The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1863-07-01
The Rebel Campaign.

eltlons as TO the "heDel campaign.
1t is obvious enough by this time that
Gen. Lees new campaign was never
meant to accomplish its objects by mere
celeri.y or suddenness of movement
When ChambeIsburg was first taken
Harrisburg might also have been taken
for the trouble of marching that far, and
since it is safe to presume that Lee knew
its defenoeless condition, it follows that
that place was not an objective point -
at all events had not then become so.
And since real invasion of Eastern
Pennsylvania would have been easier
upon the moment than it can ever be
again, and would surely have been made,
if meant, it must be conceded that it was
not meant, and that the rather too ex-
tensive apprehension of disaster in that
quarter had little or no satisfactory cause
Putting Eastern Pennsylvania aside,
the question recurs: What as Lees plan
of campaign =? Until there is more evil
dence-or we mi ght say some evidence
of movements in force upon Pittsburgh,
we shall hesitate to believe that the
strength of the Rebel army has crossed
or is crossing the mountains for opera
tions in the West. If it has, Pittsburgh
is by no means the ulterior point to be
gained. A campaign in Ohio, a diver
sion in favor of Bragg, and even the in
terruption of Grants prospective preme-
mace through Mississippi and Alabama
after the fall of Vicksburg, may be reck-
oued as among the probable objects eff a
movement SO gigantic in proportion as
the transfer of Lees forces from the east
ern to the western scene of conflict. But
taking it for granted at present that no
column strong enough to do more than
attempt the capture of Pittsburgh and
Wheeling has been detached from Lees
main army, the question again returns,
Where is that army, and bent on what
campaign?
To the first half of the question, it is
still impossible-in spite of some reports
more positive than plausible to give
decisive answer. Instead of expecting
any information or indications of Lees
position from the movements of his cav
airy, we shall do well to remember that
the business of the cavalIy is to mask,
not uncover, the operations of the force
in front of which it maneuvers. The
forays into Chambersburg, therefore, into
Frederick, and wherever else Stuart and
jenkins have been heard from, since they
are not followed by an immediate sup
port af infantry, are evidence that Lee
has objects not in those but other direc-
tions. On the other hand we are inform
ed by the operations Of our own cavalry
where he Is, and it does seem tolerably
certain, as the result of Gen. Pleasanton's
explorations, that there is no Rebel force
in that quadrillateral district which is
bounded south-westerly by the Kappa.
hammock, north-westerly by the Bull Run
aud Kittoctan ranges, and of which the
Potomac encloses the other two sides
1t is also true that the Loudon Valley,
lying between the Kittoctan Mountains
and the Blue Ridge, has been partially
secured, but it does not appear that the
Rebel possession of any Gap in the latter
has been disputed still less, that the
Shenandoah River has been crossed to
the westward by our troops, since they
crossed, very recently, in the other di-
reotion. Whatever information, there
fore, has been obtained concerning the
Shenandoah Valley, and the presence of
Lee within 1t, has not been gathered by
reconnaissance in force, and is not fully
to be trusted. Still, Gen. Pleasanton
learns, says letter which we printed
yesterday, that :he two corps of Ewell
and Longstreet are near Winchester, ac-
companied by Gen. Lee. and that the
corps of A. 2. Hill is now coming up the
Valley to join them.
On the probable plan Of campaign to
be adopted by Lee, if he is really in the
Valley IN force, it seems to US idle to
speculate. The Shenandoah Valley IS
base of operations, the value of which
has heretofore been multifariously demon
strated, and from which about as many
lines may be drawn as from Richmond.
w no suali pIeteuu lo say "bich bee hds
chosen, or will choose? Lacking the
advantage of those confidential relations
with the Rebel commander which other
journals have cultivated, we prefer to
leave to Gen, Hooker, whose proper
business it is, the task of divining the
intentions of his opponent. For the
present, we are content to believe that
the swiftness and decision with which
Gen, Hooker changed his ground to meet
the movement Lee have made him mas
ter of bis position, and we await the de-
velopment of Lees purposes without any
further solicitude lest the blow which he
meditates should fail where it is not ex-
pected 1t must be presumed that by