Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1862-11-01
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER l, 1862.
The Grand Rebel Invasion Failure.

L
The Grand Rebel Invasion Failure.
1t may now be safely asserted that the long
threatened and we'll concerted invasion Of the
luyal Border States by the rebels has proved
u most disasterous failure, and has done more
to weaken the rebellion than anything which
has occurred since the commencement of the
war. 1t was the beginning of the death strug-
gle, and hence the desperate effort to secure
permanent foothold in the States Of Maryland,
kentucky and Missouri. Their boast Of
marching their armies through Pennsylvania
to Philadelphia, and through Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois to the great lakes may have been
made for effect, but it is believed by many
that they had assurances from the leaders OF
the Peace Democracy of substantial support
the moment they obtained a foothold upon the
borders of those States. We think there are
good reasons for the belief that they had such
assurances through the organization of the
knights of the Golden Circle. 1t is this view
of the matter which enhances the Importance
ofthe decisive victory of Mcclellan at Antie'
tam, in Maryland, of Buell. at Perryville, in
Kentucky, and of Grant at Cornth, in Missis-
sippi. Had it not been for these timely and
glorious victories, what was regarded at the
time as vain Boosting might have become
part Of history. There was certainly great
generalship displayed by the rebel command
ers. and nought but the daring bravery of our
army, and the equally good generalship of our
officers, defeated their deeply laid and vigor-
ously executed plans.
1t must be apparent to all rejecting minds,
that the disastrous consequences of their fail
nre is in proportion to the magnitude of the
undertaking, and one from which it will be
hardly possible for them to recover. Hence
we most fully concur in the opinion expressed
by the New York Herald in commenting upon
the great victory of Gen. Mcclellan in Mary
land, "that the backbone Of the rebellion, so
often before strained to its utmost tension, is
at last broken" We have only to follow up
our late victories vigorous!y--and this We
are confident will be donc-.o substantially
end the war before the 1st of January next.
We have no sympathy with the clamor
raised by portion of the Eastern press
against the War Department for not pushing
forward the army of the Potomac TO Rich
mond. We have too much confidence in the
judgment Of our Commanding Generals to
heed these captious criticisms. 1t should be
borne in mind by these finding fault with
the commanders Of our army for apparently
moving so slowly, that they have every mo-
tive for taking advantage Of the cnemy's
movements and for passing forward as rapidly
as is consistent with safety, and the Ger
tainty Of being able to maintain all the ground
they occupy as they progress towards that ia
NOUS "last ditch" No second movement
should be made towards Richmond until there
is positive certainty that We will DO able to
reach it. If we make the effort and fail wo
may be compelled to make terms ofpcacc that
would be hunliiating to the Government and
disasterous to the Union. Having failed in
our first attempt to reach the rebel capital, a
second failure would be equivalent to an &C.
acknowledgement that We wanted the power to
crush the rebellion, and would entitle them to
claim recognition Of their independence by
the foreign Powers. 1t is for the reason that
such serious consequences hinge upon the
movement that the war power is waiting until
a force is concentrated which will render the
capture Of Richmond absolutely certain, con-
sidering all reasonable contingencies. 1t
would have been extreme folly for the Gov
eminent to have called into the field rein
towcment of three hundred thousand men, and
then to have ordered the existing forces into
the heart Of the enemies country before the
new levics could b. made available, and yet
the cry raised for an advance involves this
glaring absurdiiy.
CAPT. FLEMINo.-This popular steamboat
man has, we learn, bought the steamer Maria
now running on the opposition line between
Portland and Cascades, and will soon com