2

The Plan of the Campaign.

The government's plan of campaign is thus stated by the Washington correspondent of the New York Journal of Commerce:
"Virginia is first to be cleared of the confederate troops. Richmond is to be occupied by the federal armies, and the loyal state government of Virginia, which is already recognized by congress, is to be sustained. Operations to this end are going on, and are to be prosecuted during the summer, which is now half over. With the fall will open a campaign against the insurgents on the Mississippi river and on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

I find that increasing confidence is felt in the ability and the determination of the federal government to suppress the insurrection, and restore peace and commerce."

Since the foregoing was written General Scott has started his grand movement towards Richmond, and daily reports advise us that the confidence felt by the government is well founded. The rebels are falling back before the Union forces, and we have faith that it will not be many days before we are able to record that they are driven from the positions they have held for months, and are rushing southward before the triumphant columns of the Union and the constitution.

The latest advices are that Western Virginia is nearly rid of the rebel forces, and that McDowell's and Patterson's columns are steadily advancing, the enemy retreating, though fighting desperately. This warfare they cannot long keep up. Inferior in numbers, badly provisioned and equipped, they must succumb or flee before the largely superior numbers and well appointed troops of the government.