The national Republican., 1862-09-16
TUE POsITlON.

Il Is confirmed that the movement into
Mary lard was mere plundering raid, and
hat the first thing the enemy thought Of Of.
ter getting into the State, wns how to get
out Of II. His egreos, however, has not proved
40 easy es his iugress, and be was compelled
TO 6gbt battle near Hagerstcwn, and be.
tween Hagerstown and the Potomac, in
which he evidently had the worst Of It.
At Lis present writing, we have four dis.
patches from Gen. Nc Clellan, elsewhere pub.
lished, three OF them dated yesterday morning.
Trev show that our success was important,
although our loss was not severe.
Summers corps and Couchs division we're
10. IN the battle Of Sunday, but were expect
ed tn Join Franklin yesterday.
Miles. commanding at IIarpers Ferry, was
harry attacked on Saturday, but success
frlg offended himself. Advices from that 20.
sition, Sept. 10, state that 1t was then provis
ioned for thirty days. A Harrisburg dis.
patch Of yesterday says that Miles held bis
position when last beard FROM" Ito what
date is not stated but that 1t was feared be
must surrender, as the rebels were planting
guns on the Maryland heights, which would
command bis position. This same dispatch
SAYS that Longstreet's division has been zen,
to reinforce the rebels, whereas this very di
vision was one Of those beaten In the battle
Of Sunday, il Gen. Mcclellan Is right. Tbis
Harrisburg dispatch is mspifestly not reli.
able. and We shall conclude that Miles is safe
at Harper's Ferry, until wo know the con.
trary. The firing heard yesterday in the di.
rection Of the Ferry, may not have been at the
Ferry. but at some fight 10 which General
Franklin was engaged. That general wus
moving towards the Ferry, and unless some
unexpected reverse has happened. he has re.
li.ved Miles BY this time.
Oar city was highly exhilarated yesterday
after it had become known that the enemy
vas on the retreat, and that q part Of biz
fore" he'd actually recrossed the Potomac or
saturday, it was the general expectation thai
our forces would not be able to catch up will
him. We confess that that was our own ap
prebension, and we now only account for wha
has happened by supposing that the enemy
recent run Of good luck has made him over
confident, and caused him to uuderrate tn
vigor and activity of our troops.
As it is, the great body Of the enemy
army will escape over the river, but 1t must
h! IN Il condition Of great disorganizstion
ard with losses Of trains and arms, which h.
can with difficulty replace.
Gen. Mcclellan reports our troops to have
behaved " magnifcenuy.'
The results Of their valor will not be lost /
;his success, is followed up with vigor ant
'drty. Let the country cease to iend it:
ear to those who discountenarce oil aggrcs
ssve movements, Ivy magrifyipg the numbera
Of an enemy who Is really weak, and who
pIly needs to be pushed TO the wall. He sent
up every available man from Richmond upon
this expedition, under Gen. Lee, and nothcp
ls nov in tie way Of prompt march upor
bis oW': Capital.
The news from Kentucky continues to bt
good. The demonstration against Cincinnati
was mere scare. The enemy's numbers IL
Kentucky are actual : small, and he CAP bt
driven out Of llat State as quickly as he ha:
iu't Overruu 1t.
II Wi. Oe seen that our forces have with
jfawn from the important town Of Charles
ton, on the Ksnawha, in Western Virginia
frst Smelling and burning tho town, and Dc
struyiDg the extensive salt works there. l
was thoroughly secession town. The dc
atructiou Of the salt works will prevent tb,
tehels from supplying themselves with an ar
GcIe Of which they are in desperate want
The Secretary OF War was much congratu
Is'9d, yesterday, upon the movements in thi
gicin;y, the success Of which Is believed t.
hN due, in no small part, to his energy en-
vigor