The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-13
WHAT THE REBELS WE'RE REALLY poIyG.

i-O~sN-
WHAT THE REBELS WE'RE REALLY DoIyG.
While Gen. Pope supposed they were
retreating, the rebels were really passing
to his rear. With their whole force tLey
marched on Sunday last from the vicinity
OF Warrenton Springs with three divisions
across the RappahanDock. some six miles
10 the east Of tue Blue Ridge, and proceed
ed by way Of Orleans and Salem to Bris-
tow, making the distance in about two
and a halt days. 4 portion of this army
passed through Ihoroughfare Gap and
made directly for Manassas.
BY Wednesday last the bulk Of the
rebel army extended from Manassas up to
the south bank of the North Potomac.
They were in force at Leesburg D-anes-
Vile, Vienna and Fairfax Court House
down to Bull Run and Manassas Junction
in short, they had thrown themselves
completely in the rear of General Pope,
and in front of the Notifications at Alex
andria and Washington.
This is, oy all odds, the most remarkable
feat OF military strategy in history. The
throwing of an entire army into the rear
of another army, and cutting Off all its
supplies and the line of communication,
and obtaining complete possession, in
short, of its entire rear, was a manuever
worthy Of any of the great captains of his
tory. The celebrity of the movement and
dextrous handling Of troops displayed
military abilities OF the very highest order.
WHAT THE OBJECT OF THE REBELS WAS.
The apparent object of the rebels was to
force Pope to retreat towards Fredericks-
burg or the line of the south Potomac
At either Of these places it would be inn
possible for his army to be transported to
Washington or Alexandria in time to be of
use in opposing the invasion they expected
to make of Maryland Their object was
to cross at Leesburgh, or perhaps even
Great Falls, a feat they could easily per-
form, as the river is not more than knee
deep at either of those places, and 4 rapid
march upon the Relay House and Balti
more would have placed Washington at
their mercy, rs it is understood to be COM
pletely undefended in the rear.
The scheme was bold one and exceed
ingly dangerous, as, with proper precau
tions being taken by our Generals, and a
superior force attacking them, their entire
army was liable to capture. They evidently
hoped to confound and bewilder our Gene
rails, take advantage Of the panic and seize
Washington, if possible.
| WHAT GEN. POPE DID. --
I pSu. 1opc, AO"cNSI, whatever oS
his deficiencies as strategist, is a man OF
undoubted pluck, and not all afraid to
take the responsibility. Instead Of re
| treating upon Fredericksburg or the Po-
to mac, as the rebels evidently wished, he
boldly changed front and marched back
/ towards Manassas. 1t may be that he was
instructed to do so by Gen. Halleck.
as, however, communication was cut off
for couple of days, and as the movement
was executed in the meantime, it is more
than probable that he advanced to attack
the enemy of his own motion. 1t was well
he did so. Sigel and Mcdowell were
thrown toward Thoroughfare Gap, and
beat back the enemy in that direction so
IS to prevent reinforcements. This, ct
least, was the theory of Gen. Pope This
was on Thursday last. 1t seems, however,
that the rebels were already in immense
force in Loudon, Fairfax, King William.
and Fauquier counties, and Pope was
mistaken in the supposition that only
portion of their armies had found their
way through Thoroughfare Gap.
On Thursday, while Mcdowell and Sigel
were engaging the. enemy at GAINESVILLE,
Gen. Hooker matched directly upon Ma.
nassas, and after a sharp engagement near
J KattIa Ror ro,rfesl thss,ener,v ~ fhsf