Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1863-07-06
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
THE SITUATION.

At Tx a. m. yesterday we announced in
bulletin posted in front of the Star Office all the
news from the vicinity of Gettysburg that had
reached here up to that hour. 1t embraced an
account of the movements of Lee towards 8
general retreat common ced on the night before,
and of Meade's prompt measures in pursuit;
also, the fact tibet the nit Of the three days
the army with which he entered Pennsylva-
mia; also, an account of Gen. French's destruc-
ton the night before of the pontoon bridge
and train which Lee had left on the Potomac
short distance below Williamsport to facili-
tate the running of the plumber his marauding
parties We're taking over into Virginia, and also
to secure him a safe exit into the same State in
case Meade should defeat him.
Our bulletin further explained that with
French's forces and the advance of Couch
under ssBaldy" Smith that had already got
up within supporting distance, Meade prob
ably had at that hour many efficient troops
under his command as when commencing his
late series OF tremendous battles on Wednes-
day last.
Subsequently, the information received here
Tin addition to what the reader will find else.
where in the Star, extracted from Northern
papers, all of which is full of interest,) has
necessarily been meager. That is, the official
information; insomuch as Gen. Meade is far
too busy with field operations just now to be
telegraphing much to headquarters.
reliable general officer. we hear, telegraphs
that our wounded in the three days battles are
about l2,0G0 while so many wounded (as well
as their dead1 have the rebels left on our hands,
as 10 make it certain that their losses consider
ably exceeded ours.
They paroled and sent back to us, up to yes
terday morning, 1900 of our brave fellows they
had captured; while up to the same time we
had sent to the rear some six thousand Of their
men, prisoners. That number did not cover all
we have of them, however, "acres being still
covered with them remaining to be started
towards Baltimore" while numbers more were
then hourly being brought in. 1t was esti-
mated at Gettysburg that Lee had lost, up to
yesterday morning, by desertion, since crossing
the Potomac, an aggregate Of 5000 men: while
it was confidently expected that he would lose
as many more from the same cause in the
retreat in which he had entered.
He is clearly cut off from taking either of the
three lower (and shorty routes leading to Eir-
ginia, and must be endeayoring to make for
the Potomac at Hancock, where, at ordinary
stages of low water, he might find practicable
ford.
The current violent rain storm commenced
along his route to Hancock and further up the
river at least twelve hours before it began here
and it can hardly be possible that, even if his
march be unimpeded by Meade's military OPP
erauons-ltself in turn an fmpossibility-he
could reach Hancock before finding more than
one intervening and unbridged stream unford-
able, and the Potomac itself SO high as to hold
him tight until Meade got up with him with
whatever leisure he might elect, under the cir
cumstances, to move
We have, therefore, strong hopes indeed that
he will be able 10 get back into Virginia neither
his artillery nor his transportation, and that
the men with which he may himself get off
with whole skin, will not number fourth
OF the boastful and over confident army at the
head of which he ventered into Pennsylvania.