New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-18
FROM TEE AR,lY OFTmE POTOMAC.
The Rebel Army Retreats Across the Poto-
mac-lnesde Wished TO Atinck on Hon
dny-Ni- Corps Commanders Advise
Against it-Weadc VIII Follow EniIae-
diafeIy-The Army Reinforced.
FIom OuI special COIIe.pon6e0t.

WlIIANsfoET, Nd, Tuesday July a. 1868.
All the reports. that Lee had no means vi cross
ing the Potomac which reached Gen. Meade, seem
to have been true. Nevertheless, the Reoe army
last night made good its escape across the river.
Yesterday, Il bridge was completed AT Williams-
port and in the dark and rain of last night the whole
army was moved across in safety. The crossing
commenced al ? o'clock last night, and At this
morning the rear guard marched over the bridge
A few stragglrrs aud unre.ieved pichets were gath
cred up by kilpatIick's Cavalry. Beyond thls mo-
thing was captured.
Wleu, At o clock this morning, Gen. Fitzpatrick
dashed into Williamsport. be was fired on from the
eueu,y'o guns OF the hills opposite the town.
" er Gen. Ieade learned tue position Of Lees
aruv GA Sunday, ne determined 10 make an attack
Oh the 81 m position Of the enemy.
Ih= hero veterans that remain as the Army OF the
Potomac were ready 10 obey orders. y week and
more .irce the battle Of Gettysburg had pas-cd.
TrOJp. 10 Washington troops Al Fortress Monroe,
troops on the Peninsula. troops in North Carolina,
troops everywherc, bu, 10 Tc-entOrcements fOr
Meade |, is true few troops were sent. Mlliia-
men and troops whose term Of enlistment was just
about expiring. But OF soldiers who thought only
of battles 70 be fought and victories TO be won,
Meade received none.
There may be good and ample reason for ihis con
duct at Washington, but TO men III the field VINO
see and know aud feel the c0ucion o. wants o!
the command. the neglect seems uuaccOuniable.
Tie Commanding General knew tbat The enemy
was numerically about bis equal. That the en-
t-enched position be occupied was strong; that 20
assaGl. il successfully would involve great loas o;
lie, and that the slia-king party must su.-r much
more terribly than the defending army. IL vi-w Of
these things, on Sunday Lighi, Gen. Metc con
veneG in council his Corls Commanders, Brig..oeu.
WadswOrth Isl Corps Brighten. Hayes, - orie :
Msi-Gen French 81 Corp-; VI ..G-'. : ",s. D..
Corps M. .-Gen. Sedgwi s, 6.h C.sis; AaJ Cen.
Howard. ! lth Cops; MaJ.-Geu. S'ocum, l2th
Corps Msj..Geu. Humphreys, Cbief Of Siaii Brig
Gen. Warren, Chef Of Engineers, and Brg -Gen.
Hunt, CBief Of Artillery. The General lad The
case before his advisors and announced himself III
favor Of sssaul'ing The enemys works ON Monday
morning at day hight. After mature consideration,
which consumed the greater part OF the night, on
voting 1t found the council stood three IN laVor
of, and seven against making the attack.
Gen. Meade, therefore, according TO the very de-
cided 1naority abandoned bis intention Of attempt
ing TO carry enemy position and determined TO
await the arrival Of reeDiOrcemeuts which he knew
were coming up, and IN two days would be able to
Join him.
There will doubtless be much censure heaped On
the new commander for having thus delayed. The
country thought only Of " annihilatlnR,' " rout-
ing" or " bagging" Lee army. This was the
hope and wish OF every loyal man. Hopes ana
wishes, however, do not win victories. Long aud
fatiguing marches, disesse-breediDg toll, sore
wounds death and terrible slaughter, are tse cur
rency paid for victory. Whether 1t were better that
1900 or 10000 loyal men should lie dead aud
wounded on the nights Of Wilamsport, and Lee
army probably defeated, or that the enemy should
bave escaped TO be more successlully and at ies-
cost defeated In come other place, merciful people
will decide.
Yesterday the army was stronger than it was the
day before o-day il is srOnger than it yester-
day, aud to morrow 1t will be stronger STILL IL is
not officially announced, but it is we'll understood
that that Gen. Meade will not abandon the pursuit,
will he prosecute tardy chase.
The campaign has changed but the new one will
be vigorous and prompt The enemy has not gone
unpunsbed; the invasion is ended and for the time
being " Washington 10 safe" The changes In the
West, too will make difference aud the operations
Of Grant and Rosecfans will We materially alice.
movements In the East. Hores and wishes have
been disappointed, but W % thing wond have
been the defeat Of an army. J. r.. 5.