New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-07-01

anton's cavalry pickets are reported within
four miles Of York Yesterday, but they cannot
possibly have been there if Lee is collecting
his forces near TIano5er, though the story IS
quite probable if he were Withdrawing them
northward The National cavalry is also
said 10 have been in Gettysburg about
the same time. If they were. then Lee
has abandoned his communications with the
Cumberland Valley. or is wholly within it, or
is still further to the north. Finally, a dis
patch from Harrisburg, dated yesterday after
moan st I. asserts positively that Ewell is still
in front of Harrisburg; statement wholly IT.
recorcilablc with the theory of an Immediately
approaching battle anywhere else. II Lee
means to fight, he will fight with the whole OF
his army, not a part of it; and 1t must Dc
presumed he has not divided bis forces in any
such way that they cannot be promptly reunited
before he is forced into q battle.
A later dispatch from Harrisburg announces
that the Rebels have retreated beyond Carlisle
1t is understood that kilograms from Harris
burg, which is Gen. Couch's Headquarters, are
sent with official sanction; the statement there
fore ought to be correct. But the disappear
ance must be very recent, since at o'clock
yesterday Ewell, on the same authority, bad
not departed "s-,.,.1... a.. ...
Taking all the evidence together, We incline
TO the opinion that Lee has really withdrawn
his forces from between the Blue Ridge and
the Susquehanna has evacuated Getty sburg,
Hanover, York, Wrightsve, and the position
Immediately in front of Harrisburg has
ceased to threaten q crossing Of the Susque-
hanna, and 10 concentrating in the Cumberland
Valley holding all the mountain passes on the
east. Meade is beyond question advancing
rapidly on Gettysburg or some adjacent
point-a fact which the Lancaster dis
patch announcing the imminence of battle
at Hanover sufficiently establishes. In view
Of that movement the plain object OF Lees
retirement is to choose bis own battle-ground
in the Valley. or in one of the passes through
which it is approached, preserving meanwhile
his threatened communications and relying
either on q victory over Meade. or on once
moro turning the flank Of hs army. by ret
rograde march, and perhaps even hoping to
place himself between the National forces and
Washington, II he should succeed in outwittng
bis new opponent. II follows. of course, II
this theory be correct, that the ravages oil
the Rebel forces elsewhere than IN the Valley
d
Harrisburg, are at an end for the present.
The prompt advance OF Meade has caused Lee
TO fall back upon hi. own lines aud beneath
the protection Of the mountain ranges which
guarded h. flank "a he advanced. IL re.
main. for Gen. Meade 10 choose his line oil
attack, and We earnestly iru,t that be VIII
enter the Cumberland Valley II be enters il
at all, not between Lee and Harrisburg, but
between him and the Potomac. Ii b. can ac
conplish that be will have done much 10 s.n-
dicate his title 10 the Leadership OF the army,
and will have inspired both his soldiers
aud the country With confidence IN bis
ultimate success. OF one thing We may BE-
assured-that Gen. Meade. n he wins VIC.
tory is not the man TO LEI It remain n barren
aud uniruitiul triumph. IIo is brave. encr.
getic, and earnest, aud he will neither leave
of with q battle haH fought. as did Mcclellan
at Antietam, nor will be suffer Lee, ii even
hall beaten, again TO cross the Potomac in un-
disturbed retreat, ss also Mcclellan did, after
un indecisise contest had impaired bis conf
dence in himself and eItinguished what little
courage he ever possessed
Later-A dispatch from Lancaster. received
at late hour, SAYS that Gen. Couch is across
the Susquehanna at Harrisburg. and that Gen.
Meade occupied Hanover and York last night
with some part of his forces. Pleasanton's
cavalry is trompling on the rear of the re-
treating Rebels, and everything goes to show
that Meade has moved with such e,traor binary
celebrity as TO seriously endanger the security
of Lees retreat into the Cumberland Valley.
The decisive contest is thought TO be at hand.