The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1863-06-04

The Prospect of a Rebel Enya-
sion.


For the past two or three weeks there
have been various significant intlm-
ations that the rebel General Lee serious
ly contemplates repetition of his former
disastrous attempt to invade Maryland and
Pennsylvania. The Richmond papers
have not only advocated such movement,
but one OF them has limited that necessary
preparations are now being. made. We DO
not regard it as at all improbable. 1t is
known that nearly all the rebel troops
that could be spared from North and South
Carolina have lately been hurried to Vir-
oinia, and the army OF General Lee IS
doubtless stronger by fifty thousand men
than it was in the recent battles. 1t is
known that it is General Lees invariabe
plan, previous to making any Important
movement, thoroughly to reconnoitre the
country with bis cavalry; and the late
raid of Inboden would seem to have been
in the nature of a reconnaissance. These
are the only positive facts at present In our
possession, from which the probability OF
an invasion may be inferred; but there are
quite number oe reasons why the rebels
should desire to make such movement.
The army under Lee cannot maintain Its
present position of defence, and remain
inactive through the weary summer
months nothing could be more destruct-
i've to the morale OF the rebel troops, or
more disheartening In its influence upon
Southern people. The belief that the
Army of the Potomac was badly crippled
in the recent battles has been sedulously
inculcated by the newspaper press of the
South, and The impression is doubtless
general that it would be powerless TO
oppose rebel advance. The enemy are
well aware that in some few Of the inte-
rior counties Of this State latent senti-
ment of disloyalty exists, which seeks no
better pretext for asserting itself than a
favorable opportunity. They see that
unless the theatre OF war Is transferred
at once to the old battle ground of Manass-
as, or still farther north, another conflict
must decide the downfall of their capital.
Invasion, though it should yield them no
material advantages, might be attended
with serious results to us, and would give
their cause an added prestige abroad
The mere fact that it had been attempted,
would inspirit the Southern people, tenn
porariIy, and infuse new energy into their
aTHlieS AS diiHy VI ocuSia AZ ISO iS ~"
so strong that probably from fifty to sew
enty-6ve, or even one hundred thousand
men could be detached for the purpose of
carrying out the scheme, without aban-
DINING the position of Fredericksburg, or
leaving Richmond dangerously exposed.
Such being the situation, it is highly
probable that second invasion of the free
States will be attempted. The duty of
the authorities is plain. Their response
bilities are weighty and both, we rejoice
to see, have been accepted in their fullest
sense The telegraph has already inform
ed us that council of war has been held
to consider the subject, and that General
Hooker is not disposed to underrate its
importance We have likewise been told
that Governor Curtin and Major General
Schenck have been in consultation with
the authorities at Washington, with the
view Of providing for the defence of the
State Timely precautions may avert the
threatened danger. When we were men
aced Ia the same way eight months ago,
We made it subject of merriment. We
have grown wise In these months we
have learned that we do not avoid an evil
because we shut our eyes to it and If We
would combat it successfully, we must
stare it full in the face. This is what the
authorities now seem 10 be doing, and
therefore we entertain but little apprehen-
sion for the future.
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