Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-08-15

Important Movement by the Army Of the Potomac.

The mail~boat from Harrlson's Landing
which came down 10 Fortress Monroe on We'd
nosday reports that the greatest activity pre-
vailed among the fleet OF transports in James
river 4 number OF officers Of the army AMI
navy came down from the Landing. They
stated that the Army of the Peninsula was IN
motion, but Of course were silent as to its
destination. All day on Wednesday Hampton
Roads PRESENTED lively scene in conseQuen !:
Of che arrival and departure Of steamers and
other vessels.
4 Fortress Monroe correspondent Of the
New York Tribune discloses, in part, the
movement OF Gen. Mcclellan. We extract as
follows
'tFor week past it has been we'll under
stood here that the Army Of the Potomac Was
on the eve Of an important movement, though
concerning its real character there was nothing
Devon conjecture The nnnlberlesa sugges-
ti0ns, however, ali concurred in one thing, and
that is, that Gen. Mcclellan had come to the
conclu sion thlt, with reference 70 his new base,
the thing most to be desired, and vet the most
difficult to DO, was to get away from It, and
that he was going to act accordingly That
precisely this he is with great caution now
doing is believed to be the fact; and there Is
~ lonn"" any motive for Disgusting It from
the public.
.r,f The last 70: freight hours transports
loa1el heavily with tro1n7 are coming down
The James river. aud without stopping here,
have gone directly 40 the bay ~ one OF the
rivers lending into Virginia. Yesterday the
great body of the army hal orders to be ready
dav, ratio1s. As they will not cross TO the
,oooSite side of the James. we get some idea
If the real design Of the motions recently made
IN that direction. IF, a. is said the Confeie-
rates we're induced to march large force ont
-, ,i.,,u,u, nl toward Petersburg to meet the ex-
noctol advent Of Gen. Mcclellan 5 force IN
That direction, I presume the only purpose he
had IN view in crossing to the opposite SIDE OF
Uarrison's Ian ling was achieved If that
VS. q fein,, what IS the reality? If the Con
f.dorates ex,ected our army to appear on the
RIGHT bank of the james they have been dl>ap-
77Sintel. for it has gono III another dIrcctlon.-
Where? Before this goes to the type~setter s
han}, 10 doubt the question will have been an
swored. the whole thing explained. perhaps
written with tragic characters in blood
s'That the pontoon bridges which went up
rho river Yesterday, accompanied by B very
1sroe force Of engineers an sappers and miners
are designed for the Chickahominy,, IS not
whollv a matter Of conjecture This bel1g So
The ;nference-not only from this but from a
VARIETY Of other circumstances and facts-is
fh 1st the great body Of the army of the. Poto-
rnac ia about to withdraw down the peninsula,
While the remainder re~embarks on transports
anl proceeds down the river; That this Is the
plan now in the process Of being EXCEPTED IS
The current impression, not to say hellet-fhe
rasr,lt Of the best information to be hal on the
sul)iect. Successfully carried out; twill prove
= great disappointment and perpexlt'y TO the
C0nfe ierates, ant the restoration or me army