The New York herald., 1863-06-18

m0VomemGo Oh the heOo1 army
According to our latest advices from Wash
ington, the maiA body Of the rebel army is
moving down the Shenandoah valley towards
Maryland, while the army Of General Hooker
is gathered around the old battle field of Bull
run. It is conjectured that Lees programme il
substantially that of last September, and that
it will probably culminate in another great
battle on the field Of Antietam. Such contin-
gency may possibly occur; but we can hardly
imagine that It enters into the plans or calcula-
tions of General Lee, or General Hooker, or
the War Office. 1t is evident that the whole
rebel army is in motion towards Maryland and
Pennsylvania; but it remains to be seen whether,
on crossing the borders, it will move southwark
for the rear of Washington or Baltimore, north
ward for Harrisburg and Philadelphia or west
ward for Pittsburg, and grand raid into Ohio.
We cannot imagine that Lee will hazard the
experiment Of moving down upon Baltimore or
Washington while Gen. Hooker is in position
cut him of from his lines of retreat; nor do
we suppose that If Lee had designed to march
upon Harrisburg and Philadelphia he would
have sent forward q detachment of his forces in
advance sufficiently strong only to give the
alarm to Pennsylvania, and sufficient time to
Gen. Couch to muster q force on the banks Of
the Susquehanna competent to protect the whole
line of the river against even hundred thou
sand men; nor can We believe that be has any
design Of leading his army on wild goose
chase over the Allegheny Mountains for Pitts
burg.
What then is the grand object Of this North
ern movement of the rebel army Of Virginia
We answer, Washington. There is prize
worth all the costs and hazards of the adven.
ture Lees army, from North and South Caro-
lima and from Tennessee, has been heavily rein
forced. Hooker's force has been considerably
diminished, though still powerful army. Lee
may exaggerate the depletions Of his enemy,
and be too confident of his own strength. At
all events, we suspect that he is manGuvreing
to draw out from Washington and to divide the
forces of Hooker In movements for the defence
of the border States, and that then, watching
its opportunity, the main body OF the rebel
army will descend upon the rear Of the ma.
tional capital. In this view of the matter we
think the War Office will act wisely in holding
the Army of the Potomac together, and between
Washington aud the main rebel army, however
alarming may appear the menaces OF this OF
that rebel column against Harrisburg OF
| Pittsburg.
The Northern States will soon have an aux
iliary force in the field competent to meet al
marauding detachments Of the enemy, and
competent besides 10 garrison the de
fences Of Washington, and thus enable
the government to add twenty-five OF
thirty thousand veteran troops to the army
Of the Potomac, or to the army Of the james
river peninsula, for practical diversion agains
Richmond In fact, this Northern advance o
the rebel army Of Virginia, In reviving the mar
tial spirit Of the loyal States, and In promptly
bringing out their reserved militia and volun
teers, affords the War Once n most favorabl,
opportunity, not only for demolishing the rebe
army Of Virginia, but for stealing march int
Richmond while ne enemy Is attempting h
draw away the army Of the Potomac in ords
10 steal march upon Warrington.