Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-07-15
/ Rebel view Of McC lellan,g Position.
IT'S 1nIpREeNAsI11TY ADMITrED
The Rebel press Growing Tor news.

The Rebel Press growing Tor News.
The Richmond Examiner of the 18th has
been received in Washington. Discours-
ing upon Gen. McClellan's present position,
it says: ave believe all that WAS known
in this city yesterday, outside of The Bure-
aucracy, was that the enemy had taken a
strong position, with one OF his TANKS rest
ing on the river above Berkeley, complete
ly under cover of his guuboats, and his
extreme right reaching 10 Herring creek,
where his position is defended by an al
most impsssable morass. twas supposed
that the enemy would have been attacked
yesterday, butthere had been no fghtiugup
to the last accounts we have from the lines.
1t is not 10 be supposed that the enemy has
selected these plantations AS the scene of
his last great staud without good reasons.
The first and most apparent of these is that
the western landing is perhups the very
best on the James river aud the stream for
miles up aud down being broud aud deep,
affords both excellent sea room and anch-
orage for his gun0oats rand transports. But
this is by no means the only advantage OF
the position. On the west of BerkeiS are
iunumerable impHssublc ravines, running
from near the Charles City road on the
north to James river, making a successful
hltuEk lTOln JuhL IuhElGI hGAb ~ pOSSA-
BILE. Within u quarter of a mile of where
these rayines begin, Herring Run creek
crosses the Charles City road, and, running
in asontheasterly direction, skirts on the
north aud east the plantations of Berkeley
aud MISSIONER, and enptics into James
river at the extreme eastern boundary of
the latter. The whole course of this creek
is one impossible mor,tss, while along its
northern and eastern banks extend TIE
heights of EvelingtOn, long range of hills
that overlook the westover and Berkeley
estates, and which offer an eligible posi-
ton for heavy guns
at will be seen that, protected on the
south by the river aud his gunboats, on the
west by impenetrable raviues, and on the
north and east by Herring creek and the
heights of Eyelington, the enemy's position
presents but one pregnable point, the piece
of level country northwest of Westover,
from quarter to half mile i'll width, ly
ing between the head of the rdviucs aud
the point where Herring creek cruises the
Charles City road. But it is certain that
the enemy, with his immense resources of
men and machinery. will, in n very brief
period, obstruct by art this only natural
entrance to his stronghold. Already il is
within range of his gunbOats, aud of his
siege gn6s planted on the EvclingtOn hills.
Another day may see it sLrewn with telled
timber and bristling with field batteries.
Iu enumerating the advantages secured to
the enemy in his present position, his su-
perior facilities of transportation must not
be omitted. Whilst our ammunition and
stores must be wagoned distance of uear-
Iy thirty miles, his steamers and transports
are Running up to the very doors of his
tent. For the benefit of distant readers
we may here properly say something of
the character of tue country to which,
| suddenly and unexpectedly, the scene of
the war has been shifted. Ten days
ago., when Mcclellan beleaguered Rich
mond, with the exception of about FIVE
miles of the Chickuhominy low ground, he
occupied the most bhrren, and at the same
| time, the worst watered and most unhealthy
region of Eastern Virginia. Agnes, hoop
| poles hnd whOrtleberries have been always
the only sure crops of the country within
a radius of ten miles about the Seven Pines,
taking that point as Al centre, and but two
living streams cross the Nine-miie, or Will
liamsburg roads, between Richmond and
Bottom Bridge. On these two roads, with
the Seven Pines rs their headquarters, the
very pick aud flower of the Northern army
was concentrated, and here, for weeks,
| their yigOr aud numbers melted away, un-
der the influence OF iniasma bad water, and
Southern sun, but by this hAsty trip
through White Oak Swamp, Mcclellan has
emerged with thinned ranks into more
| genial lnnd. a broad, fresh river flows
before lin, while his tired md hungry
hordes will fad boundless supplies in as
fair aud rich valley us the sun shines on.
The country of tue lower james river is
the garden spot of Virginia. Nowhere does
soil better repay the toll and skill Of the
husbandman."
The Examiner says to its own Govern
ment: "There has already been enough
triiing aud abuse of the public mind by the
Suppression or reserve of facts on the part
of the Government II the Commanding
| General could write dozen lines, giving
the result ofthe fight at Gaines Mills, why
on each succeeding day might VIC not have
had bulletin of equal length simply stat
ing the results. 1t would have cost but
triie of time, aud would have conferred an
incalculable benefit upon tue whole coun-
try in composing the public anxiety. If
the first official display of our success has
not been fully sustained by subsequent
events, and if the public expectations
which were then raised to such II height
are to be reduced, we believe that our peo-
pie can bear the disappointment, without
waiting to hear the facts drop out through
the slow aud forced confessions of those in
authority. Mcclellan has effected a com
munication with tile river, why was not
this fact boldly and sincerely announced,
instead oftriiing with the public MUD by
reports of surrounding portions of his ar
my in triangular swamps, aud il. The neigh
6orhood of mill ponds, and other false aud
vague stories, intended TO break the falIof
public expectations? The public is left
under the impression OF general facts We
know that the yalor of our troops has SO
far prevailed, and that the enemy has been
pushed from his lines of investment of this
city, but what may be the strength of the
coherent remnantof hisariny, whether that
escaped from our grasp, or has been rein.
forced for another grand battle, are ques-
tons which everybody has been asking for
the last week, and which the Government
.,IainIy rain 70 k,. ,,:it