The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 10, 1862.

Rappahannock is now satirely clear of rebel forces, or was
at the last accounts. These was no definite information as
to the actual position or number of the rebels. It was
currently reported, however, that the rebels were falling
beck beyond the Rappahannock towards Culpepper. Gen.
11 Seigel captured a large number of rebels on Thursday ; but
the most of them afterwards managed to escape owing to
an advance of rebel reinforcements far superior to the num.
ber of our own troops, and the want of a sufficient number
of soldiers to hold them. Some prisoners, however,
were brought to Beeltown station, and will be sent to
Washington.

The Waahington correspondent of the New York
Tribune under date of the 26th, says :

The Rappahanoock line is abandoned, and our forces have
fallen back to another position tea miles to the rear.
Fredericksburg, of course, is retained in our possession, and
Aoqurs Creek u well as the rest of the Potomac bank is to
be defended.

The Alexandria correspondent of the Tribune
says :

From prisoners taken in late skirmishes, and from many
other sources, I have learned that it was the intention of
General Lee to cross his entire army during Friday
night and the day following, and attack Gee. Pops before
the reiuforcementa from 31 'C lel lan's army arrived upon the
ground. It was supposed that the Rappahannock could be
passed only at six or seven points, but it soon became evi-
dent that the entire stream five miles above Warrenton
Springs was the grand ford. During the night Jackson
creased his whole corps at half-a-dozen points above War-
renton Springs. Jackson, according to the programme, was
to engage the right of General Pope, and draw off
his attention, if possible, from his left and centre, so as to
I give the main body of the rebel army au opportunity to
moss at other fords than those guarded by us, and then
when safely over take the risk of the most desperate conflict
of the war. The programme succeeded so far as Jackson
WAS concerned, but at midnight a furious storm occurred,
rendering the river impassable to Lae and his rebel army.
General Pope could not learn the exact strength of Jackson,
therefore be did not take the offensive. Jackson, on learn.
ing that Lee could not reinforce him, kept close to the
river and blithe., and as the river fell recreated sod joined
the main body. But for this thunder-storm the greatest
battle of the war would have been fought before this.

The Fredericksburg correspondent of the Times
states that General Pope has retired to Warrenton
Junction, and has been strongly reinforced by
Generals Heintzelmann, Franklin, and others of
the best material of M'Clellan's army. General
M'Clellan arrived at Acquia. Creek at 8 o'clock on
Sunday morning, with his staff, where General
Burnside met and conferred with him on the posi-
tion of affairs. The landing and pushing forward
of the troops and batteries has been accomplished
with almost incredible speed. General Porter's
army, which but five days' ago was dragging its
heavy way down the peninsula, is already posted
along the most vulnerable points of the Rappahan-
nock, defying all attempts of the rebels to cross.
Barrette Ford, 20 miles above this place, is held by
Major-General Morrell's and General Reno's ex-
cellent corps. The extreme left of our line at this
place is strongly held by General Burnside, whose
vigilance is unceasing regarding every movement
of the enemy. He has sent away to General Pope
every man that could be spared, but he has still a
force abundantly able to guard against any attack.
The river has been swollen for two days, so that it
was impossible to ford it, but it is now low again.
The Washington Star has the following :

Since Saturday last nearly all firing along the Rappa-
hannock has ceased, hardly a dozen shots a day are being
fired. Most of the officers in front believe that on Saturday,,
last Lee, Loaptreet, and Jackson quietly took the back
track, going somewhere no one knows whither—ten to one
to Gordonsville. The signs yesterday were that bat a very
small rebel form was in our front, hardly enough to keep
op the appearance of an opposing force them. On Thurs-
day last it was conceded in Lee's military family that the
movement bad been a dead failure, Pope being found in
position on the north side of the Rappahannock instead of
, being caught upon the bank of the Rapidan as de-
signed. The entire force that marched east
from Gordonsville was about 80,003 men, lot more
We hear that General Pope despatched a punning force
after Lee before daybreak on Saturday, and that a portion
of that force, the Ist Pennsylvania and god New York
C►v►lry, came up with Lee in time to retake most of our men
he had as prisoners, and two pieces of artillery of ours that
he had appropriated a little below Cutletts. They also
captured a number of deserters from our side, and 140 rebel
troopers. Guerilla parties seem to be springing up in every
direction in Virginia.

The Philadelphia Bulletin states that the rebels
made a raid on Buctoro and Manassas station, and
captured the 11th New York battery, destroyed 4
empty trains, tore up the rails, and demolished the
telegraph.
The New York E.cpreu says :

Thecalue of the quartermaster's stores captured by the
rebels at Manassas Junction was half a million dollars.
This is officially stated. The rebels were still in paragon
of Manamaie Junction on Wednesday morning. It is said
that the rebels had with them flying artillery, and that they
used them against a railroad train arriving from Alexan-
dria. There can be no doubt that the rebels have destroyed
all buildings public and private, the station-houses and
store-houses, and it is said they have burnt the railroad
bridge over Bull Run, but this is denied. In the meantime,
the capital is without oominunicaticn with the army by rail
or telegraph. _ _ .

The Alexandria correspondent of the New York
Tribune, published in that journal of the 29th,
states :

On Tuesday night, about 8 o'clock, the pickets at
Mamma Junction were driven in and two companies of
the 105th Pennsylvania infantry, one of cavalry, and
some artillery stationed there, were surprised and attacked
by Gen. Ewell's entire division, numbering from 7,0C3 to
10,000 infantry and cavalry, with artillery. After a short skir-
mish, the handful of men at the junction fled, the rebels
turning upon them nine of our suns, and keeping op a brisk
fire until the Union troops were taken prisoners, a few lu-
mping across Bull Run. Here, at Union Mills, two regi-
ments of Gen. Con's division under Colonel Scammon were
stationed, and they immediately advanced to meet the
leximaching body of rebels. A conflict ensued in the early
morning between the junction and Bull Run, lasting three
hours, when thelinion troops, being largely outnumbered and
flanked on the right, retired across Bull Run Bridge. Here
a vigorous attack wee made by Colonel Scammon to hold
the bridge. At 11 o'clock two rebel regiment. forded the
river above the bridge, when the 12th Ohio charged and
drove them across the river with heavy loss. The regiment
lost io killed, wounded and missing, 35 to 40 men. At
112 o'clock Colonel Scammon was obliged to retire, moving
!along the railroad in the direction of Alexandria. The
Irebels advanced across Bull Ruo, and yesterday afternoon
their advanced cavalry were at Fairfax and Burtis Station.
On taking possession of Manassas Junction, the rebels
captured seven trains loaded with provisions, ammunition,
&c., and tea locomotives, all of which they destroyed. Ot
the eighty-four men of the 105th Pennsylvania on the
ground, nearly all were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners,
es only three are known to have escaped. Our loss has
been immense in governmeut stores, and large in killed,
wounded, and missing. Telegraphic communication was
had with General Pope, yesterday, via Fredericksburg—
none whatever direct.

LATZB.—A captain just in from Centreville mays that
Arias was heard early this morning beyond Manassas, and
is is believed that General Pope had attacked General
Ewell in the rear.

A Washington correspondent states :

The first brigade cf General Kerney is reported to have
engaged the enemy near Bull Rua-bridge, where a desperate
struggle was maintained. The bridge is still said to be in
our poesessiou. Fighting also was carried on with portions
of the division of General Sturges, and nine pieces of artil-
lery are said to have been captured by the rebels. As this
goes to mail I learn that telegraphic communication is again
opened with General Pope. Manassas, therefore, must be
clear of the rebels, and General Stuart, if not taken, is pro-
bably wending his way through the Blue Ridge to join the
main body of bis army.

Other correspondents of different papers give
similar statements. Nothing can be learned at the
War Department.
The following particulars of the defeat and sur-
render of the Federal General R. W. Johnson to