Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-05-28
LEES NEW OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN

LEES NEW OFFENSIVE CAMPAIGN.
We find in the Baltimore correspondence Of
the Herald important statements {if true) re-
garding the general campaign and strength of
the rebellion, and Lees new designs on Wash
ington and Pennsylvania:
Gen. Lee, ON the line OF the Rappahannock,
has one hundred and fifty thousand troops.
There are twenty-five thousand at and near
Richmond. Gen. Beauregard has forty thou
sand troops at Charleston and Savannah
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston has one hundred and
eishty-fiye thousand troops in the West, inclu-
ding those at Eicksburg and Port Hudson, and
those under Gen. Bragg. There are ten thou
sand at Mobile, and twenty thousand at rari-
Gus other detached points. This makes a total
OF four hundred and thirty thousand troops,
which is the effective strength 81 the Confeder-
ate army for the summer campaign. They are
all disciplined troops, In the highest state of
efficiency.
The general plan of the campaign is that de-
scribed in my letters OF March Is and April
namely, to defend Richmond, Charleston Sa-
vannah, Mobile, Ficksburg, and Port Hudson
to prevent the opening ofthe Mis- sissippi river;
to defeat the armies of Hooker, Grant, and
Rosecrans at points as Tar south as possible,
and then to invade Ohio, near Cincinnati or
Louis ville, and Pennsylvania, between Har.
pers Ferry and Cumberland. This programme
has been remarkably successful up to this time.
Since it was adopted, Charleston has been at
tackled and successfully defended, and the at
tack has not been resumed; all the manuuvres
against Nicksburg, including the various
Tazoo Pass expeditions, Sunfiower expedi-
lions, Tallahatchie expeditions, Ticksburg
canals, and Lake Providence canals, have
been defeated and abandoned.
All the attempts to di, ert the Mississippi into
new channels through the Tensas and Atcha-
falaya have failed, owing to the Typographical
and geological reasons set forth in my letter of
March % at the time when those attempts
were being made. The opening OF the Missis-
sippi has been prevented; Hooker has been de-
teated, and that so badly that he cannot posi-
bly, resume the offensive before June; Rose
Grams and Nashville are IN peril, and Grant
lured down to Jackson, has been compelled
hastily to eyacuate that place in order to get
out OF the trap that Gen. Johnston had set for
him.
Such is the situation at present, and my in
formation is to the effect that Gen. Lee will
very soon assume the offensive and move north.
wards, either to attack Washington or to IN
wade Pennsylvania. He had less than $4,000
troops when he invaded Maryland last Sep
tember. He will move now with 10000 His
left wing already rests at point on the Upper
Rappahannock, opposite the Sulphur Springs,
seven miles southwest OF Warrenton, and ONLY
fifty miles from Washington.
1t Is supposed to be his intention to move his
whole army rapidly towards Centreville and
Fairfax, over the Warrenton turnpike, and to
move thence either direct on the works ON Ar
lington Heights, or else by way Of Vienna to
Madlldayille, TO cross the Potomac at Coon's
ford, twelve miles above Washington; then TO
move directly east to Bladensburg, tear up the
railroad there, so as 10 cut off all communion
tlon with the North and East, and then to attack
washington from that direction. Or else il is
supposed that, making a feint on Washington,
he will move really either on Baltimore or al
once into Pennsylvania.