, 1862-09-03

NEH LUZ I5WAHe ttAtlA} " AAtlu4t. u LIE
sshorrib1e rumor" referred to in the Phla-
delphia dispatch which ne published yester- |
day:
News of the grayest importance arrIyes this |
morning from The field; news 60 startling that
I almost hesitate to sum up the reports, orto |
Dwell upon their significance. But from diff |
fcrept SOURCES comes SO much corro5orasive
evidence that the reports cannot be Dismissed
as rumpfs.
Tnat the rebels are still at Manassas juno
ton; that they have destroyed Bull Run
Burk's Station, ar Falrfas Court House, at
Centrerille, at numerous points near Alexan-
dria, whose names are familiar in last years
history, seems to be certain beyond question.
They are even sald to have been sen at Hun
ter's Chapel, six miles from Alexandra.
Remaining at Manassas and boiding the
stations and railway for twelve miles this side
holding their different positions with de-
termination and coo1uess-they have been for
two days interposed between General Pope's
army and Washington, cutting Of all direct
communication, aud dept1Elng the army in
front Of its supplies.
But the Titai question Is, How large Is the
force which has thrust itself in the; rear Of
such an army as General Pope's? Is it only 4
cavalry dash, or is it the: movement of an
army? There is evidence On both sides, butl
ca1not undertake to weigh it. tonight.
only give the substance ofstatements. Another
| letter that goes to you with this will supply
numerous details
It is believed on the one side that the
| enemy hare taken possession of Thorough
fare Gap, and Of the country On both sides The
| 1aBge Of mountains; and entering at this Gap
| aud above have placed themselves completely
| in the rear Of Gen. Pope. This account
| makes the main body of the rebels to have
| gathered at White Plains. Then moving
! either from that point or passing around to
4Y11- <hay- hnro a1J ,oa1 f1 T aaeh9
and have already crossed in small parties at
On the Other hand, the belief is encouraged
in official quarters, that the enemy have sue
ceeded only in penetrating through an uude.
Tended opening in the liues OF Gen. Pope, and
that with the Temporary obstructlon Of co a
n,unic,tion, md the destruction aud dlnage
| which can be accomplished by sudden raid
| their mission will be at an erd. But ottfciaa
communications to the public are SO brief ane
undecisive thas opinions from that source
must be based upon differences rather thai
upon facts.
The rebels, to make this movement, mus
! have left behind them all or most Of thei
own supplies and means OF transportation
hut counted for supplies upon the stores t.
: The trains aud commissary depots said 3
| first TO have been burned, Tere douhtles
preserved if needed for the rebel army, and
Tar their calculation ia correct, and their arm
) for the time provided. II this means Of SUI
ply is ample for their subsistence, the chic
; difficulty in the way Of their advance Is II
J lieved, and the in1probabillty Of the moYt
;, uaent abates in proportion.
: Is it then 1o be understood that Washin:
ton is in peril? No more, / answer, than hi
Threatened it for fortnight. The danger ma
have approached nearer, but is the san
which las impended since the movement fro
the Peninsula began, which has hitherto bes
aVerted By the rapidity of General Pope
withdrawal beyond the Rappahannock gby II
sudden rise Ct that river, Which enabled Sig
impetuous advance Of Jackson; by the furth'
rcarward movement which under cover
Sigel's effnrts vas effected securely and con
| p1eteIy. Wnen Pope had transferred bis arm
by mancnver ot once hazardous and skillf
from the Rappahannock line to that whls
& rested against Bull Run Mountains on t.
right, the position ought to have been secur
He had exchanged his wings, the extfeu
right on the river becoming the extreme T.,
aud the strength OF the position reca1i;
aith the movement of the army to the rgt
It has already been said th.t Mcclellan /
tired from the peninsula with reluctance, Al
l. onl5 after peremptory repetition of the {
der b3 General Halleck. It remains to
stated that his delay after arriving at Alex
drfa is the cause Of the recent disasters tt
IN rear, and ths capital threatened, he only
N responsible. In the crisis of which the
n cieiye moment is swiftly approaching, u j
]. General Mcclellan has for two days delay
e. his advance in order to determine Questi
y Of precedence between General Pope and hi
l. s.lf.
= TIE lire along which General Pope's ari
extended WAS OF greater length than his troc
ar were competent to cover The point at VIII
;G- the enemy has entered Was : p2lnt WI
M McCleIlan's forces were to guard. This del
on has exposed it to in7urs1on, aud mar III
be- i1nreriled the safety Of both the army and
capital.
,,s when Gen, Ua]leck assumed command
[as the Union armi-s he sought TO restore III
hr to position from which offensive movenle
he ] might once more be possible. Tae atte1
of involved the safety both Of the army on
I'd ! Peninsula, which was to be removed, aud
100 the Army Of Virginia, which was to co
IN McClellan's retreat have already explain
elv complete success in its most dangerous mo
m nleut is st once the evidence and the trol
nv r of the genius which planned 1t. But the
5. Ei5 was not over when the different corps
Il. Mcclellan had reached Fredericksburg
en-. Alexandria, OF when Pope VAS beyond
Rappahannock.
, Tie capital was still menaced By the II
advance. Before it could be deemed to be
IL the line Of defense marked for the occupa'
j, !, | Of our armies was to be drawn aud cove
.as a,s completely. Once occupied il force, The
fas fas ger was passed, and from that position
tag next advance was to be made.
az az Tonight is too soon to say whether tho
81 81 pose so nearly matured must be abandout
tue whether delay in execution on our eide,
= at audacity in attack py the rebels, may. con
on - ~ tha o3tes of ths c,pita]. The ts;
uns 1o;n+ 1oft nGvna-dpd may have nndaneere
a1- broken the whole line. It the enemy
neir passed in force within the circuit, the camp
'u!h is to be fought On their plan not on ours
OBJ / r;+ion +hair udrance IA a f,ilure their
lion defensive their capital already threate