The New York herald., 1862-09-08

ing and exciting nature. The rebels have
crossed the Potomac with force variously esti-
mated at from ten to forty thousand, and have
taken possession Of Frederick City, Maryland.
They are also threatening the Ohio river at two
or three points, have made raid at Racine,
Ohio, and thus in every quarter they are active
ly at work attempting to execute the plans ma
tured at Richmond since the famous seven days
battles on the Chickahominy. i
Tho rebel leaders notified their agents in Eu-
rope in May last that they should annihilate or
capture McClellan's army in front of Richmond,
and thus secure the final triumph Of their cause
and establish their independence They staked
everything on the accomplishment Of that OBJ
ject Although they were assisted by the radi-
cal conspirators in Washington, who stopped
enlistments, withheld reinforcements and pre-
vented the forces on the Rappahannock from
forming junction with the Army of the Po-
tomac the superior generalship of Mcclellan
prevented the fulilment Of this promise, not
withstanding they attacked him with their COM
bined and consolidated armies, and with force
two or three to his one. Their failure in this
movement was q severe blow to them The
critical position that they found themselves in
at the end of that memorable contest called
for the adoption Of bold and desperate mea-
sures. To remain quiet would be death to
them. To attack Mcclellan in his impregnable
position on the James would likewise prove
disastrous to their army and end in the loss of
Richmond. In this critical condition, suffering
for supplies, and their army in no condition
for another winter campaign, the only al
tentative left was in the adoption of
The withdrawal of McClellan's army from the
peninsula, thus removing all danger from before
Richmond, left them free to adopt their own
plans and carry them into execution. They
did not attack the Army of the Potomac in its
retreat, because they were too glad TO have il
withdrawn.
Finding that they were no longer menaced
by an army on the peninsula, and in view of
their want of subsistence for their large armies,
they decided to make another desperate effort
by sending large force. under Kirby Smith
through the centre Of Kentucky, to obtain sup
plies from that productive State and threaten
Louisville, Cincinnati and other cities on the
Ohio. Also that the army under General Bragg
should pass through East Tennessee into the
Kanawha valley Of Virginia and threaten Ohio
from that quarter, While this was being car
ficd out, jackson, at the head Of large force,
was to return to the Shenandoah valley, and
push to the Potomac; Longstreet to threaten
-.
Fitzhugh Lee work their way to his rear,
cut off his communication with Wash
ington and intercept his supplies when the
balance Of the rebel army in Virginia was to
attack Pope in front and on his fianks, and thus
capture or utterly rout tho Army of Virginia.
threatened by force in front, while large ar
my was to proceed to the Potomac, cross into
Maryland, form junction with jackson, arouse
the disaffected element OF that State, march to
Baltimore, seize the railroad and line OF COM
munication with Washington, thus cutting off
their armies, and in the end force the capitula-
tion Of the national capital The public under
stand to what extent these plans have already
been carried into execution.
The different divisions OF the rebel army in the
East and West, in pushing their way northward,
are therefore fighting for their stomachs as we'll
as for the independence Of the Southern con
federacy. Although their want Of subsistence
and material for their army has forced them into
this desperate movement, we apprehend that
they will soon find great difference in invading
the North from fighting on the defensive in their
own territory. They will soon find to their
sorrow that these movements. adopted for their
relief, will prove their ruin. On The other hand
the rebel army now on the Upper Potomac, and
invading Maryland to obtain supplies, and per-
haps obtain recruits from the secessionists Of
that State. will soon ascertain that our forces in
and around Washington are ready for any
emergency. and that it will be no easy task for
them to escape from the hands Of that general
who foiled all their plans on tho Chickahominy
Our advices from Washington assure us that
Generals Halleck and Mcclellan fully compre-
bend the position of affairs. and are equal to
the exigencies of the occasion. The cordial and
hearty cooperation between our generals and
the heads OF departments at the national capi
tai, under the new regime. with the fact that
Mcclellan is to lead our soldiers into the con
test. all assures US of decisive results. The
necessities OF the rebels and their desperate
condition, which have forced them into Maryland
and Kentuch. 10 subsst their armies, have be-
yond a doubt brought the rebellion nearer its
end than the public generally imagine. They
are fast putting themselves into the very posi-
tion that our generals desire them to occupy.
In short then, the rebels are pushing their
way through Kentucky; they are in the Ka-
nawha valley; their troops are threatening the
Ohio and the cities on its banks they are on the
Upper Potomac their forces are invading Mary
land; they are now. in . word. furnishing us
an nnnariunifx 10 annihilate them and Gnish Lhn