Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-09-27
Tbe siruatiou ON tbe Upper Potomac.

From the New York Times.l
The pause in the movements of the two |
armies on the Upper Potomac is signih- |
cant. Mcclellan army has not yet crossed |
in pursuit. The body Of the rebel army is |
said to be massed on the opposite side of
the river, only two or three miles distant. |
The two armies are near enough to each !
other to make it practicable to get reliable
news between them; and General McClel-
Ian is no doubt thoroughly satisfied that
his foe is not unwilling for another battle
in his chosen position.
Reasons accumulate for believing that
the above is the relative position of the
National and Confederate armies Why
should Lee retreat toward Richmond? To
draw the Union invading army after him
into the heart Of Virginia The ink is
hardly yet dry on the parchment Of the
Confederate Congress which thanked him
and all his army for carrying the war
qt0ay from Virginia soil. Lee himself must
have approved the new policy of the Con-
federates. His entire army olamored for
invasion in order that they might obtain
| food and clothes, which the South could
not give them. Can Lee, after the sue
| cesses over Pope at Bull Run-after the
successful invasion of Maryland-after the
important capture of Harper's Ferry-fan
back into Virginia and draw the National
army down upon Southern homes again2
The battle Of Antietam will afford no
/ apology for such movement on Lees part;
for he got of with bag and baggage, and
had still after his losses on that field an
army that was formidable and that he
could fully trust. Besides, Lee has un-
questionably, according to rebel custom,
claimed at Antietam a victory. Can he
| abandon the work of invasion for which
| all the South is praising him, and while
victory perches upon his banners, go fly
| ing back to- Richmond like a Napoleon
| fleeing from Moscow It is impossible
| Neither Lee, nor any other General that
ever lived in the South, could survive such
an inglOrious termination of bossted sue
eessful campaign.
The facts, we judge from all present
| lights, are about as follows: Lee retreat
ed from Sharpsburgh out of sheer necessi-
ty. He did not dare a renewal of the
fight. His sole object in crossing the Do
tomac was to get out Of the s0ay, which he
succeeded in doing. But once on the 9TH
er side, the political difficulties Of his pO-
sition began to oppress him. He saw that
he burst not retreat so far as to indicate
an abandonment Of his campaign Of iHUGsioH
for that to the South would be an admis-
sion Of defeat, and give the lie to all his
boastful bulletins Of victory. He resolV-
ed therefore to make a stand in strong
defensive position, and risk another fight,
in the hope of regaining his lost laurels
and the prestige of his troops. He tried
to entice Mcclellan across the river, in
rapid pursuit, intending to fall upon his
army piecemeal in crossing and cut it to
pieces; OF, if he crossed, to fight him a
desperate battle with the Potomac in his
rear to menace him with destruction in
case of the slightest panic or giving way.
Stuart's Cavalry was sent even as late
as Sunday night last, into Maryland, at
Williamsport, TO spy out the movements Of
our army and prepare the way, perhaps,
for one Of "Stonewall Jackson $ surprises.
This scheme was circumvented,-and the
more deliberate and dangerous ambush of
the entire rebel force on the south side OF
the Potomac waiting for our army to begin
to cross, has yielded no fruit And thus
stands the chess-bOard at present. We
may be sure the enemy cannot wait thus
long. He must take the initiative of at
tack or retreat Immediately. Heintzel-
man and Sigel will soon be after him on
the south side of the river. Mcclellan
will no doubt, pursue him as soon as ever
he can do so effectively. 1t will be mad
ness for Lee to wait till the Union armies
are near enough to combine in an attack
on his front and rear. If he resolves to
attack our army in Maryland, he must do
so by a new crossing Of the Potomac, now
we'll guarded by our troops. If he retreats
he will be pursued under circumstances
that may render his retirement not only a
defeat, but a remediless disaster-attack-
ed on the flank by Heintzelman and Sigel,
and in the rear by Mcclellan.
This is the view of the position which
appears from the developments of the
past few days. To be sure it is as yet all
speculation; but the public suspense will
soon be relieved by the actual work of
war.