Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1863-06-18
The Present CRISIS.

- 49, =
exeitement-not to say scare--of our peo-
pie in Northern Virginia and Southern
Pennsylvania in view of the movements
now going on of the rebel forces under
Gen. Lee,--we in Vermont are certainly
far enough removed from the scene Of ac
ton TO use ordinary judgment, and to look
with some degree of GOODNESS upon the
stirring events there beng enacted.
From the conflicting statements derived
from our telegraphic and other reports to
the time of this present writing, it is i'm
possible 10 arrive at any correct conciu-
sions as TO the present state OF affairs on
this scene of actiou-but il is sufficiently
apparent from our later and more reliable
reports. that all the earlier dispatches
were III the highest degree exaggerated.
From the appearance of things 1t would
seem that the "knights of the golden CIR
cle,n and the copperheads generally, OF
Pennsylvania, had got possession OF the
wires and were dispensing glorious
news " in accordance with their own de-
slres and wishes: and if they could have
had their own way in the matter they
would doubtless ere this have had all
Southern and Western Pennsylvania over
run bv tne rebel hordes---Harrlsburg and
Pittsburg would have been sacked, and
Philadelphia occupied by the minlons OF
jeff Davis.
But the later dispatches, as will be seen,
give an entirely different color to the
anews Of the day "-and the unholy
hopes and expectations of Southern sym
pathizers are likely to be crushed IN the
bud. As we have before SAID, however,
our intelligence is still vague and IN some
respects unsatisfactory. Speculations IN
nnmerable are made upon this late move
mcnt of Lee, ard every man almost has
favorite theory of his own, not only OF the
movement, but of the probable results
But that ii is but part Of comphrehen-
sive plan TO effect the whole game OF war
from, New Orleans to Washington, seems
to us the most reasonable view of the case.
With the present situation Of affairs at
Vicksburg and Port Hudson 1t becomes
lmperatively necessary that a change OF
programme should be made throughout the
entire lines of the rebel army. Johnston
must be reinforced-Bragg must be made
to plav fast and loose before Rosecrans,
and the attention of the Government at
Washington in the meantime must be
kept active near at home. But viewed IN
whatever light we may, this movement on
the part Of Gen. Lee appears to us OF a
most desperate character. 1t seems TO be
the last effort of a struggling man wrest-
ling with an memorable fate. And
whatever may be the design, it seems to
us, IN view of the position and supposed
strength of the Union forces around Wash
ington, and below Richmond, that it must
prove a most disastrous movement for the
rebel cause.
But a very brief space of time will re-
solve the problem. AT no time since the
commencement Of the war has the hour
been so pregnant with great events. With
yicksburg and Port Hudson hanging In
the balance, we have now before us, IN
addition, the dread conflict between the
opposing forces in Virginia, in which the
capital of either, power is perhaps the
stake at issue. Let us hope, and pray,
that the God of battles-and of Justice
will give US that success in these issues
which shall strengthen the cause of Right,
and give nope to Freedom the world over.
e hambersburg, said to have been
LS..l h., tho raholc is n f1ourishino TOWN.