, 1862-11-05

Correspondence Of the New York Trfbune1
PLEASANT VALET, No 3, Oct. q, 1861
It has been well known for weeks that the
main force Of the enemy has been at Win
CHESTER ever since the retreat from MARYLAND.
That his centre was entrenched at Wlnchs6.
ter, bis extreme right rested On the Shenan-
Hill.
On the boundary Of this nearly equflgte,s1
triangle, whose sides are about ten miles in
length, the rebel army was skiiltully posted,
With all the advantageous points fortified.
Winchester being the base Of operations, Il
Was necessary to Keep open line Of com
murieation from that position through the
mountain gaps to Richmond Desertefs and
intelligent contrahands have informed Us that
along this 4ne OF communication, which, in
the event OF aeteat, would become the line
nehed.
To these depots all the grain and proy1,Ions
from the lower end Of The valley have been
sent. In fA.:ing back the enemy will, there
fore, be marching toward his supplies, and
hence would be the less encountered With
trains. A pursuing army could do him but
slight damage, and would soon become ex-
hausted and embarrassed.
To move against the enemy thus posted
and TINS provided against disaster, two main
left f1ark, from Harper's Ferry aud shepheEJs-
town through Charlestown and Martii,bury.
This route insured the defense Of the Unosr
Potomac, aud forced the enemy at ouca to
tight or evacuate Winchester.
be stood and gave battle, which would
have been quite probable, his line of retreat
vas open and safe, and agalu the rebe1 armv
would have escaped from McClellau's grssD.
1t the enemy chose to evacuate, or even fo
retreat after fight, BY passing through Ash
by's Gap, he would be able to concentrate his
entire army Of Vlrginia at Manassas Juncfion
An.,
Thom Mcclellan, with heavy trains MOVING
On slow and cautious march, would be
wholly unable to suecoT, and second Bull
Run, With Patterson failure to march would
he the result.
The enemy, moreover, would all this while
he between the national army and Richmond.
and could, therefore, employ his entire force.
We would be compelled to retain urge force
for the dtfenee Of our capital. By this route
ne advantages Of position were mainly with
the enemy. His calculations had evidently
bctn based On such movement How Gen.
Lee has been Disappointed and euaag1ed in
his OWE 6naI1s will soon app :aE.
Ihe other and more strategic route lies
through the Leesburg road, against the enc
my's right flank at BeTr5's Ford.
Harper's Ferry being well gaHisoned With
small body Of troops, commanded By loyal
officers. corld be held against aay force the
enemy might send against 1t. A few troops
posted at the foEds below and above saep-
herds town, and at Wi,liamsport, would dis
Inte a; , attempt to cross At these points,
Nearly the entire army of the Potomac could
thus be made available in movement against
the enemy at Winchester. Isasnuch, at:o, as
an advance By the 1scsburg route would in
itself protect Washington, the whole Of tho
army commanded By Banks would Be able to
cooperate vita the ar,uy Of the Potomac.
1t is rot at all probable that the enemy
would await the attack OF our combined az
mics, but finding bis rear Threatened he would
retreat 18th all possible speed to 4arls Rich
nfond, passing through Gordonsyi1ls. By
reference to map OF virginia, it sill be seen
ut glance how immensely In our favor would
hc The Gdv.ut yes In such race to Richmond
BelEg OF the inside Of the arc of circle, ana
n'cy'ng river the shorter lines, the ns.ionaI
army would consequently head OF aud extend
back a.cng the entire lei: flank of the e:4e:ny,
III: k:lg Ii utterly iuposssb1: for him to reach
II d. Ind lis ca1ital.
Ii. however, in some foolish freak of mill
lasy n yefry, General Lee should 4. tc7mtue to
give battle ar Berry's FoId OF at Winchester,
.itteat and disaster would be the re ward Of his
folly.
The national army passing through suick-
FRS aud AsEtys GnI's, would dank the e1e-
m!'s r:sstt, get between him and his supplies,
and drive his whole army into the mount ains
ur to the Potomac, which he could not Ioss;-
by cross If vigorously pursued.
Lee Is quite too. sht~d commander to
-'.'p" nA41Se44 ~ pt illus ulsaQFa0IAgt115ly
placed; he will not, therefore, be likely to
light al Winchester against force advancing
through the Gaps from Leesburg. No b,trIe
nted, therefore, BE- 10 oked fo= ii the 1mme-
diafe future, but tough and exclt1a. race
tor Richmond, with, perhaps, battle at Front
Royal or Manassas Gap; Of, il, "a reported. it
i irEe that the enemy he's already eracnated
Winchester, he ma3 not be Intercepted this
side Of Gcrdorsyil!e.
The army of the Potomac, now in motion.
is mcsipg on this route SO Freeman: wish ad-
vantages to our c.1se. 1t il believed smother
opportunity will not be let slip, but that
every advantage will be seized upon. every
opportunity improved, aud if At ali possible,
TIT eneny's army defeated aad his "a pital oc-
pied.
All things are now rcadT. aua before the
bltipgs uf winters Eroste are FELT, tas I'll ion
may have occasion to rejoice over the SUCCESS
Of h"r arms and the rebellion crushed ont
Of V,rgi: ia.
A REtEL PLAN FOR SURPRISING s1GEL.
[From the Washington Star. Thursday Egenins.
The corps Of Gsneral Burnside has alread7
advanced SO far down a!org the eastern base
Of tire Blue Ridge a. to have formed prac-
teal iuection with the 1ue army c3rps Ut
Gen. siScl, their line Of pickets being ia eou-
JUNCTION.
The prompt withdrawal Of Walkers rebel
force t'cm Gppt1yi}l., mentioned to-day iu
our latest ners from the front, vas doubtless
IN consequence OF the rapfdlty OF Hur1side'5
movement iu that direction. We do not be-
i1eye that he has gone in the direc ion 3f
SEickersville, as represented, because to do
sowould be rushing into the open jsws of
McC1ellan's army; but rather Immediately
across the ridge back to Upperyillc, over the
direct Alexandria and Winchester turnpike.
The lntest information from Harpsr'6
Ferry Indicate that TIE rebels still continue
in tolce between that point and Wincn-s-
Ter, and in the vicinity Of Shepherdsto*n
end Clsrlestown. Or, in other words,
tLey coniiEuc to occupy lu fo:ce ths ridys on
| Which Lee posted his army im1nedistely after
rec1ossirg TIC Potomac, back into VlrSini1.
VT ar uot tucijaed, howc|sr, to plac. couti-
derc- iu the idsa that he il nut moving from
that vicinity as fast As he can do 60 coasistoct
With his views Of tie movements necessary
fer the safety Of his army. Burnside anG Fitz
J.hn r rt"r have apparently already d.:ea- ed
h:s probable sct.sie OF attempting to surprise
! Sigel, ant there il too .Guch danger to his
cuu,u uisicat:an with Eicanoud, iu tne practi-
| ca! junction they have already made, to per-
Mi. linn to fill - cuver 1t promptly, bf fAiin:, !,
| back with his Whele fcrcc.
FE0M THE S0C TIL.
We lave the Grenada {afiss.) Appeal Of the
! 9g.h ult., from which we take tie folio wing:
| NEW ORLEANS.
| The jMssjpp7un has late information from
New Ozis are, gltaUed trcm q zen letuau jast