The New York herald., 1862-09-12

The Campaign In Marylaad-Gasnera
s Les's PrOolanaaiens
The situation Of the rebel army n Aaryian'
u manifestiy becoming somewhat critical
General Mcclellan, with his lines well extend
cd for the protection Of Baltimore on his right
has advanced his left 90 far that at any momen
he may cut of this rebel foraging column Il
Maryland from tho Potomac fords and ferrie,
which connect it with the main body Of the 70
bel army on the Virginia side near Leesburg.
Our troops in occupation of Sugar Loaf Noun
tain, near the outlet Of the Monocacy river
hold position from which they may command
the line Of the Potomac up to the Point
Of Rocks. From this point TO Harper'a
Ferry, twelve miles, we have what is known
as the passage Of the Potomac through the
Blue Ridge chain Of mountains, the towering
heights of which form both banks Of this divi-
sion of the river. II, therefore, the rebels in
Maryland are cut OF from the Potomac fords
east Of the Blue Ridge, they will be compelled
to carry their provisions from Maryland around
into the Shenandoah valley by way Of Wiliams-
port; and this will probably account for the ad-
vance Of portion Of their forces to Hagerstown.
If routed or compelled to cvacHate Maryland,
this may be the line Of Lees retreat; but it in
wolves detour over rivers, hills and noun
tains, to rejoin the main body of his forces near
Leesburg, Of nearly hundred miles, But
from the fbrds Of the Upper Potomac
nearest Washington to tho Allegheny
Mountains the river may now, at any
time within twenty-four hours, become i'm
passable, except by boats or bridges, from one
OF those equinoctial rains which sometimes make
q sweeping torrent for several days OF the
Upper Potomac, and food with current Of
four or Eve miles al hour oven in the lower or
tidewater river at Washington, where il 10 .
mile and quarter ip width, and widening
thence to the sca. There il no bridge remain
on the upper river to Cumberland, except at
Harper's Ferry, and that is commanded by our
batteries on these heights, and may bs de-
stroyed, il II cannot be retained, by our limited
but well appointed and skilfully directed force
at that place.
In any event, the rebel army in Aarylaai,
from the present advanced positions embraced
within the lines OF General Mcclellan, is in
critical position, and may be compelled within
twentyfour hours to recross the Potomac,
by way Of Williamsport, to escape an
Inhalation. Washington is tranquil because
General Mcclellan, as after our first disaster at
Bull run, has restored order out Of chaos, and
a homogeneous and powerful army from the
disorganized fragments Of our old regiments
kh> ne
placed under his skilful direction.
Tho proclamation Of General Lee "to the
people Of Maryland" which we publish this
morning, is the most seemingly modest, and
yet the most impudent, thing of the kind that
has been put afoat since the call of that famous
rebol General Price for 6fty thousand volun-
tesrs in Missouri, while he was skedaddling /"
as fact az possible for the back country of Ar
kansas. Lee comes professedly to liberate the
people OF Maryland; but to understand the
libcrations which he promises they have
only to compare the blessings Of peace
which they have enjoyed during this war, under
the protection Of " the old aag," with the awful
disasters which secession and the liberating
government Of JEFF. Davis have brought upon
Virginia In truth, however, Lees proclama-
ton is only sort Of an apology for this plum
dering foray which he has been compelled to
make into Maryland to feed his starving army;
but it will not diminish the disgust with which
the honest people Of the State look upon rebel
nor their conviction that Lees in
vasion will, a. liberating movement, be limit
ed to the plunder which he may be able to
carry of in his retreat.
Thus far General Lee has been dealing only
with the scattered detachments Of the grand
army which is now combined against him. Ii
even they have been sufficient, against his over
numbers, to baf1e and defeat his cal
culations, what hope has he to prevail against
them when combined, and vastly strengthened
by our new regiments Of the best volunteers We
have yet sent to the field? Let President Lin
coin keep our abolition disorganizers from in
any more with the plans Of Gene
raj Mcclellan, and R. E. Lee will never get his
ragged liberating rebel army back to Rich
mond.