New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-21
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.

We may fairly congratulate the friends OF
the Union on the practical concentration OF
the Union ARMIES in Virginia. True, the
movement is not yet completely but oil its
hazards have been safely overcome. Gen. Nc
Clellan's army has retreated fr'm Harrisons
Landing to Yorktown and Fortress Monroe
without firing a shot, and is either on It's way
by water to the line of the Rappahannock ana
Ran,dan. or very soon will be. II an emery
ency should require it, that army could IN g"od
cart be- brought to the support OF Gen. Pope
within fort, EIGHT hours. That Gen. Pope Will
fight no battle until thus re.eDforced, and
that the Rebels cannot compel him to light II
they would, is morally certain. They have the
Rapdan to cross; their transportation s made
qunt-; their artillery cannot DO moved over
Virginia roads at rapid rate; and they are
rot the men to rush upon such an army rs
Pope's with muskcts alone. Surprise should
be out of the question, since an army
Of Sixty to One Hundred Thousand Men
j, not TO be maucuyercd, concealed, and
advanced like squadron Of Dragons or
band If guerras. Even if Gen. Pope should
be 80 rash Ms 10 risk u battle under exlftIng
circumstances rather than retreat, Gen. Hal.
leck is too wary ~ permit 1t. We shall have
no more conflicts between half our force IN
Virginia and ali that the Rebels can scrape
together; if va should the whole country
would brand whoever IS responsible for 1t as
traitor In August, 1862, We are apparently
nbou. 10 do what should have been done in
June, Ie6l-mass all our forces east Of the
Allegbenies and advance straight on Richmond.
Whoever this shall be resolutey done, under
a competent leader, We believe the Rebel
Metropolis will speedily fall, and probably
without battle. The division and dispersion
of our forces, under incompetent or fathlcss
leaders, has been tho cause of oil our past
mislortun-s: it must BE- that We shall hence
forth avoid that blunder.
There is report that Gen. Burnside is to
command the combined army in the field; We
canuot cay how well founded; but We believe
the country would rejoice to hear that such is
the fact Gen. Burnside is one Of the very
lew among our military leaders who have been
required to achieve important results with In
adequate meaus, and VINO have never once en-
coun,ered even q repuse. HIS fortitude and
perseverance, in presence of the fearful aud
protracted storm that nearly destroyed his feet
At Hatterss, while he was unable, from their
rxc.snvs draft, 10 work them over tho bar,
was tue fit prelude to his crushing victories at
- .h..i.
North Carolina campaign will figure in history
as the most crcdtable and successful in the
past ai.tory Of the war.
Gen Haleck, it ia Understood, remains in
Washington as Commander-ln-Chief, with
power TO select and 10 change his Generals in
he field. That be is qualified for his most
responsible position, the country believes; and
40 is To Justify or forfeit that confidence BY his
select OF commander Of tue Grand Army.
Ia dschare'Dg that momeutOus trust, he must
know 40 favor aud regard 40 mans sensIbili-
tl-s. II the right man Is ever so odious or
ever go obscure-if he has been the victim Of
otbers' errors or the sport Of inimical cabals,
ne must be- appointed, no matter what uproar
may tpus be excited. II there 10 second
corporal whom Gen. Halleck knows to DO the
right man to lead the Grand Army, let him at
once BE- placed at the head Of 1t. The Re-
public is now to bc saved or lost, and nothing
,l,e can be allowed a feathers weight in the
scale wherein the Nations destiny hangs sus-
pended. We await with painful interest the
first Indication Of Gen. Halleck's choice Of a
future commander Of the concentrated Grand
Army.