Year: 1863

ltSelf. IL Is campaign OF genuine lnVa-
sion; but what is the prize? The theory
that Lee, under cover of pretended inva-
sion, was sending away his army to Bragg,
is exploded. Far more likely it is that
Bragg has sent away his army to Lee. So,
too, the idea of an invasion of Ohio by way
of Western Virginia is dissipated into thin
air. The other hypothesis, that Lee merely
intended to spend the summer in the val
ley of the Shenandoah and the Upper Po-
tomac, making raids upon Cumberland
valley for subsistence and plunder, is also
disposed Of 1t will be seen by tele-
graphic dispatch from Baltimore that the
rebels had already crossed South Noun
tain, and are marching with infantry, cav
airy and artillery upon Frederick, the CAPT
tai of Maryland, out of which small force
sent in advance had previously been driven
by some Union cavalry. Yesterday morn
ing they were half way between Middle
town and Boonsboro so that by this time
they are probably in possession of Fred
erick. What that means We shall presently
see. In the same way the force that re-
Gently threatened Harrisburg retired; but
now a larger force is advancing against it,
and the Union troops are retreating before
the invaders. There is no doubt that the
rebels would be glad to get possession of
Harrisburg: but they can hardly expect
| that at present. Their immediate object
is to destroy the bridge there, or induce
our troops to do it, and to destroy the other
bridges on the Susquehanna.


Thus, by bold and rapid movement of
the rebel general, the theatre of war in
Virginia has been transferred northeast
! ward from the Rappahannock to the Poto-
mac, and even to the Susquehanna. Lee
has successfully achieved the most difficult
and dangerous operation in war-a flank
movement in presence of the enemy. Had
Hooker been on the alert he could have
inflicted upon him in his march irreparable
| damage, and driven him back in confu-
sion. By moving on the chord of the arc,
with his fine cavalry he might have seized
the gaps in the Blue Ridge and assailed
Lees flank, cutting his army in two, or he
could have destroyed his trains and chop
ped up his rear. But Lee, without any


considerable loss, has succeeded in max
ing circuit around the right flank of the
Union army and getting in the rear of
Washington, while Hooker, we believe, is
still in front of the federal capital. We
were told that the cavalry battle at Bran
dy Station, near the Rappahannock, more
than fortnight ago, would defeat the pur-
pose of Lee and prevent invasion. 1t has
not done so. We have been assured that
similar results would flow from the more
recent cavalry fights at Aldie and its Vi
cinity-that at least Lee was baff1ed in
his purpose of descending upon the old
battle field of Bull Run, or upon the city
Of Washington on it's southern side, or
upon Gen. Hooker's army, stretched be-
tween; and that, in fact, the capital was
now safe from attack in front, which
is certainly true, as Lee never contem-
plated assaulting its formidable fortifca-
| ions on that side. 1t does not, however,


follow that the city is equally safe from
attack in the rear. l. was stated yester-
day by correspondent Of city journal,
who appears to possess the confidence of
our commanding general, that the enemy
would not dare to enter Maryland with so
feet an army as that of Hooker in his
rear. But from the telegraphic dispatch
in the same journal it appeared that Lee
had already not only dared to cross the
I IOCOIudc, Will dC ledSC Luo vail VI Ills
army under Ewell, tlut that he occupied
South Mountain and Boonsboro valley. A
later dispatch this morning shows that his
advrnce had crossed the mountain and
was moving on Frederick How soon the
main body may dare to follow remains to
be seen. By recent accounts it had been
massed in the valley of the Shenandoah,


with its communications open on one side


with Winchester and with Williamsport


on the Upper Potomac, and on the other


side with Culpepper, Gordonsville and


Richmond. From his present position he


may follow on the track of Ewell, or by


turning short to his right, over the noun


tains, he may cross the Potomac at Lees


burg, or still lower down, at Coon's Ford,


which is just above the Great Falls, or
about fifteen miles from Washington
easy days march to the capital. 1t is cal
culated that the defences on the northern


side can easily be carried by an attack by


way of Bladensburg; and it is stated by
our Baltimore correspondent that CO.
operating corps of Lee left behind at
| Fredericksburg, is to cross the Lower
Potomac at Budd's Ferry, some twenty
five miles below Washington, and that it
| has complete set of pOntoons ready for