New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-25
Prem the Army Of virGinin-Thc Rebel
Plan Of the Can.paign-Eow Pope has
Defeated 1.-THE Army in Safcty-A


sLirImfsh.
WAsHiNGTov Friday Aug. p. 1862.
The Army of Virginia crossed the kappahsnnock
OH Tuesday. With IL reen;orcements it now holds
the northern bank Of that river guarding every ford
between Fredericksburg and WarsenIon Spriogs,
mud holding, throughout its whole line, posi,ions OF
great strength. The railway bridge is believed 20
be impreguable by any force the enemy can send
against it, The forjs all difficult for artillery,
and al easilv defensi,e with limited forces. When
left Gen. Popes hea quarters yesterday evening,
it was believed that 10 reason ior aisfh any longer
existed.
1Ls Rebel plan was simple aud well conceived.
Johnston rnpiGly advanced lis army by rail from
Richmond to Gordonsville drew straight line from
(iordonsvilie TO Washington, and put his columns IN
motion Marching on that line, they were 10 turn the
lei, flank OF Gen. Pope's army on The Rapdan, aud
destroy il. Still marching on that hue, they were 10
turn the right Of Bundles army al Fredericksburg
and destroy it. Then the road 70 Alexandria be-
comes a rublic highway for Met lellan Womb ether
be- AZ: on the Peninsula ont OF reach on me river
Before be could arrive, the decisive battle world
have been fought az tie gates Of the capital The
movement thus clearly planned was promptly at
tempted. Why has it failed
There are two reasons. First, the battle Of edar
Mountain. Second, the instant and admirable re-
treat OF Gen. Pope.
When Jackson crossed the Rapidan, and, on the
9th of August, advanced in force toward Culpepper,
be he'd the advance of the Army OF Richmond. 10
him haG teen ntrusted the duty OF annihilsting tie
Army of Virginia, the Strength Of which lie GER
tauiy moderated. The desperate battle on the 9th,
fought by part Of the forces OF Il single corIs,
brought jack on 10 q sudden stand and he finally
TecIOssed the RapCGn, TO await tie advance Oh The
approaching columns from Gordonsyie. The los
vi that week was fatal 10 the Rebel campaign.
Bat Gen. Pore, infcAibiy pursuing his purpose ut
ali risks 10 cover the retreat OF Mccleiml, al
d. affn gH Ie n el
liner, aud was still exposed TO the flank movement
they meant to make on the left. In slite q The
delay therefore, success was possible, ana TIE Rebel
plan still pushed with chara terlstic energy aud
determination. Hating their leading columns TIL
al had arrived, they agan advanced to the Rap
ldan, and this ZINE with their whole available
strength.
II with tins army Johnston had fallen on Pope,
he would have crushed HIN: but he could not reach
him 10 strike the blow. On Monday the enemy was
within days march Of the Rapidan. The news
came before noon, and before 3 0 clock Gen. Pope
had put bis trans in uotion, and issued marching
across the Rappahannock
The Rebels, therefore, instead Of defeating Pope
on the left and crossing the Rappanapn0cs mon
posed as they confidently expected found that Poie
could not be caught, had baied them by his roidty
and that with his whole army on the north bank Of
the river he stood ready at al points 10 DISPUTE it,
crossing. In thiIty-six hours this General whom
thew expected 10 find asleep by the wayhide as they
advanced, had moved eighteen miles train Of five
thousand wagons and an army of must not say
now many thousand men, and on the northern bank
OIL the Rsppahannock was awaiting the advance of
an army three times the strength of his own.
IheIe remained 10 Gen. Joseph Johnston two pos
sipilioe-to force passage IN front or 10 ntteupt
hank movement TO the lett OIL the Warrenton road.
II lie attack the bridge, he must move LIS army,
which never yet fought except under cover, across
An open PLAN mile broad, exposed to such au artii-
iery IRE a. no troops in the world could withstand.
III he attempt ford, he will fare no better If he
goes 70 the left it Isl long and dangerous march,
and the delay is fatal.
SO stood the two armies on Thursday night. There
had been cavalry skirrnish on "wednesday in which
We lost some men killed and wounded, Col. kaage
Of the Let New-Jersey among the latter. On Thurs
ny, there was more or lsss artillery practice on