New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-08-28


10 escape, owing TO an advance Of Rebel REINFORCE
menls far superior 10 the number of our own troops
md the want of a sufficient number Of soldiers TO
hold them.
Some prisoners, however, were brought to Beal-
town Staten, and will be sent to Washington.
:, .,,sil.'ff'':Y,
Fsom ooi Special Correspondent. ''~'s'-'' .'...'
WAsHIyoroS, Aug. 90, 1862.
From an officer of Gen POpe's staff who left
headquarters of the Army of Virginia this morning
have one or two facts not without interest.
The Rsppahannock line s abandoned, and our
forces have fallen back another position ten miles
70 the rear Gen. Pope was not long i'll discovering
what II may be presumed the Rebels knew all tbs
tire thar the Rappahannock above is junction
with the Rspdan, is iorlabe in many places where
Their, are no established and recognized fords. With
be river ut it's Ordinary hight therefore, the Rebels
might have chosen an unguarded polnt-ior along a
line of such extent ii il obviously impossible TO de-
iend every point-snd crossing by night might have
established heavy force on the northern bank, cat
TIM in two the line Of defense and the cooperating
:orces and seriously compromising both wings OF
The Union army. The attack on our center az the
railway bridge, moreover, showed that the strength
Of that position had been overraca, and all c'tcum-
stances seemed to unite in suggesting that the Rap
pahannock which for the moment had served W 70
well. both as a barrier and q strategic line had 10
permanent value a. a defensive front.
Whenthe river rose and threatened the safety Of TIE
railway bridge, il was at first reckOncd misfortune,
but the DELAY which il inteposed TO the Rebel move
mcuts was more than compensating advantage.
Profting by the condition Of the stream, which for
babe any effort TO cross it with heavy columns,
much less with artillery wagons, Gen. Pope again
withdrew his forces in the face Of the enemy, aud
occupied without serious loss or hindrance the hne
on which his army row reposes. At the time OF the
first retreat The movement would probably have been
impossible for only the Tlver could have checked the
swift approach Of the Rebel columns, enraged by
the unexpected escape Of their outnumhered enemy.
Deliberately adopted now and success ally occupied
10 force, it may probably be accepted as the true
line OF defense as long defense is orr policy and
the true bare Of oifense when forward movement
commence.
Bull Run mountains. extending southwesterly
from Lecaburo. terminate near Nauenion. DIS
connected ridges guard Jheir western flank at the
iouthern extremity, and the whole chain forms
apparently barrier. impossible except through
Thorougbfare Gap. II may be presumed that Gen.
Popes right flank resg near the foot of these noun
sain,. The railway irom Wancnton 10 the junction
follows nearly the general course OF the north fork
ofebc RapYahaunock, and is necessarily within our
lines. the center OF which might lind the Junction
Itself convenient pivot fol strategic operations
Between the railway ana fredericksburg is stretch
O! country r,.tler more than twenty miles broad,
bounded on the east by Inc Potomac. FredericAs-
&. in nur lgaI0u md
Acquia Greek, as well as the rest Of the Potomac
bank 10 70 be defended.
1t seens 10 be considered that tie main force Of
The Rcbelg passed the west and north OF the orig
iaal center OF our lines ON the Rappahannock. The
cavalry dash Oh Catett's Station by way OF War
renton was only me,eone detachment from the
rlaiq force and probably indicated, as have before
suggested, the near presence OF heavier iorce'
When oncs Tia corise Of .he mair columns was 49,
eertaincd, Gen. Pope drew i'll his long-extended
i'ne TO lset them, sending Sgel again to
the jlyht from which he had been withdrawn
iasi Iauisday, and collecting for the same
purpose the other rather widely separated
corps. With the progress therefore, Of the Rebel
columns rovin2 on the outer and larger arc Of con-
centric circles. the whole line Of Gen. Pope swung
round 70 the right, and changing the direction of s
front with rapidly and precision, again awaited the
Rebel approach This is the movement which at
tbc QUITO. ] described by saving that the army had
ssllcn back. Relatively to the Rsppalannock it is
earwar1 mach; but in fact it ia n,aneuyer
r.ther ,5an a movement, aud consists simply in
keeping tie face Of the army turned steadily toward
he Ecbels.
i'u, ior the rice of the Rappshannock, battle
~euld have been fought last week between the two
srrnit' Jackson, leading the advance as before,
crossed fhe nver with Lis corps and the rest Of the
nrmy was 70 have followed. Once over, it would
have had no choice but 10 fight and if beaten could
have escaped humiliation only by surrender, for the
s"oI'n nver in its rear barred all retreat. 1t may
Z. pr"im.1 that the Rebels were well aware OF the
r'-erfo'c'men's rapidly sent forward to Pope Ii
~"rld 10 ts'cut TO say what fact important 10 the
ear'raisa they may not be presumed to be aware Of
Ihey Tad therefore the alternatives of Immediate
Sasi' Or retreat compelled to defer their attack,