Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-06-20
OUR MILITIA z bJ0CEI
THE SITUATION.

1t does not become MS to publish any infor.
NATION concerning the positions occupied by
the Union Army of the Potomac, further than
to say that its various army corps are just
where the recent movements of the rebel army,
as far as they are Known indicate that those
positions should be. OF course they are being
daily shifted as circumstances require.
a cavalry reconnaissance ON the day before
yesterday, under Gen. Stahl. demonstrated that
q considerable force of rebel cavalry were in
the immediate vicinity of Washington; while
Col. DUTIES cavalry, on the same day, de-
hniteiy ascertained that Les holds Thorough
fare Gap with a similar force. Other iniorrna-
ton leads to the conclusion that Lee is ai1o
holding the gaps OF the Blue Ridge in our frous
SO lar we have not been able 20 learn that it
known that Lee has any considerable IN
fantTy force, if any whatever, in the valley
between the Blue Ridge and the Bull Run
mountains. 1t is therefore rot Impossible that
he is merely keeping up show OF occupying
that valley, with strong bodies or cavalry,
while the main body of his army is moving in
some other direction thar. towards Washing
ton; though, On the other hand, there is 40
actual security that he is not bringing up
almost the whole of his army towards this
city, as indicated by his occupation CT the
mountain passes named above, and the line of
communicating with his base via Warranton
We take il for granted that General Hooker
and the authorities here are awars of his move
ments, as their means OF knowing are SO much
better than these of any others. Our cotelnno-
rsIies of the press are evidently in murky Jog
on this now most important point Thus, the
Associated Press's Washington dispatch pub
Iished this morning locates Ewells date Jack
son 81 grand division III the vicinity of Dunn
fries, " lille the Baltimore Sua states that there
is official information in Baltimore locating il
yesterday about Sharpsburg, Md, points per
aaps hundred miles apart by marching reads
T1enty-lour hours should suffice to make II
generally known to the public, it seems TO Us,
just Where Lees main army is maneuvering,
and what his current onject really ia Ii is
almost incredible that he aims TO come
under the fire OF the Notifications surrounding
Washington, because he must know well how
small his chances would be o. success there.
He is too astute a commander 10 fai. to ;.nopr
we'll that TO attack Hooker under the guns OF
those defenees will be to attack him in positions
lmmaas urably stronger than any ne ronid
have taken III the vicinity OF the Rappailan-
mock Or, in other words, that in battle. an
der them, Hooker Will surely behaving no
rear or lines 81 COMMUNICATIONS to guard
&c, and with the aid Of troops belcn gin-
to this department not required in the fortifica-
tions-at least fifty thousand available men
stronger than he could have been on the Rap
p:hannocI while the Suns OF the furtificitIons
themselves viii be worth fifty thousand more
men On the field, il Lee ventures within their
range.
l: seems equally improbable that ne would
venture serious movement into Marsi;.Id
with our army Of the Potomac left entirely
intact in his rear,
Per Contra. The assertion OF the Baltimore
Sa. this morning, above referred to, il correct,
proves that he is indeed moving 4 heavy force
upon Pennsylvania; while the new; IRON,
tniontown, Fayette county, Pa, which we get
this sfternoon through Major Beazen, asserting
positively that the enemy is advancing in thar
direction, Gots 10 create the impression tna1
LEES aim IS Pittsburg-not Harrisburg
Many military men here adopt inc theory
that his real object is but 10 get of, undecided
for some time, large portion o. mis- army to
that or some other far distant field Of opera
tl0nS.