The New York herald., 1862-09-10

AZ SIc atrc. Ccnee was quiet ana saies hmlteu. Ih0
advance in rreghts sustained, while engagements
were moderate. ~ a@
The Rebel Army I'm Maryland, and It's
Designs-yVashington and Foreign In-
tervemtiOm. t @st t#
The rebel army now in Maryland is variously
estimated from eighty to one hundred and
fifty thousand strong. We think it will not be
safe to rate it less than one hundred thou
sand men. This immense force, upon which
the fate of this rebellion is staked, signifies
something more than a mere foraging eXpedi-
ton. What are its designs? 1t menaces Penn
sylvania it threatens a descentupo Baltimore;
but we believe that its real objects are: first to
confuse and divide our forces for the protection
Of Pennsylvania and Baltimore. and then to
pounce en- mosse upon Washington.
What has this great rebel army to gain by
from the spontaneous outpouring Of the North
ern people. Once north of the Pennsylvania
line, this rebel army would soon be cut off
from the South, surrounded and cut up in de-
tail, if not in general battle. What has it to
gain at Baltimore? It's entrance into that city
would doubtless be the signal for an order to
the women and children and all non-comba-
tants to move out, preparatory to shelling
from our forts and mortar boats, which would
reduce the city to ashes over the heads Of its
rebel '}iberators.u We cannot therefore, en-
terrain the idea that the grand design of this
rebel army is an invasion OF the North or the
occupation Of Baltimore.
On the contrary, from all the facts before u.s.
it is manifest that the rebel programme Is to
seize our national capital, to risk everything in
this enterprise, from the conviction that with
the occupation o Washington by JeE Davis .
satisfactory and conclusive case VIVA be made
out for European Intervention and Southern
independence, to say nothing Of the immense
supplies of artillery, munitions Of war and mill
tary stores of all descriptions which Will thus be
secured for an offensive winter campaign.
"More than two-thirds" Of this rebel army
in Maryland, II appears, /" are barefoot" and
every few oftbe cavalry have shoes.- Their
situation is desperate. They are not prepared
for an invasion Of the North. They would be
delayed too long ON the road, in their
present extremities Of poverty, to think
Of reaching Philadelphia in season to sup
ply their wants, and Baltimore may be made
too hot to hold them. All their wants. how
ever, can be supplied ut Washington, If they
can capture it; hnt the political importance Of
this capture they estimate as a thousand times
more valuable than all its warlikc stores.
The rebel leaders, too, are doubtless acting
under the idea that the Notifications Of Wash
ington on the Maryland side are weak, IL not
contemplate; that we have mainly depended
upon the Potomac against an assault in the
rear. Should the experiment be tried, how
ever, OF entering Washington by the back door,
we know that General Lee would find himself
seriously mistaken in his calculations. If there
were not solitary earthwork in the rear Of the
city, we are satisfied that General Mcclellan
has to-day an army around him sufficient to
repel this rebel army in Maryland; but Is there
not some danger that the rebels may so divide
our forces TO protect Baltimore and the Penn
sylyasa border as to be able, by sudden con-
centration Of their army, to wheel in against
Washington, and by the dead weight Of over
whelming numbers at some exposed point carry
the city by storm?
If we are not mistaken, the War Department
has authorized the assurance to be made that
every necessary precaution has been taken to
catch this rebel army in Maryland as in trap;
but we had similar assurances when this same
rebel army crossed the Rappahannock, when
they crossed Gull run, and when they had occu-
pied Centreyille: We have seen, however, that
the rebel generals are not so easily enirapped.
There Is nothing to prevent their crossing the
Potomac, as the two armies now stand; but
before we attempt to cut of their retreat, let
US be perfectly sure, even against one hundred
and fifty thousand men, that we are abundantly
| prepared to resist their advance
| We have great faith in the precautions and
sagscity and vigilance OF General McClcllan
! and great confidence in the consolidation II lis
veteran troops with those Of Pope aud Bum
side, and our new volunteers, into a homo.
gcncous and harmonious army. But II tie loyal
authorities aud people Of Baltimore ana Mary.
land, and those Of Pennsylvania, would protect
themselves most effectively against rebel in-
vasion, let thom send forward their troop 70
cooperate directly with the army Of Mcclellan