The New York herald., 1862-04-15
Yorktown and NorKolk-Ths Rebellion
In . New Phase.

In . New Phase.
From the evacuation Of Manassas down to
the advance of General McClellans army upon
Yorktown, it was considered a very doubtful
question whether the rebel leaders would make
another stand for the defence of their "Confe-
derate capital, /" or would draw off their govern
ment, their armies, ordnance and munitions of
war from Richmond and Norfolk, and leave
Virginia to her fate without further resistance
Upon this point, however, all doubts may now
be dismissed. General McClellan's march to.
wards Richmond has been arrested at York
town by formidable opposing army, rendered
doubly strong by lines Of redoubts and in
trenchments extending across the peninsula
from river to river, and armed with, perhaps,
five hundred guns, including large proportion
of the heaviest pieces from the great magazine
of the Norfolk Navy Yard.
At Yorktown, then, the rebels have resolved
upon q desperate struggle for the defence of
Richmond. If they are defeated Richmond and
Norfolk will doubtless be precipitately aban-
doned, az Nashville and Columbus were with
the fall of Fort Donelson; for, with the capture
Of Yorktown the way to Richmond will be
opened to our army, and Norfolk will be in q
position to be easily turned. All these contin-
gencies, and the general despair and demorali
cation which, throughout the rebellious South
will follow the loss of Richmond, are thorough
ly understood by the rebel leaders, and hence
we may with good reason anticipate the most
desperate struggle of the war for the possession
of Yorktown, and the most decisive issue in its
results.
In this connection, looking at the extensive
and formidable works which were in readi-
ness for the reception Of General Mcclellan
on his appearance near Yorktown, we
cannot avoid the conclusion that the enemy for
many weeks have shrewdly OWNED, if they
have not positively known, the route for Rich
mond which would be taken by the main body of
our Potomac army. In no other way can we sc-
count for these formidable dsfences thrown up
across the York peninsula, and for the immense
army discovered behind them on the approach
Of General Mcclellan. We think we have
here evidence enough to show, first, that the
rebel chiefs have not been and are not de-
pendent in any way upon the loyal newspaper
press Of the country for their information Of
the plans and movements Of our armies; and
secondly, that Gen. Mcclellan, with forces
which we expect will be sufficient forths work,
Is charged with the duty Of defeating the rebels
in position where they are better defended
and in greater force than in any other position
which they have held since the war began.
With their iron-clad sea monster, the Merri-
mac and her iron-cassd satellites, the rebels
not only command the James river on the one
side, but they render York river, on the other
side Of the peninsula, somewhat unsafe TO our
wooden transports and gunboats All this re-
suits from the continued occupation Of Norfolk
by the enemy, and without interruption for .
whole year.
The traitors OF Mr.. Buchanan's original Ca
binet had provided for the surrender to the
rebels OF the Norfolk Navy Yard, its immense
stores of ammunition, its two or three thou
sand pieces Of artillery and the feet Of dozen
vessels of war, including the Merrimac, col
lected in that harbor last April. The schemes
OF the conspirators were too well laid TO be
fully discovered and avertcd by President
Lincoln The navy yard buildings were fired, as