Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-08
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
The Retreat of the r. RebeI>-The Next Bat.
tie Field-LOSSeS in the Recent Battles
The Maryland Brisade-Hish Water in
the POtOmac-Arriyal of Prisoners.

FREDERICK, Tuesday, A. M.-rCorrespon-
dence Baltimore American. l-Since my letter
was closed last night, events here have cul-
minated so rapidly that reference may now be
made TO matters that were then treated with
relcence Frederick has again become the
scene of activity that belongs to the presence
OF a great army in pursuit OF a fiying enemy
By the time that this reaches you the whole
Army of the Potomac, travel worn and battle-
scared, yet buoyant and enthusiastic as |
have not seen it since it laid before Y or ktown,
" Ill be here, and large portion of il gone for
ward perhaps to seek new battle ii eId
The ayant couriers of the army have been
passing through the streets of Frederick all day
ThTongs Of cavalrymen long lines of wagons
and galloping staff officers have made the
streets resound with noise and excitement.
Gen Meade has not arrived, but is hourly
expected. It probable his HEADQUARTERS NAV
be here tor a day or two.
Parties who left Hagerstown to-day report
that the head Of the rebel army had already
commenced coming there, and that there seemed
TO be Indications that it was to he massed there
perhaps to try conclusions again with the Army
OF the Potomac. This is, however, very doubt
ful. The greater probability is that Lee will
push as rapidly ON to the river as possible, and
tryto regain for his army on the soil of Virginia
the confidence and prestige they have lost on
this side of the line. If, with his army buoyant
and assured of victory, he could not win at
Gettysburg, how can he expect to do so now
when the conditions are greatly changed Ii
he fights again this side of the Potomac it will
be with the Army OF the Potomac infinitely
stronger in morale and reinforced up to its I'm il
strength before the three glorious days OF July,
whilst he himself is at least twenty five thou
sand woalsar i'm mon, and with his panoply
OF supposed invlncibility shattered TO frag-
ments.
CAN THE ENEMY RETREAT sAPELY9
fear this question must be answered mainly
in the affirmative. Sanguine people may dream
of "bagging' or annihilating'' great army,
and sensation correspondents ornament hyper.
bolical paragraphs with such predictions. But
the doing OF the thing is next to impossible In
TINS case thers are geographical facts that
increase the difficulties. The Potomac, above
Harper's Ferry, makes a considerable bend
northward, and Lees line of retreat from Get
tysburg to the river at Williamsport is shorter
than any other route that we can pursue His
own knowledge Of an intention to retreat before
it could become known to General Meade, and
the consequent preparations made tor it, is
equal to at least twelve hours in the start.
Suppose our army rushes pell -mell after the
retreatlng enemy, what follows! He chooses
his own point OF attack, masses his artillery,
repulses our advance guard, detains us some
hours making dispostlsnS for battle-hours
which are improved in pushing forward his
III ain body-his rear guard follows In retreat
and nothing is gained. Gen. Meade has un.
derstood the advantages of these tactics too
well TO be led into them, and has marched his
army this way by roads running east of South
Mountain, but parallel with those the enemy
are falling beyond it. l.-f s-.
Such remarks rs these are only necessary to
prevent the belittllng of the glorious triumph
gained by our army by those who NAV. be in.
clned to forget what has really been accom-
plIshed, because all that they hoped for i'm
agined to be possible, has not been accom-
plished. The army has done great work for
which the country should be de voutly thankful
1t has put an end to the invasion of the North.
broken the invipcibility of Lees army touched
the rebels on their most sensitive point, and
disappointed their vast expectations Of dicta.
ting terms OF peace to us from our own SOIL
More, it has relieve the Army OF the Potomac
from the incubus of defeat, a fact that will tell
wonderfully when they next meet the foe.
WHAT WE ARE DOING. 80
Though the rebels may reach the other side
of the Potomac without further punishment, it
will not be for want Of effort on our part to in
fict it on them. Our cavalry, under Pleasan-
hard. But0rd, Gregg and fitzpatrick are miles