Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1863-06-18
rhe 1nra.lon Of DC North.

.
grand invasion is intended by Lee there is
no longer room to doubt. This intention
has been kept so profound secret, that
the Government add the people ofthe loyal
States are taken completely by surprise
There have been appreheusiOns for weeks,
but the dagger seemed too far away and
TOO problematical to induce actual prepar
alton to meet it Now the suddeuness of
the Invasion and the celebrity with which
it is being executed, fnds the people of
the border totally uuprepsred for it. We
may therefore reasonably look for the in-
vasion to be for little while successful
Lee had all his plans laid out before he
embarked in the enterprise. He calculated
how much time he could gain by the sur
prise and confusion thst would follow
his sudden appearance on the border, aud
the probability is he will take advantage
of it by pushing on before the invaded PEG
Pile can recover and organize.
Obviously the force that has penetrated
SO far into Pennsylvania, is chiefly cavalry,
and cannot therefore be very large. The
heavy column of infantry is good ways
back, making comparatively slow progress,
watched, if not confronted by vigilant,
and We think, superior army under Hook
er. The cavalry will not venture mach
further iuto Pennsylvania unless supported
ny infantry. They will probably attempt
TO cut the Pennsylvania Central Railroad,
not at Harrisburg, but in the mountains to
the west of it. II Lees main army sue
ceeds in destroying Hooker's, or eyading
it, and moves on into Pennsylvania, then
We may look for formidable advance
either towards Harrisburg and Philadel.
phiR or Pittsburg. But it cannot be pos
sible that the maiu column of Lees army
will be allowed to do this, at least without
defeating Hooker. This we do not believe
it can do. The Potomac, army as all ac-
counts agree is in splendid fighting trim,
and is certainly not inferior to Lees
Hitherto Lee has fought behind impregna.
BILE intrenchments. Now he has come ont
10 the open field, and there is no good rea-
son why Hooker should not fight him at
least on equal terms, aud if he does this
he must achieve splendid and crushing
victory. 1t looks as if the opportunity for
the Potomac army to do something had ut
last come. If there is geueralship at the
head of it now is the time for it to win i'm
perishable laurels. We have already had
reports of battle in progress on tue old
Bull Run battle ground. We do not
think such battle has been fought, but it
may be going on now or may be fought to-
morrow. Very coon at least it is iuevita-
BILE. If Lee meditates n descent on Wash
ington he will attack Hooker, for no other
way can he reach it. If he does not intend
any such assault now, but Northern inva-
sion 6rst, Hooker must attack Lee. A col
lision seems to us unavoidable. If Hooker
beats the enemy, the grand invasion will
be frustrated. If unfortunately he should
be beaten, it must go on and be
met by the thousands aud hundreds of
thousands of northern citizens who are
Transforming themselves into soldiers al
most en- masse. They are swarming to
the border from all parts of Pennsylvania,
and from New York and the New England
States. The North is full of everything
needed in fghting-arms, artillery and
ammuuiliOn-with unlimited facility. for
keeping up or increasing the supply. Lee
will find the invasion of such country
and people, IN undertaking of Infinitely
greater dif6cslty than he ever dreamed of.
If he calculated part of the people would
welcome him as a deliverer he will be
deceived. The people of the North will
unite as firmly in resisting this Eruption
of barbarism as ever the mountaiueers of
Switzerland did against the minions of
Austrian tyranny. 1t will be like the in
vasion of the British General Burgoyne
Every ford will be disputed, every pass
contested. Progress will soon be checked.
Men will soon begin to swarm on all sides.
Time will be gained, and very soon great
and efficient armies viii be found opposing.
Progress will be stopped, aud the rebel
army will then have to retreat or be sur
rounded. To retreat will then be almost
as difficult as to advance; and the flushed
and insOIent army which veutured on the
hazardous experiment OF transfer ring the
seat of war, will End that there is no safety
in an enemy's country, and will return, if it
escapes at all, used up and demoraIized,
as Bouaparte did from Moscow.
This invasion while it ought to arouse
every energy to repel it, ought not to dis
courage. 1t will awaken the North to put
forth all its strength 1t will make the
war more desperate and sanguiuary, bus it
will hasten the end. People fight for their
homes better than for anything else under
Heaven. This is one reason the rebels
have fought SO we'll: They were invaded,
Now they have Staksd everything on iuva. /