The national Republican., 1862-08-25
From the Rappahannoek.

From the Rappahannook.
Reported Capture Of 1900 Rsb,ls BY Con. sii.l.
"A Train Fired Into.
Enemy Repulsed at every Point
Marrow Escape Of Rebel Gen. Stewart.
Special Correspondence Of the Chronicle.
HsADouARrERs Army or VIRGINIA.
.". August ~, 1863.
We are In good 6ehtipg trim, ali unnecessary
baggage having been ssnt 10 the rear. The
enemy is beyond the Rsppahannock, and is
evidently vefy cautious and unwilling 70 make
any efost against % without feeling his way.
Cannonadipg and skirmishing having been
going on DOW Tor two days, each resulting In
our favor.
A rather singular Incident occurred on last
Wednesday. IN which tns rebels for time,
obtained . eight advantage. A party Of Is
Of our cavalry was engaged 10 eating break
fast, and % great was thsir fancied security,
that they upsaddled their horees; their reposs
aud their breakfast were, however, soon dis
turbed, for party Of ,hs rebel cavalry dashed
suddenly forward, md our men were surround.
Cd and oaptursA before they could mount their
hosseA Tness animals, either becoming fright
easd OF not liking the appearance Of the secesh,
Get on d full speed without their riders, and ar
riving safsly ia camp, created The impression
that thsy he'd ell been shot from the saddles.
The occurrence gave rise TO many speculatious,
eince no sound had been heard, not shot bad
bsen fred. So complete wss the surprise that
Ill resistance on cur part wss useless.
10 about sn hour after The hospes came into
camp riderlees, . party Of General Buf0rd's
cavalry went In pursuit. and overlook body
Of rebel cavalry, under General Stewart. Or
these they made Q dashlng charge, which re.
quilted In the capture Of several priva,es and
an exquisitely dressed major, who, 10 the pur-
suit, our cavalry mistook for the general.
Stewart himself would have been captured hut
his escape In such direction that when be-
was captured, and the mistake discovered, It
was too late--the dandy had taved him. Later
10 the day another attempt was made By the
enemy 70 occupy the left bank a, this point.
They came cauiionsly forward through belt
Of woods the open field 10 front bciDg occu.
pied by portion Of Rickettas division. Shots
we're now freely exchanged, with scarcely any
effect on either side, until, by ieint move
ment, 10 which our men rstreated, the rebels
dashed forward with shout Of triumph. II
WAS Of short duration, for no sooner were they
completely out Of tbs woods, than our men
into them, empded many saddles and charged,
when the cavalry turned and fed. They vers
pursued across the Rsppahannock. Some were
captured on the way, and 10 precipitate wa
their flight that We secured about thirty head
OF cattle, which they we're compelled to absn
don. Our troops are now encamped on the
other side, Q part Of Buford cavalry and Rick.
stts's division. This Ia the only part Of the
west bank Of the river which We have deemed
Il necessary 10 possess. At this point we com.
mand the railroad bridge across the Kappa
hammock.
The rebels next attacked our centre, q few
miles higher up; they commenced shelling al
an early hour Oh the 2lst, and continued until
about one O'Clock At one time they attempt
ed to crose the river. but were driven back
| with considerable loes. We took nine prison
ers ut this point, who were the most oddly aud
wretcbsdly dressed soldiers we ever cast our
eyes on. Two of these attracted our attention
especially. One was dreRed partially In
clothes taken from our dead or wounded rD
the field, and seemed to b. very uncomfortable,
as his boots and pants were spoken Of Is bav.
ing been taken from the dead. Another was
10 In elligent looking and determined negro.
who fought, we were told, with the utmost
desperation a. be was about 10 be captured.
The rebels next attacked our forces ut Kelly.
vile or Kelly's ford. While the cannonading
was going on above, and all was quiet al this
point, and our boys were RECALLING tb, mselves
with broiled beef, &c.. - rebel major came over
among them, who bad become faint with hun.
ger, and begged few crackers. Theee, and
some coffse and beef being given to him, be
resigned bimself 70 our charge, where, la fu
tnfe, his creature wants will be more gener
needy rebels. The attack at Kelly's ford wa
repulsed, and the cannonading ceased about
ave O'Clock iu the afternoon. Our line of bat
tie was maintained. and the men slept on theil
arms all night The enemy having felt oui
lines ut various points, but principally ut those
named, we expected night attack aud waited
with much anxiety, each moment expecting Ia
hear from him, but ell was quiet during the
night. In the morning, however, at quarter
past six O'Clock, he opened u battery on our cen
trs. and continued vigorously to throw shot
1t WAS discovered that the enemy had, during
the night, erected bridge over the river.
At this point the most brilliant and success
full afair Of the day Is reported to have oc-
Cured. In the vicinity Of this bridge was
one Of General Sigels batteries, on which the
rebels opened brak FIRE, TO which, for while
our battery replied with spirit In u little
while our trs slackened, sod then ceased, the
battery having been apparently silenced Of
Withdrawn. Three rebel regiments now rushed
scross the bridge, and Sigel offers no opposi
ton. Everything seems favorable, but alas
the scene soon changes No sooner have they
crossed, than Sigel opens bis battery on th,
bridge. The fourth shot completely demol-
ished 1t, aud ct the same time : deadly fire O
musketry sssails the rebels In front. Thei
rstrest IL cut Of. No hope 10 left. A few shot
from our battery, charge, and they are ours
Not man escaped! Nearly 1000 are said t
, have been captured, aud about 4OO killed an,
wounded.
The enemy having failed in thin, now bur
forward their forces with impst,iosity, an,
strive 10 outfank Sigel by crossing at French
, ford but Gen. Pope orders up Banks an,
Reno 70 the aid of Sigel and the enemy i
again repulsed, AID moves higher up the rive,
How the next attempt Of the enemy succeeded
. have not yet learned.
At Cstlett's Station, In the rear Of our army
, where = small sDcampmsnt protected som
wagons ard cattle, q squadron Of rebel cavalr,
surprised the encsmpneut about 8 O'Clock, an,
are said to have carried off several head Of CO,
tle The train from this station had just ar
, rived at Catlstt's and had been backed on
, sidling; but, the rebels having fred on th
u IA = Al