The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-06-24
NEW YORK HERALD WEDNESDAY, JUNE "a 1863. I

Movements of the Rebels Around Wash.
inston--Hints for the War Once.
The reported return of the rebels in force 10
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and their disap-
pearance from Frederick, Maryland, are items
of news which contribute very little towards
disclosing the Interior designs of General Lee.
AS for the rumored descent of the rebels upon
Uniontown, within forty miles of Pittsburg,
Notwithstanding the terrible excitement into
which the rumor has thrown theipeople of that
great city, we consider it hardly entitled TO a
moments serious attention. If any rebel force
had made its Appearance at Uniontown, it was
but guerilla gang dashing in from the noun
tains Of West Virginia, TO dash back again as
rapidly as possible Great armies on foot can
not move over mountainous country for hun
dreds Of miles with the mysterious rapidity Of
the Flying Dutchman." 4,3as
General Pleasanton has discovered that the
army Of Lee Is in the Shenandoah valley
Some Of his advanced detachments are in
Maryland and aPennsylvania; bat they have
hesitated so long on the borders that we cannot
imagine that they ever meditated q march upon
Harrisburg. Lee is playing another game He
10 nanouvring for the back door Of Wash
ington; and II be can get over the Blue,
Ridge, through some Of tho gaps between
Winchester and Harper's Ferry, without detec-
ton, 1t is possible that our first information
Of his whereabouts may be that hin main army
has again crossed into Maryland at the fords
Of the Potomac near Leesburg. We may
therefore take the liberty Of hint to the War
Onice that few redoubts commanding those
fords would be wise precaution, not only
for tho protection of Washington and Balti-
more. but for the maintenance Of Harper's
Ferry. We presume that General Hooker will
keep an eye in the direction Of Leesburg; but
where small stationary force, with few
siege gums, can do the work Of large nova
BILE force, we should think that hint upon
the subject would be sufficient to secure these
fixed defences of the river.
That General Lee has sought and Is seeking
to avoid collision with the full strength of
our Army of the Potomac is very clear
from the stealthy manner and the circuitous
route which he adopted in this Northern ad-
vance. Otherwise, after he had crossed the
Rappahannock, he would have turned sharply
upon the flank of General Hooker and COM
PEELED him to try the issue Of general bat
tie, which be declined at Charlottesville. We
believe, too that, with the enormous army
which Lee is represented as having scraped
together since the desultory battles of "the VIII
derness, " he would not have hesitated to bring
Cen Hooker to the issue Of n general anoa0a-
ment in the neighborhood of the Rappahannock
or between it and the old battle field of Bull run.
In stealthily crossing over the mountains Lee
confesses that he is compelled to rely more
upon his strategy than his strength; and stra-
tegy, therefore, is the thing by which this cam
paign will be decided.
The only point Of strategy required of the
War Office is that Of keeping the forces Of Gen.
Hookers army within convenient supporting
distance Of each other until the dispositions of
tie enemy's forces are fully ascertained; and
this idea, we suppose, is among General Hal
lecks practical elements of war" We cannot,
however, conclude this article without again
calling bis attention to the fine opening which
is now offered at Richmond for q magnificent
bit Of strategy in that direction. If Lee has
undertaken all the risks Of sacrificing Richmond
to get into Warrington, now is the time to
secure Washington BY the capture Of Rich
mond. ft.aa
nwpc g.