The New York herald., 1864-07-14

pss owing 70 the recent dsprsdatens Of the prvaee
| Florida.
Tho Campatga aH Msryiaad-The nne.
my Falling Back Across the Potomac.
Our news from Washington last evening"
with which place we are happily again In COM
! munication-wears . cheering aspect. The
| rebels were driven from Fort Stevens on Tues.
day evening by spirited assault Of or troops,
after which they seemed to have abandoned
their attempts on the national capital The
morning found them gone, and crossing the
Potomac, with their rich plunder, at Ewsrds'
Ferry. The portion Of their forces at Rock
| Vile were also said to be crossing the river.
We have the agreeable news Of General
Franklins escape from the enemy, and the GER
tainty Of General Tyler's escape. Much Of
| General Hunters command is in Maryland, and
the body lately under General Sigel is at
Frederick, while the troops that fought at the
| Monooscy under Wallace now commanded by
| General Ord, are ut Baltimore.
| 1t is stated that the rebel force which passed
through Frederick numbered thirty eight thou
sand men, and had one hundred and forty
pieces Of artillery, and that the corps Of A. r.
A1Al WS& W JUN ~ uCuA W 0onluxtOh, SlOSoluS
the Potomac ct Edwards Ferry. This would
look like definite plan for an attempt against
Washington, and would indicate that the pos
session Of that city is the real object of the
operation. The assault on one Of the forts at
Washington and its capture by the enemy on
Tuesday favor this view. Fortunately the
fort was retaken.
But there is no satisfactory knowledge yet Of
how much infantry the enemy has. Ten thou
| sand could have accomplished all that has thus
| far been done; and 1t may prove that Washing
ton is yet not the enemy's real object We
have hitherto given tho particulars Of rebel
plan to recruit the Southern armies with the
twenty thousand rebel prisoners now at Point
Lookout; aud If the raiders should move that
| way It is to be hoped that the government
may find 1t out In time to send . gunboat to
that point before II ia too late.
General McCleilan-A Golden Opportu-
nifty for tho Administration.
The rebel raid into Maryland has assumed
the proportions Of formidable invasion. A
heavy column Of the enemy ID laundering at
the back door Of the national capital The
failure Of the pet generals OF the adninistra-
tion-first Sigel and next Hunter-in the She
nsndoah valley opened wide the gate way to the
rebels from Staunton down into Maryland, and
they have walked Ia. Thus, from the ineffi-
cheney and want of system in the side opera
tions OF bis subordnates in this Virginia cam
paign, General Grant is not only embarrassed
in the prosecution Of his work before Rich
mond, but is required for the time TO suspend
II In order to strengthen the defensive army Of
Washington.
The city Is believed 10 be perfectly secure,
owing not to any sagacious precautions Of the
administration, however, but TO the vigilance
and prompt action Of General Grant But
when shall we see the end Of this foollshly
protracted war II, as from 1861, our Army Of
the Potomac every year ID to move "on TO
Richmond" In the spring only TO be compelled
20 return 70 the defence Of Washington before
the end Of the summer Ia Il impossible to
lay vigorous siege TO Richmond without leav-
ing Washington In danger Of being surprised,
No; IL 10 not and never has been impossible.
What is the proper remedy for the present
unsatisfactory state Of thingsf II Is simple and
easy. Let US briefly suggest H.
We want, In support Of cur army on the
south side Of Richmond, . movable army Of
one hundred thousand men, with ik head
quarters at Warrington. We want cool, ex.
perienced, ssgscious and capable general at
the head Of this army. How are these wants
to be supplisdi Lot President Lincoln begin
by appointing Gen. Mcclellan 10 the command
Indicated, and there will be no difaoulty In raj.
| lying around him this array Of . hundred
thousand mss Let u b proclaimed that
new military department b created. including
the country for hundred miles Ground Wash.
ingtoa, and that Gen. Mcclellan b appointed
to this command, that volunteers for enc
hundred days viii b accepted 10 serve under
hin; and within month, including ths usual