New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-11-20
THE CAMPAIGN IN aAmsLANp.

We print in other columns a letter from
special correspondent, containing much precise
aud interesting Information concerning the
Rebel operations during tue hual week of their
MARI land campaign. 1t is the first crcums'au-
,al accouu. OF the distribution and movements
81 the Rebel forces which has been published,
and we believe may be relied on as e1nct,
with one or two exceptions. The most IN
portan, Of these is the statement in regard 70
the position of jackson during the battle Of
Autietam. 1t has been supposed that Lee was
reinforced by the arrival OF Jackson from
Harpers Ferry, before or during the battle;
at all events, that .Jackson's forces formed part
of the army with which Lee repealed Me-
Cleans attack. HarPer's Ferry surrendered
on Monday morning, between eight aud nine
O'Clock. aud BY all accounts, our correspond.
ents included, Jackson was in such urgent
haste 10 march TO the aid Of Lee that be pa
rolled his prisoners, not individually, but by
reemental muster-rolls and did not delay al
the Ferry one moment longer than was abso-
lutely necessary. Now Sharpsburg, near which
the battle OF Antietam was fought, Is eleven
miles from Harpers Ferry By the direct Mary
land road BY way of Shepherds'own, and on
the other side OF the Potomac, where Jackson
marched, the distance may be fourteen. What
was Jackson doing Oh Monday, Tuesday, and
Wednesday, that he did not arrive on the
battlefield, only fourteen miles away, and
which he was eager to reach, uu.ll Thursday
afternoon at , O'Clock
Moreover, we are slow TO believe that The
Rebels, with Only thirty-fye thousand men,
resisted through the long hours Of Wednesday,
from Daylight TIL dark, The persistent assaults
Of McCieans ninety thousand, holding finally
ut night nearly all the ground ON which they
began TO i.ht IA the morning. IL seems 10 us
more probable that concerning Jackson move.
menis AID the Rebel numbers--two particulars
on which the Rebels themselves would be most
dcsirous TO decei'e-our correspondent has
been misinformed. We nevertheless give his
statements on these points in connection with
the rest OF the letter, most OF which carries
with il intrinsic evidence OF its correctness.
Ii ia, perhaps, needless to add that We see
no reason to change our opinion already eN-
pressed concerning Col. Miles. The report OF
the Harper'S Ferry Commission makes no
positive charge Of treachery against him, but
toe evidence which il adduces On that point is
of character to leave little doubt OF tho fact.
Tho charge OF imbecilIty is lost in the magni-
tudc OF such crime The penalty OF which is
eAac.ed not here, but elsewhere, but for which
be remains forever responsible at the bar OF
History.
Tie details of this remarkable week are
especially instructive in one other respect. Il
has been frequently and even earnestly asserted
that Gen. Mcclellan was the only one Of our
commanders who was much respected or feared
by the Rebel chiefs Their operations during this
week when the Maryland invasion had become
plainly failure aud when Mcclellan was
known 20 be- moving on their rear with ont
numbering forces, may serve TO show exactly
at VIA aiue they estimated his military talents.
Regardless of ordinary rules and precautions,
Lee divided his army at Frederick; scattered
his corps in diyergng lines, exposing his left
flank in SO doing, sent Walker sou,h-"es1erly
to Point of Rocks; detached A. p. Hiil ut
Middetown with orders for ilarper'S Ferry by
way Of BurklttsyIlle; moved north-easteriy TO
Boonsboro' with Jackson. Longstrect and ID.
H. Hill; divided Jackson's forces at Boons'
boro, sending half north-easterly to Williams
port, Lalf south-eastegy TO ShcpherdStown, in
order to entrap Gen. White at Maltinsburs;
and finally reuniting the two latter at
Snepherdstown, hurled them on Iiarper's Ferry
and captured it; while with Il fragment of his
army he coolly awaited at South Mountain and
Sharpsburg the slow approach OF his formidable
enemy.
In other words, Lie conceived and carried
out, while pursuing his retreat, one of the