New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-03-14
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
A Rush Of Rebel Deserters-Fears for
Lynchburg - speeulatiens ~ 70 Lees
Movemenfs-FiIling mp the Army.

From Our Special Correspondent
HDQBs. ARMY oP TIE POTOMAC, March 6, 1865.
Last night brisk firing arose in front Of that
part Of line occupied by the First Division Of the
Sixth Corps. and for time men began to think
that the enemy was bent making an attack under
cover Of the dark. Tie firing grew more rapid, and
your correspondent about to spring out Of bis cot
and 90 the fdnt. when the FIRE suddenly fell to few
scattering shots, and all again STILL leaving us to
wonder hat was the cause Of the affair.
"a BREAK" FOR OUR LINES
In the morning learned that break" for our lines.
at the point mentioned, made by large party OF
daring Rebels. who had made up their minds to quit
the service In the shortest possible way; So away they
first stole and then ran, for lines. At one post OF
the picket line they found the asleep. and taking
their arms they got into lines but not until they
had sharp fire sent after them by the pickets. This
was the firing we had heard. Most Of this party were
men from the 22d North Carolina and there were q Of
them. During the night no less than 1913 men, from
points all along their lines found their way into ours
and this IL, think tie largest number yet for one
night
| Ofthis place the Rebels, who come over to us, now
begin to speak. They say that few thousand men
have been sent there lately and that their generals
have some fear for it. 1t Is known TO US that Lyceh
burg is great depot for the enemy in Virginia, It'd
that its loss would force their army into our 'front.'
which draws supplies from H. TO quit or break out off,
this State In the very quickest way they could do It,
Hence their fears for the place.
Again, the enemy-and by that word mean Gen.
Lee for he Is the ruling genius at this crisis who might
say now Moi cat rEsaf as well as the French Louis
did-rnay design to fall back upon Lynchburg' and
break their way South from the encrcng forces that
are now in march toward their capital. In this way
they might carry of their last great army In safety ana
orolong the war In the Gulf States with further view
OF forcing the passage Of the Mississppi and
6nlipg place Of refuge in Texas.
'Dy this strategy they would, OF course
r,inauish all Virginia ind the State by the side OF It,
and step by step they would doubt be driven PACK
20 the Mississippi soon as our armies should Da'e
taken up sher bases but this agility on theu part
would carry the war into the year 1906 In view OF
this Is TO BE- hoped that they will stake all upon one
OF two great battles. aud thus cut short the war.
r'-. WILING UP THB Amy.
This Is fast being done now Most Of tho trains that
come up from City Point loaded with men for the
ya:ious re gnent The cars filed TO their utmost
capacity and top Of them to be seen " many more
men, all In the light blue oyercosf. which gives to
train seen ct distance 1t whJls along. covering
Of Ugh, Bloc mass.
COMING TO TIE FRONT
IL a. source Of little excitement 10 the boys, hesh
from the cities and country and they all seem to Tee
fun OF ardor and fun though few thoughi! faces may
IN the throne. but these Of men who have
le ties behind them. and cannot feel light under the
thought that they may never see those deer to them
again.
From Our Special Couespondsnt.
4 UDQEs. Army OF TnE PcToyAc, March TO- 1864
pIEs S0y.
If we have !" Dies Non" in civil life, so may
we have a like day IN war and the 9th instant was
such day with Ne. AL was still. This gave Us time
to look at other matters ard find one to write few
lines about. II is
/ OUR ORG AVIATION.
iswel known that this and drill have been
taken from the French and II there faults In their
system so there are in ours but must say that there
arc fewer faults in the French battalion organization
than in oura They now put eight companies only IN
the battalion and only two field officers In command Of
IT, with other points which it would take too much
space here notice Ny object IL only to point out the
way In which We could amend our organization little
l. The number Of companies in battalion ought not
to be more than 9 for line and 6 for rife.
O. The strength Of q company should be 100 rank and
file, sergeants and buglers. In eli LOG men. with
officers
D. Each company should be divided into two sections
and when strong. into four snb"eiion.
4. Each company ought to have q standing number.
S. Two companies ought In drill to be termed bi.
eompsny and be lettered as 4, Bt Company B. and D.
II there b fourth.
g. The battalion might be placed under the command
Of two field officers only the first to be lieutenant
colonel and the second major.
There should always be two field officers. or acting
field officers. with the battalion.
8. The same rule should apply to the number Of
officers, or acting oficers with the company.
REASONS FOR THESE CHANGES.
l. A battalion Of few strong companies can mass aud
deploy with celebrity than OF greater
strength Again. In line. Is not too extensive for
commands to be heard in the dnlof action and again.
in columns II offers less depth to fire Of artillery than
the battalion Of greater strength.
2. company dwindles away soon in war, that II
ought to be at least 100 men strong and generally
four sergcants are enough for all cases.
3. section Is the best term for the half company
platoon" IL a corruption Of the French word psoson.
which means q company. and not Its half
It Is nadmissablc to letter companies as well as
number them.
g. The term Bieompdnys certainly better than "di.
vsion which ought not to be applied to more than one
part Of an army.
g. II two field officers enough for battalion (and
the French service shows that they are there need not
be three.
T. A second field officer ought always 10 be present
to take the place Of the first in Of casualty and to