New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-26
LEES ADVANCE.
NOW

Reports of al advance northward by heavy
columns of Rebel infantry are plentiful and
positive, but not Jet sufficiently exact TO place
any ascertaned infantry force north OF the
MARYLAND border. A dispatch from Frederick as
serts that Gen. Rhodes division. 10000 strong,
L~ft Ha0erstowu 90 TussArv .farJ bf8ee~ taApsea
there are no further accounts Of its progress
Gen. Jobnson's division, Of 1900 infantry
and Is guns, ia said on the same authority to
have crossed the Potomac at Shepherdstown
on Sunday; ope-half Of this, also. moving
Dorthward on Tuesday, by what road is not
stated. The same telegram assures us that it
is GENERALLY believed" the greater part of Lees
army has crossed into Maryla since Friday.
Who believes it, and why, We are not in
formed; but a later Washington dispatch
reiterates the report. There is, however, as
yet, no positive evidence that Any part Of Lees
army except Ewels corps is north Of the
Potomac. It 10 mono the less true that the
movement Of one corps, if continued. will be
followed by the main army, within easy sup
porting distance Of the advance.
The news of Rebel approaches by way Of
Sbippensburg and Carlisle toward Harrisburg
relates exclusively TO the movements of cav
airy. A very extensive forasing expedition is
still in progress, and reaches q little westward
in the direction Of McConnellsburgh, which
place force under jenkins is said to
have entered. On the other hand, Gen.
Couch has credit for having sent o
column down to Gettysburg. If it Is any
thing more than . reconnaissance, we pre-
sumo it il meant to hold the road from
Chambersburg, whence Ewel, if he really is
at the latter point, is far more likely TO turn
eastward than to advance directly upon Har.
rlsburg. The destruction of the Northern
Central Railroad, from Harrisburg TO Balti.
more, is an enterprise more important and
feasible TRAN the seizure Of the capital OF
Pennsylvania.
1t seems pretty clear from the dispatches
Of yesterday that the advance on Frederick
from HsgerstOwn was prematurey reported.
Such movement would indicate either that
Harpers Ferry was TO be attacked, or that the
real movement 10 10 be directed, not against
Harrisburg, or the Northern Central Railroad,
but against Baltimore and its railway connec-
ton with Washington. The possession Of
Harper's Ferry, or, more properly speaking,
Maryland Hights, which is the key to the
whole position, is really essential TO the CON-
plete occupation Of the Shenandoah Valley, and
its capture, if not the main, is undoubtedly an
incidental, object of the Rebel maDeuyers.
Maryland flights, however, can be held by
ten thousand men against hundred thousand,
and this time, let US hope, it has a garrison
that will make . real and not q sham defense.
1t il impossible that any General can be insane
enough again TO propose, as Mcclellan did
formerly, that the post should DO abandoned,
or again 10 suffer it to be surrendered, as
Mcclellan did, by tho sOwness and extreme
tinidity Of his march 10 it, relief.
In 10 urged against the probability Of the
Suggested movement upon the railways between
Harrisburg, Baltimore, and Washington, that
it il too hazardous. exposing flank and rear to
assault tho answer il that Loo has Just &C.
complained . march moro extended, and in
some respects moro dangerous than this. From
.FgsdslSklbVSs to Hagerstewn IL not loss thsu