Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1863-06-27
THE REBEL. INVASION OF TIE NORTH PPOR
TUNITY FOR RICHMOND.

Under the above heading the Herald Of the 18th,
has the following editorial:
The present aggressive campaign Of the rebel army
of Virginia is OF the most daring and desperate
terprses in the history of modern warfare. Leaving
Richmond the rebel capital and his base of operations,
TO the chances of capture, and with powerful Army
of the Potomac in his rear General Lee has pushed his
advanced columns through Northern Maryland into
Pennsylvania while the main body OF his army, around
through the Shenandoah Valley is streaming along line
Of one hundred miles in extent To opposing mill
ary leader possessed of any Napoleonc IDEAS uer
opportunity than this would be des ed for cutting this
long line of the enemys forces and cutting them up in
detail. Certainly the War Officer has never had
more inviting opportunity for the capture of Richmond
Let us first consider the movements and probable de-
signs of the enemy. From our Washng.o correspon-
dence we learn that the ecessonsts Of Il city have
been giving out for some days past the following
General Lees programme, his whole army being esti
mated at 90, 900 men.
Frst-That one column started six days ago from
Gordonsvle for PaIkersburg on the Ohio liver.
SeconG-That another column left Culpeper Court
House 10 proceed by way Of Grafton to Pttsburg and
Wheeling with instructions, after occupying Pitts.
burg to join the first column for a march through
Ohio.
Third-That another column was to proceed by way
OF Winchester and Harper's Ferry into Maryland and
Pernsy vana towards larr sburg or Baltimore, in the
way OF diversion TO occupy the atent on Of the army
OF General Hooker The Last column in view OF rapid
art cry. Richmond meantime is to be abandoned,
with the expectation that conScrpts evies will
be brought there in sufficient numbers to garrison the
defences.
Another correspondent over in Virginia, is informed
that Baggs forces have joined Lee thus increasing his
army to one hundred ana fifty thousa men. This is
probably exsggeration although from various other
sources OF information, have no doubt that Lee has
been considerably reinforced by Bragg. Thus Leem2y
have felt himself sufficiently strong to divide bis forces
- Il. -.
War Office within few days past of the Department
OF the Susquehannah, under Gen. Couch, and the De-
partment of the Monong ihes, under General Brooks,
we conclude that the government has acted under
positive information that Lees advance would embrace
movements towards Pittsburg as well as a movement
towards Philadelphia.
The rebel col mn advancing by way Of Chambers.
burg must be checked on the Susquehanna, or it may
not be arrested short of Philadelphia. But it be
checked on the Susquehanna. military man, for many
years resident the river informs that from the
junction of the Junata and Susquehanna fourteen miles
above Harrisburg down to the Chesapeake Bay the river
cannot be crossed by cavalry without bridges
boats that the stream, though shallow, is from mile
to mile and quarter in width that it is full ofledges
of rocks boulders, deep holes and rapids; that the
bridges along the whole line may be destroyed in few
moments and the prryboats removed to this side, and
that squad of riemen and few pieces OF artillery at
any of the crossing places viii be sufficient TO stop
the construction OF pontoon bridge, the great width
of the river preventing the enemy on the other side
from covering their bridge builders Above the mouth
Of the Junaa the mountainous and rugged character of
the country renders the to and passage OF either
river still difficult 1t is probable, therefore that
General Couch will arrest the advance Of the enemy on
the banks OF the Susquehanna and that Harrisburg
which gu this side of the stream will escape cap
ture and spoaon. The greatest danger to be feared
is that the Penns lVanans viii delay long the de-
struction of their bridges.
At all events it devOlves chiefly upon the State of
Pennsylvania and her local forces to drive the rebels
from her borders, and upon the local forces Of the
free State from Massachusetts to Ohio to roll back the
whole tide of this rebel INVASION in order that the army
Of the Potomac may have free scope to head off
the enemy from Washington and Baltimore and to cut
off their lines of retreat Meantime we hope that
forces the James river peninsula and Whereabouts,
and in North Carolina, will not be deprived of the OPP
portunity of reconnaissance to Richmond; for we be-
leve that Lee in this daring Northern campaign, has
left the rebel capital to the chances of another lucky
escape.