Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-16
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
The Whole Of NIoCiellan,s Army Msvins
Dswn the Jan % River.
IRON Corresponde nce n. Y. Times

From correspondence N. Y. Ilmo
dAnnIsos's L.spIss, Va, August II The
liver, which began nesfiys week ago, very qai.
city, has steadily Progressed until each ofaces and
man stands ready for the word to march. The
effort TO retire without the knowledge OF the
enemy think has failed. The unusuai massing
Of vessels and transports near the various land
ings, side by side; the Industry Of the small tugs
moving vessels about; the accumulation 81 the
large, transports opposite the camp, ana me al
troops-to saw nothing Of the departure OF steam.
ers during every nigh for most Of the past week
must have attracted .stte-tcn, ovea II tne other
movements immediately upon the encemPment
and along the banks have not been observed from
hundred places on the opposite shore, which IL
has been impossible for rs 10 occupy or guard.
In a WORD, Il must have been patent 70 the most
casual observer that scme grand enterprise was
on foot. How absurd, therefore, to suppose that
the ever-vigilant enemy, who has been watching
Us from q hundred consealed places, has not been
fully aware Of all We have been doing.
considerable number Of the troops have been
sent from here by transports. seYmour's Divis-
lon, or part Of II. a well a. part OF Heintzle-
manh, have already gone-the second Brigade
Of seymour's to report directly 70 Gen Burnside,
reduction In the length Of our retreetinR column,
a. well rs In its strength. The best that can be
done, using all the transports that can be had,
win be immense. II will form q o.valcade and
train Of al least sixteen or twenty miles.
Surplus tents have already been struck; regi-
mental baggage by the hundred tons have been
shipped, and eight dayt' ra.ions ordered FOR each
Of the Communicative days 10 90 on the trans
ports, land and water, and three 10 be carried by
the men.
The landing Of express baggage has been
stopped Transportation Is now the other wav
The suffers, those "vultures Of the army" a. they
are called, are closing ont their stocks In trade
and preparing 70 ''clear the litchen." The les
son at White House will not sol q be forgotten.
Yesterday morning the mail steamer John A.
" amer hauled out into The stream 70 s7sde the
rush Of passengers On board before the time Of
departure Elountains Of knapsacks belonging
to the various departing regiments lay piled upon
the bank opposite the landings. At the upper
wharf men were busy all through Monday night
in pulling siege and feld caIssons and ammuni-
ton wagons on board Of sranspolls
The orders 10 march, or what was equivalent
to IL, were issued Sunday They were counter
manded, or the time extended, O. Morday. SO
that while the preparations have been going
steadily on, the army has been on the gsf rtee
ever since, expecting 10 move every hour. Some
Of the batteries, II 10 said have had their horses
harnessed for forty eight hours
If the move Ii foF Washington, to protect that
oity, and have the forces within supporting dir
lance Of each other, there is general feeling Of
acquiescence In IL propricty. IL Is, the officers
believe, the best and osiy thing that can be done
We know that Ii Is not retseat without q pur-
pose, and In fact, II Is not retreat at all Ii is
change Of base-for the consolidating Of the
troops.