Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-12-08

needs no prophet to tell him that we shall
feint here aud here, and cross there or
there. But it will be above fredericksburg
or below, and at what point, whether above
or below, will it bs7 Here come il the ele-
ments of uncertainty; and the Confederates
are for this reason obliged to detach
considerable portion of their force IS n
corps of observation to guard long line
Of river from surprise at any point and az
every moment. They seem to be doing this
efectually, for wherever our recounoiter-
ing parties have gone for miles up or down
the river, they find rebel piekets posted
opposite.
1t is notable fact in military history,
that though the crossing of a river in the
face OF an enemy is justly esteemed as one
Of the most difficult of tactical operations,
there is no example on record Of the pass
age OF river being successfully defended
against determined assailant- Napoleon
crossed the Danube at Essling and at Wa
gram, in presence Of an army of one hnn-
dred aud twenty thousand men provided
with four hundred pieces of cannon, and at
point where the bed of the stream is
brOsdest. This may be owing to the fact
that, on account of its very difficulty it is
rarely attempted without good hope ofsuc-
cess The necessity Of subdiVidiug the
force and disposingit it over an extended line
is of course an element of weakness for the
defensive, while, If the line should not be
thus guarded, the force would all the time
be exposed to flank aud rear assaults from
the enemy.
Depend upon it, the rebel leaders are
sensible Of all the weakness, as well as of
all the strength Of their position at Fred
ericksbutgh; and you may al ANY tiIHs sxpeet
10 learn that they haze taken advantage of
the opportunities before he operations Of Gen.
Burnside are fully developed, to retreat, ere
retreat Is rendered peTiEOWs or impossi6Ee.-l
They have already derived from their oe
cuPancy all the benefit it is capable to af-
ford them; they have delayed the army here
now nearly three weeks, which is triumph
enough for Fredericksburgh. As soon as
they ind themselves seriously exposed to
flank movement which will bring US on
their rear, they will hasten 70 eVacuate.-
Indeed, we know that already their chief
force is not at Fredericksburgh itself, but
at Bowling Green, twenty miles south of
that plaCe-and which you will observe to
be significantly placed with relation to the
roads leading obliquely south from what
you will perceive, from a typographical
study of the map, to be the most available
point of an assault from this place.
There is, therefore, good reason to hope
that Fredericksburg g-indispensable to US
as q depot of supplies for hospital accom-
modatious, &c.,-Will yet fall into our
hands without any fatal encounter. II so
that is, il We do not meet and rout the
enemy, which it will be his aim to prevent
we may rely HpOn being met at one or
more points. between Fredericksburg aud
Richmond. The next place selected by the
rebels for a stand will probably be the
North Anna river, thirty miles South of
fredericksburg, and about q mile aud a
hRlS North of Sexton's Junction. We shall
have here a stream equally formidable
with the Rappahaunook to traverse, at the
same time the strength Of the rebel posi-
tiop, the shortness OF their lines of COM
muuication, and the length and exposed
condition of ours, will work powerfully op
the rebel side. Relying, probably, on that
same "Want Of enterprise" on oar part, on
which Lee, to our shame, has lately said
be has proceeded in many operations, they
will expect to detain us at the North Anne
for an interval equal TO that which has
kept us at fredericksburg. AS the main
object OF their man0HTres Is understood
to be to delay US by seeopd rate operations
aud sieges, until all the good weather shall
have been exhausted, and the labor of
movement shall have been an hundred fold
increased, this will be in the direct line of
their present desires.
But they will miscaloulate, or am
greatly mistaken, If they rely upon any
II does not enter into his calculations to
delay one hour beyond the time imposed
by material conditions, but to push on
steadily, aud untiiBchiugly toward Rich
m0nd. Dismiss with contempt all reports
you hear Of Winter quarters here. They
are nonsense. We are to haUs an detigS,
uigorOuS, RiHtsr campaign against Riek.
moRd. The army believe they are going
there, aud they have faith they can put it
through. Burnside thinks it just as well
to empOly the army in advancing south
ward-eTen if they should advance but at
the rate of a mile day, leven then they
could get ia front of Richmond in the
course of couple of months as to allow
them to rot of inaction in camp. We have
much to hope from the practical, pushing,
tireless temperament of Burnside, OF which
we have new illustrations every day. He
goes everywhere, see everything, with 4
bright, quiet, creative energy" still
achieving, still pursuing"
Let the great Eimpatient, wearied, dis.
gusted, departing people of the loyal
States, therefore, have failhyet awhile
Ca LrGi The work will go onI But re-
member it is q great and formidable work
that lies before us. When after several en-
counters We do reach Richmond, il viii be
only TO fad q new Torres Vedras, aud
bristling decentralization Of works. Be
prepared for 4 six months siege against
these. IL may be that victory will be won
in another way than the laborious process
of the siege-Jhat the rebel stronghold
shall be stormed and taken ia the glery and
clAmor of the assault But be prepared II
the slower process should, when we come
nearer, prove necessary. Look at the prob
lem lin all its proportions and then give
Burnside all your confidence aud support.