Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-07-21

make the most Of It.
Three opportunities the rebels hav;
had of capturing Washington the frsl
was Immediately after Bull Run, the
second was after the defeat of Pope, and
the third is the PRESENT occasion. But
the latter they lost. before even f..ey
react.su the front Of Washington, wi.ilou
waiting for plunder, there is no TELLING
what nigh have been the result of Wig.
oroiis blow hit when they arrived it was
already 30 late. Washington was safe
cot only in its circle of fortiications, but
in the veteran defenders that stood be-
hind them.
But this, and all other questions arts
ing out of the raid, depend for their de-
termination on the capital point as to the
design of the rebels in the movement into
Maryland. And this again reduces itself
to a single alternative Had the invasion
strictly military aim, or was it under
taken for the purpose of plumber, together
with such incidental military advantages
as might be gained Although from
present appearances, there is very little
to indicate that the rebels entertained the
former design, and almost everything to
indicate that they limited their ambition
to the ritter, yet there was much, even as
late as yesterday, to lead to the concl1-
sion that they were aiming at nothing
short of transfer of the war to the soil
of the loyal States, and the capture of
the capital. The force in Maryland was
estimated even by military heads at moth
ing less than thirty thousand men, while
it was asserted that another column, con-
sisting of the whole of Longstrcct's corps.
was on its way up from Gordonsville. -
This view of the matter was taken bv the
Washington S%tar Of Monday, when that
journal made the following declaration:
"The rebel army CT Invasion marched
down the Valley, 45, 900 strong, inclul-
ing 5000 cavalry under command of Mai
Gen. Jubal Early and Brig. Gen Brock
inridge, Ransom, Imboden and McCaus-
land. Longstreet was at eordonsville or
Tuesday last, with additional forces to
join the rebel army Of inyas;ccA, ana the
nurposo. Of that arm vas an attempt at
the capture of Washington by surprise.
The Virginia Central Railroad is repaired,
and running from Richmond to Staunton.
The theory of column of rebel reia-
forcements moving up from Gordonsville
seemed, moreover, to acquire the weight
of fact by the te-timony of a Union scout
who yesterday averred to Secretary STAN
ton that he had the previous night slept
in Longstreet's camp, and'that his forces
were encamped near Manassas Junction.
Now if these estimates could be taken
as reliable, they would seem to indicate;
on the part Of Lee, the most serious de-
signs. 1t was reckoned that there were
already in Maryland the command Of
Breckenridge (two divisions the whole
of Ewell's old corps, under command Of
Gen. Early, while at least tive brigadcs
OF Nlll's corps were understood 10 have
been withdrawn from Grants front more
than fortnight before. These, with the
supcraddition of Longstrect'S command,
would constitute force much too formi-
dable for mere raiding party, while it
would be fair to infe: that the dotach
ment cf SO large portion Of hce's array
from in front of the Union force would
indicate purpose on the part Of the reb-
ell General of giving up Petersburg and
even Richmond | am one Of those who
have always held the opinion that when
,11o I
when he should feel it impossible much
longer to hold on to Rictmond---he would
play the last remaining card attempt to
exchange the rebel capital for the capital
of the United States. And although it
has generally been accepted that move
ment on Washington by the rebels, with
the Union army observing them so close
lv as it now does, would be nothing short
of madness, and must result In their ut
ter destruction, yet The success that has
attended the present invading column,
the secrecy with which the movement
was conducted, ard their ncarness TO
even the highest prize itself,
suggest the prudence of modifying some
what the certainty of the ajc'nm that the
rebels never could move on Washington
with the Union army watching then,
".
But the movements Of the rebels, and
the nature of their operations, are against
the presumption that any such ambitious
project fired them In the present inva-
sion. And first Of all there is no evil
dence whatever thu. this force reached
anything like the strength attributed to
it by the af'righted souls Of terror strick
en- fugitivcs, who have beet the authors
of most of the swelling numbers that
have been given ott. 1t l,as in fact. been
one Of the greatest misiortcnes arising
out of the incfIicicncy Of the Generals
who up to the time the rebels arrived
before Washington, were intrtsted with
the duties Of checking their advance,
that we have had no estimate even APP
pro4imately reliable of the enemy's
strength, Sisel, who held the door of
the valley through which tie rebels, as
on the occasion of both their previous in-
yasions, entered the dominion of the
loyal States, lad his troops so faulty
disposed that hc,was not even aware of
the approach of the enemy, and he was
never afterward willing to get near
enough to them to learn their numbers.
General Wallace, who met the enemy in
the chief engagement they have delivered
on the soil of Marylandi put them at
twenty thousand mer but this, again,
is simple conjecture. II is true chat the
reports of the rebel prisoners themselves
have all assigned great figure to the
column of invasion, putting it invariably
at forty thousand at least. and claiming
as coming But there is
tho very best reason TO believe that these
fellows lie either Willingly or unwittingly
either because they are told to do so,
or because they know no better One of
these statements, I confess; for a moment
me; 4 rebel Lieutenant.
mortally woufdcd, called, in his faint
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