Washington telegraph., 1862-04-23

The FALLING BACK OF THE ARMY OF
THE PoToMAc-TnE ENEMY FoILlp.-
We learn that the Government not only
cordially approves the strategic movement
ot O.cu. Johnston, in changing his line Of
defence, but that the question of falling
back from the old lines of the Potomac
was cordded entirely to his own discretion
scme weeks aSo, By the President him :
self
1t is now ascertained that some three
or four weeks before the army fell back,
Gen. Johnston visited the President. and
disclosed to him the extraordinary plans
composed by the enemy, which mad. it
vitality necessary, in his opinion, ID fall
back and organize new liic of defence
lie stated his convictions that the enemy,
by movement of some forty or fifty thou
Sahd troops, through Harper's Ferry and
the Valley, designed to fall upon his rear.
and propos d to defeat this object hy con-
fronting him upon a new line of defence
Dor the space Of three weeks before the
army lett lis entertainments ut Manassas.
preparations were being made fer falling
oack, ~ the quiet and gradua. removal
OF the vast accumulations of army stores
and with such consummate address was
this managed, that our own forces had no
idea OF what was intended until the march
was taken up. The first iutmation the
euemy had of the evacuation cf Manassas
was the smoke OF the soldiers hats. that
mad been fired By our army; aud rs the
last co.rmn of our forces retired, ne arr
s5nred that tLct tidyance OF the movemcu;
cn Gen. D.. nat1n's rear, was already a
SnickelSvillc, Il gap in the B.ue Ridge.
That the Strategic plans Of the enemy
we're completely feied by this mastoriy
movement Of Gen. Johnston II qaitc evil
"c"t IN the tone Of Gisappoiatmcnt and
vezatlon IN which the NJrthcrn mewspl-
pers refer to the evacuation Of II .nassas.
which, unless there had been some dis
concert of their strategy 10y such an evcut,
they would be likely to regard as a con
siderable advantage on their side, ia let
ting them further into the territory Of
Virginia.
The most, if not the ouly, successful
strategic movement; of last year campaign
was Gcmcral j Jhn>tou' 5 evacuation IF liar
pcr's Ferry aud his movements In tne IN
per portion Of The Valley. This cyacua,
tlon OF the extreme liue OF the In. er p
ton.ac was extensively misuu.tcr>tJy anl
brought -rea; deal OF popular ana i,no-
rsnt ccnsurc upon Ga'erpl ! ran,t.n, wl.1
hH~ ci.aracte Lr'icaIIy rcao! vcd ;l W. ".
his ri"dicl'ion to tie progress Of events.
His movements then threw bn.k ;ise gua-
mys pl1us 1t least niarty DAYS. aId ID "
c'"l-fcntiy stated that the same extcut o:
Disappointment and di-cuneer. or tha enc.
my's side will be tie result U. III. lite
CHANGE -f cur lire Of def3nccs.
re advantages accomplished III Ill
falling back Of our army are, thu. it has
ioiled the strategic Plan Of Che cEemy al-
most at the instant Of It's accomplishment,
besides bringia1 our fore 5 into position
:" cnc'Gntc: ANY demonstrations that the
enemy may make in acw DIR c;iDus Tlu
excitement Of loc,maiion and change o.
sccae were sad, too, &c have hai thc III ID
happy effect upon thc spirits Of our troops,
%Lo are, altogether, in better GghrIn.
tFiH than they have cycr boom -iuc thc
Va't.t OF Nlurss1s. Oar readers mIy r-.y
uP.n II that the aspect o! affairs in ;he
direction Of the Potomac is, in every rc>-
rect, cheering aai eocourlgins. -RirL.
n,oHJ Examiner.