New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-27
THE REBEL INVASION.

mander of the right wing Of Lees army, es.
tablished his headquarters at Chambersburg,
Pa, on tho Oath inst. His general order
of that date will be found in another col.
umn. He is reported TO have reached Ship
pensburg, ten miles north, on Thursday,
and his advance guard is undoubtedly at this
moment in Carlisle, which has been evacuated
by the National forces. A column of infantry,
cavalry and artillery occupied Gettysburg yes
terday. II is therefore still uncertain whether
Gen. Ewell 10 making for Harrisburg direct,
or means to strike the Northern Central Rail-
road at Smysen's Junction or York.
A letter from Washington, which we print
elsewhere, details plan of campaign for Lee.
on the authority of recently captured officer.
Another report, not inconsistent with these
statements, processes to give, through Rebel
sympathizer of Hagerstown, the statement OF
Gen. Ewell himself, that he is moving directly
for Harrisburg. One remark will do for both
accounts; they may be perfectly correct, but
they are not authoritative. The Richmond
Cabinet does not proclaim it, purposes
from the housetops of that pestilent city,
nor does Gen. Ewell take into his con-
fdence every or any Maryland Rebel
who has relations with Baltimore news
paper. The statement that Lee meant to dis
turb Hooker before bis movement into the
Shenandoah was accomplished is preposterous.
His plain object was to transfer his army with
the utmost possible celebrity aud secrecy, and
be did it with mastery skill. Once there, bis
plans must largely depend one Hooker's, and
they, undoubtedly, are still plastic, and will,
to considerable extent, attend the movements
of the National commander.
As for the immediate operations of Ewell,
the Gettysburg occupation seems TO point un-
at the destruction Of the Northern
Central Railroad, for in ordinary circum-
stances Gen. Ewell would BY no means venture
to detach a column, at such a distance, for a
special object if his main body were about TO
advance 10 another direction. But it is diff.
cult at this moment to predict what Ewoll
may or may not do. His advance is apparently
be has for support all the rest of Lees army.
II he set out with the most moderate eIpecta.
tions he could not We'll hesitate to push biz
campaign when he finds nothing in front
of him as hs advances. The road from the
southern border OF Pennsylvania to its capital
seems to be public highway, unObstructedly
open to whatever Rebel force may choose to
follow its course. There was a statement
yesterday that Gen. Couch had occupied Get,ys.
burg and it seems incredible that he should
not have done 50, if he had any mobile force
Of Trustworthy troops. Yet there is no account
of opposition to the entrance OF the Rebel
forces, and Eweu in such a condition of the
country may be striking two points, or twenty
points, at once,
| 1t does begin 10 seem as if nothing could
rouse the people Of PENNSYLVANIA into Il courage.
GUS activity. For week the Rebel army har
been steadily advancing into the heart OF The
State. Her towns are plundered, her field.
rsvaged, hcr Capital threatened, yet no passion
s,irs the sluggish blood Of this unworthy
race to any noble purpose. Reused they
certainly are, but the excitement is wholly
of fear, and the only thought is of re.
treat There are troops IN Harrisburg
but few Of them are from Pennsy lvana.
Whatever resistance they may be able TO make
to Ewell's entrance will be purchased by the
blood of other States than that whose capital
is to DO fought for in the streets aud on the
banks Of the river which still Loyalty flows in
the enemys front. The Governor calls to-day
for $4,000 troops to defend the capital, but
who knows whether to-day and tomorrow
there will be q capital to Defend
Meanwhile. there is On army in the rear aud
on the flank Of Lees audacous columns. Gen.
Hooker knows at least as much Of the move.
ments Of his scornful opponent as is known at
the North. and it is impossible to suppose be
is not doing something. When Lee had once
seized the Shenandoah and the Blue Ridge
passes, which Hooker never should have per-
United him to do. it was no longer practicable
for Hooker to prevent bis invasion Of Penn.
sylvanis, but it is possible, and the nation
which has trusted him with its army
will expect, that he should see to it that
such al invasion be dearly atoned for Gen.
Lee ia an accomplished soldier. experienced,
wary, and courageous, but he ventures on
such campaign as this because he has little
fear of tho commander whom bis temerity thus
insults. 1t remains for Gen. Hooker to prove
the mistake of Con. Lee, and to exact for it a
terrible penalty.
PENNSYLVANIA ACCUSING!