, 1864-07-11

remains operating before It, the better for
the rebels. But General Beauregaru will
evacuate the place, and retire with his
corps to the southern defenses Of Rich
with the remainder Of his army, that portion
which has already moved up the Shenandoah
Valley. That portion is the whole Of Gen.
Ewell's corps, twenty-seyen thousand
strong; the cavalry under Major General
Ransom, which, including 1mboden and
Gen: B1ecken!ldge's division, twelve thou
sand strong. This makes force of1fty.tour
thousand men. It has not all reached the
Potomac Jet 1mboden's and Moseby's cav
airy are In the advance, with one Or two
Equadrons under Ransoun's Neutenants; one
Harper's Ferry and Is operating against tho
Maryland Heights another is lower dom
the Potomac, with MozebY's cavalry,
opposite Point Of Rocks, and seems to be
threatening Frederick, from which it is only
twelve miles distant another Is higher mp
seems to be threatening HagerstoWn. Breck-
inridge's division was at Winchester few
Days ago, but 1t is now believed to be NOV
ing toward Cumberland, in order to inter
cept General Hunter, in case the latter
should endeavor to move eastward, to sup
port Sfge1. The greater part Of the cavalry
under General Ransom is understood to be
posted SO as to give notice Of Hunters ap-
proach, and are also engaged in keeping open
the communication between .EWelrs corps
and that part of General Lees army that is
moving up the valley to support them.
TIE REBELS on THE POTOMAC TO BE REM
FORCED.
This last part Of the rebel plan, 1t was un-
derstood, WIS to be undertaken as soon as
General Grants army was fnttly involved in
the work Of the siege Of. Richmond; and as
General Grant has chosen to commence the
T. r. fn1,x A~A -3-A .17rf1
Petersburg, and as Petersburg is regarded
by the rebels as mere: ontwork to Rich
mond. the ei7ge Of the latter city may be re-
gorded as begun now. Unless, then. Gener~
al Lee has changed or greatly modified bis
| plan, the rebel forces now on the Potomac
will very soon be joined BY the other tdo
corps Of the rebel army In Virginia.
THE OBJECT OF TILE MOVEMENT TO ISOLATE
WASHINGTON FROM THE NORTH.
The object OF the plan can be seen at once;
| It is to save Richmond: It Is to eompel
| General Graut to abandon the Siege Of their
capital THY believe that Washington is
| now ompaIatlyely detenceless, and that the
most efectual way to defend their capital is
to threaten ours. If the movement is car
ried out, therefore, according to the original
npon Baltimore, in order to isolate Wash
ington from The North, the East and the
West. Tie Potomac at Point Of Hooks is very
low now, and easily f0rdab1e. ALI direct
| rail road communication between Baltimore
and Harper''s Ferry. and between Baltimore
| and the Maryland Hrights, has been destroy
| ed The rebels crossed over the river yester-
| Gay at Poidt Of Rocks, and tore up the track
| for considerable distance. General Sigef,
| who Is now at MARYLAND Heiehts, cannot
| therefore he reinforced by railroad from this
| direction. It is said that General Hunter is
! hastening to bis aid, but 1t Would tske Gen.
Hunter Two weeks to get from Charleston,o on
| fhe Eanawha river where he wAs IN the Cd
inst, to Harper's Ferry.
NECESSITY Or TIE ABANDONMENT OF MARY
LAND HEIGHTS.
The assurance That the Maryland Heights
Is impregnable is as delusive as Was the a5-
6urance put forth yesterday that Harper's
Ferry could be held against any force the
rebels could bring against 1T. It Wtl1 be at
tacked, when It Is attacked, from the north
aud east, and indeed, it ia reported here that
It las already been captured Attacked By O
superior force from that direction, however,
the post is untenab1e- Both prudence and
the former experience Of our disaster there
would dictate that It be abandoned at once,
and the troops he Withdrawn to this city,
Frederick City has already been evacuated
by our forces, and If not Already In posses
sion Of the enemy, no doubt will be before
night, unless the enemy rttire5.
BOLIVAR HEIGHTS EVACUATED.
Bolivar Heights, on the east side Of the
Shenandoah, opposite Harpers's Ferry,
strong and commanding position, has been
evacuated by our forces, and the troops
there concentrated on Mar 5landsa Heights.