory of the loyal
State of Pennsylvania, but IL it should ven
ture across the border, We doubt not it will
meet with sucha reception as will take
from it all desire to renew the attempt
As to the rest, to leisurely return over the
Potomac at WilliRmsportis the plan, evil
IDENTIFY, aud We do not see that any consider
able body of our troops ia likely to in
terpose and compel fight before Il is done.
The only redress we can have is a fall cam
paign into Virginia. Shall it be had with
such energy as 70 make progress toward
the great work the nation has sworn to
do2 iJ adt 17