THE WAR IN AMERICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 300, 5 December 1862, Page 6

THE WAR IN AMERICA.

(From the Times, 24th September.)

Although events are moving with great rapidity in America, yet we 'must wait a few days to learn the true character of the operations which have begun in Maryland; The reports which make up each telegraphic despatch and fill the columns of the American papers may be inaccurate, or they may indicate movements which are intended only to deceive the Federal commanders. Another week may bring us new and unexpected intelligence both of what is passing before Washington and the designs of the Confederate force which, higher up the river, has been pushed across Maryland to the Pensylvanian frontier. The air of the North was full of rumours at the tune of the last steamer's departure. Never since the beginning of the war'had thepspple felt themselves so completely without a Government, lor a long time the Cabinet at Washington had only made its existence known by its'call on'the population or the snbstnnce of the obedient States, or.by acts of tyranny perpetrated oh individuals who might offend against its canons of patriotism. But since the late battles the confusion at Washington has almost given independence to each separated State, and has, to some extent, restored liberty of speech to private persons. To read the last few New York'papars one would think that the Government at Washington had ceased to be. .Thereis,^phantasmagoria of-Generals appointed, dismissed, re-appointed, or else sprited away to .some-distant region. There are stories of military movements or preparations for a great and desperate, resistance at the capital. The Governors of States and even private men are appearing on the scene, and takings leading part in affairs which have hitherto been committed to the Government. While si dead silence had fallen on the Washington politicians, usually so loquacious to listeners and so voluminous to correspondents, the Northis left to judge the state of affairs and the intentions of its enemy from the gossip of barrooms, or the tales of "scouts who have come in from observing his advancing columns. . Eut,whatever may be the designs of the .Confederates, it seems clear that they have entered the State of Maryland at a considerable distance above Washington, and in the early days of September were engaged in making themselves masters of the country from Frederick to Hagerstown. Ifcjs even said that they have pushed on across the narrow region which constitutes Maryland, and had entered Pennsylvania, with a view, perhaps, to seize the railway which leads from the North and West to Baltimore. But the position, the movements, and the strength of the Confederates are evidently very imperfectly known in New York. All that is certain is that the great mass of the Confederate army has moved from before the intrenchmerts at Arlington Heights, -aud that Jackson or Lee, in full force, has crossed the Potomac, and is carrying the war into what has been hitherto considered Northern" territory. We have not the power or the wish to speculate on the strategy of these able officers, but the promptness of their movement to the left ami their bold advance seem to indicate that the invasion of, Maryland . was a settled design, and that they are only carrying out plans which have probably been elaborated at Richmond in counsel with the Southern President and his chief advisers. It would seem that the Confederate plan is to keep on the Virginian side, of the Potomac, opposite Washington, only such a force as shall prevent any new Federal advance into Virginia. This, probably, need not be very large, inasmuch as it is hardly likely that the Federal army which had just been driven for a fortnight through Virginia," and in its disastrous retreat had lost artillery and stores in great quantities, could be fit to take the field again in so difficult a country. In the spring it will ba remembered that the Federals determined upon their expedition to the Peninsula of Yorktown, which has ended so disastrously, because they did not venture to advance through the hills and woods which lay between the Qor.federate capital and their own. After two bloody defeats in the country about; Manassas it is not" likely that they will risk a third by an advance with beaten troops or raw recruits; just-brought from their'-homes.-.-The Confederates may °be justified, then, in leaving Virginia to be protected ' by a moderate force, aftd throwing nearly their whsle strength on the other side of the river. The theatre of war in Maryland is comparatively small. From Frederick, which is in the hands of the Confederates;toßaltimore, the chief city of the State, the distance is not more I than 40 miles, and the Generals who have dashed ' at such speed through Virginia are not likely to ' be long in making the:r way to any point of which they may desire to bT masters. Whether ! their policy, indeed, be to invade Pennsylvania,' or whether, as one report says, they are mally ! benfc on gaining Baltimore at once, will probably j be known to us in another week. But whatever may be their first design, there can bo little doubt that the possession of Baltimore is the great oh- i ject of the invasion, inasmuch- as the capture of this city will give the Confederates full*control over Maryland, add a large contingent to their victorious armies, and in a short time, probably, carry the State out of the Federal Union by a formal vote.

Of the Secessionist fervour' in Maryland we cannot doubt without disregarding the universal testimony of every visitor. Though the Stale has comparatively few slaves, and those cmploved chiefly m household work, yet the sympathies of •ah.classes have been long with the Southland this feeling will of course be deepened greatly by the Confederate victories. Admiration for the heroof the war, Jackson, is the ruling passion at Baltimore, and no doubt all through the State. Everywhere the Secessionists are said to be speaking with tho greatest boldness, undeterred by the lear of a Federal prison or Federal gunboats, While "Porter's mortar fleet" is "prepared to destroy the city if captured by the Confederates," the citizens of Baltimore are talking treason everywhere, and only waiting the arrival of Jackson to show their implacable hatred of the northern occupation. The ill-treatment which they consider they have suffered during the time the State has been held down by the Federals excites them.againsfc Mr Lincoln's" Government far mor* than any interest, real or supposed, in. slavery. It is the misfortune of the Northern authorities that everywhere that they have borne rule they have maddened the populations which before were apathetic,- it not favorable. Kentucky has never seceded, and, we believe was, on the whole, disposed to regret the secession of the Cotton States when it first- took'place. But this State, which proclaimed its neutrality, and which solong advocated some scheme of compromise, is now as bitterly hostile to the Federals as South Carolina herself .might be, and the chief reason has been the presence of a soldiery regardless of the just right of the State and its citizens. It. need surprise no one to hear, that, as Kentucky is^ up in arras against the North, so Maryland will everywhere swell the numbers of the invad- ■ ing. force. Already the Confederates have appoiuted a provisional Governor, one Enoch Lowe, and it is probable that a: convention will at once be called for the purpose of voting oii "the question of joining the new Confederacy. General M'Clellan has taken the field and is said to be advancing againstthe Confederates, so that we may expect soon to hear of new battles. Of their result we have no desire to prophesy. But; it may certainly be said that* the forces which have just suffered so terrible a disaster williiaxdly

be atnatch-for an enemy,flushed with recent vie--~tory, and strong in the* confidence which he receives irom unvarying success, and from the knowledge that the population among which he moves is wholly on his side.. If the great mass of the Confederate'army be :already in Maryland, it^ will "we should fancy;* be'almost impossible *for M'Clellan to offer any real resistance to their march on Baltimore. He may, however, by moving out of Washington, be enabled to save his army in case that city should b3 cut off from its communications with the North. Otherwise, we may well conceive that the Federal armies shut up in Washington might be in almost as much danger as at Harrison's Landing, and the retreat from the James River be re-enacted with perhaps less of good fortune on the baaks of the Potomac.