New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-16

Of the enemy be assaulted tomorrow r There
were twelve officers present. Of whom hve gave
their opinions in tie affirmative and seven IN she
negative. The former were: Gen. Meade, Con.
Howard, commanding 1lth Corps; Gen. G. K. War
rem, Chief Of Engineers; Gen. Wsdsworth, COM
manding 1st Corps, and Gen. Plsasanton, command
ing Cavalry Corps. Ofthsse Gen. Howard was ap-
parently the most thoroughly convinced Of tho
necessity Of immediate attack; at least he was The
most strenuous in debate. Those opposed were
tho Oldest corps commander, and their weight
carried decision In the negative. 1t was conceded
by all that if an attack were ventured upon 1t should
be upon the Rebel left. Now 1t happens that Cen
erals Howard aud Wsdsworth must have led the ad-
vance, had 1t been permitted. Hence their votes
were request to bs allowed to fight Moreover,
from their position we must suppose them best &C
quAnted With the probabilities ofauccess. Besides,
Gen. Fitzpatrick, who had recently fought oil over
the ground where the fight would have been, ,whohm'
self bad the extreme right at Hsgerstown, was con-
fdent that, his cavalry assisting and assisted BY one
good corps, he could force the Rebeaank 30 urgent
were hs and Gen. Howard that on Mouday morn
ing they telegraphed for permission 70 make
a reconnaissance in force in that direction. Per-
mission WAS not granted, and the sole operation OF
the day was q small reconnaissance just at night,
by two brigades, one Of cavalry and one Of militia,
which was pushed ont half Q mile or 70, but wss
unable to determine the vital question whether
the force in front was an army, or resr'guard
making believe An army. The event has shown
that this day, Monday, was our golden opportunity.
Had the attack been made We should have caught the
Rebels in the midst Of q general breaking up, with
only thin line to oppose us, with the roads full OF
trains with a thousand wagons yet quietly parked
at Wiiswspor their army, its artillery, its trains,
its vast spoils, would have been our prey.
That no attack was made can be accounted for
only on the ground Of imperfect information, or Of
no knowledge whatever in relation to the enemy.
Il may have been known that up 10 Sunday night
the enemy had no means Of crossing and have been
thought impossible that he could obtain means so
soon and TO such an extent to get away the next
night. Again, the armylmay have been ordered in
no case to uncover Washington, while the generals
may have thought that the only practicable advance
was from the position Of the right with our whole
force Thus forming the army between Leo and Pitts
burQh There is color to this view, in the fact that
the ridges between the Shearns parallel with our
line while advancing from the other direction, they
would Re perpendicular to IT, thus ofiordng better
ter ground for offensive operations.
This nick Of time for an sttackicomprsed not more
than ten practicable hours; it is not wonderful,
therefore, that il was not seized-not 40 impesch-
ment Of generalship that il was not seized. 1t
would have been surprising had 1t been hit upon.
The effective force was probably no. far from
GO. 600 out Of 100, 900 Leo led into Maryland. II
goes back not 30 deInoraliLed as some have fondy
believed, but certainly acknowledging terrible
whipping, judge from the testimony Of citizens
and prisoners. A certain Herald correspondent
who reports himself ss having been three days a
prisoner with Stewards cavalry, and as having been
treated with the most distinguished considera-
,ion," tells another story, AYERS that they
are in splendid condition, and do not
consider themselves beaten at Gettysburg, but
prefer to take the evidence Of the greater number Of
wtnesses-and the least questionable. One of the
prisoners l have conversed with ibis morning is u
nephew Of U. =. Dstrict-Attoruey Price Of Balti.
more, citizen Of Hagerstown, and for two years q
Sergeant in the st Maryland Cavalry (Coufederate).
Ho was Convinced that Secesh was played out.
For nearly year the Yankee cavalry bad been too
much for theirs, and our infantry bad begun to
oul6gh, theirs. He was sick Of the business, and
renamed behind with the purpose Of getting out Of
1t. Halftheir army shared his feelngs" All this
from young man Of good education, who " enlisted
in The Rebel army for the sake Of the principle"
As close my letter at p, m, but two cavalry.
men Of all the Rebel Army Of Northern Virginia"
are visible across the Potomac. Kilpatrick's guns
occasionally drop shell into the woods beyond
but elicit no response. The different corps Of the
Army Of the Potomac will, tonight lue she banks
Of the river of it's name. CHAs. A. PAGE.
The Rebel Army-Thefr Present Strength