The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-12-18

anticipating CnlS Danger, / had tele-
grapbed to Gen. Pope on the 2sd
By no means expose your railroad
communication with Alexandria. Itis
of the utmost Importance in sending
your supplies and reinforcements. !"
On the 2eth telegraphed: eff pos
sible to attack the enemy in flank do
so, but the main object now is to ascer-
tain his position" From this time till
the 30th had no communication with
Gen. Pope, the telegraph lines being
cut at Kettle Run by part of Jack.
sens corps under Ewell, which had
marched around Pope's right and at
tackled bis rear. .i.'as .'..'' - '.''
Finding it doubtful whether we
could hold Rappahannock long enough
10 effect this junction of the two ar
mics, / had directed part of the Pen
insular forces to land at Alexandra
and move out by railroad as rapidly as
possible. As soon as had heard that
the enemy had turned Gen. Pope's
right flank and forced him to change
his front, ordered the remainder of
the Army of the Potomac to Alexan-
dria, and directed Gen. Burnside to
prepare to evacuate Fredericksburg
and Aqua Greek. / determined, how
ever, to hold this position as long as
possible for base of future operations.
Gen. Pope's dispositions at this
juncture were well planned. The corps
of Mcdowell and Sigel, and the Penn
sylvania Reserves, under Reynolds,
were pushed forward to Gainesville.
Reno and Kearney were directed upon
Greenwich, while Hooker's division
was sent against Ewell along the rail-
road. Unfortunately, however, the
movement was too late, as large de-
tachment of Lees army was already
east Of Thoroughfare Gap. Hooker
encountered the enemy near Kettle
Run, and a sharp engagement ensued.
This gallant division drove Ewell a
distance of FIVE miles, the enemy leav-
ing the dead and many of their wound
ed, on the field. AS Mcdowell, Sigel,
and Reynolds had reached their posi-
tions, there was now every prospect
that Jackson would be destroyed before
reinforcemcnts could come to his re-
lief So e -.-t 1o -iaf.I s.e- ID 4-s
FITZ JOHN PORTER DIsoBEYs.
On the evening of the 9th, General
Pope ordered Gen. Porter to be at
Bristow's Station by daylight on the
morning of the 2Sth, with Morrell, and
also directed him to communicate to
Banks the order to move forward to
Warrenton Junction. All trains were
ordered this side of Cedar Run, and to
be protected by regiment of infantry
aud section of artillery. For some
unexplained reason Porter did not
comply with this order, and his corps
was not in the battles of the 2sth and
29th. ~-.,~ ,.,f. ..e
Heintzleman's corps passed forward
to Manassas on the morning of the
9th, and forced Jackson to retreat
across Bull Run by the Centreville
turnpike. Mcdowell had succeeded in
checking Lee at Thoroughfare Gap,
but the latter took the road from Hope
vile to New Al Market and FASTENED to
the relief of Jackson, who was already
in rapid retreat. A portion of Mellow.
l'ell's corps encountered the retreating
column on the afternoon of the 28th,
near Warrenton turnpike, and severe
but successful engagement ensued.
Jackson was again attacked on the
29th, near the old battle ground oi
July, 1861. Knowing that Longstree,
was not far distant he made most despe
rate stand. The fight continued near
y all day, and was terminated only by
darkness. We had gained consider.
able ground, but nothing was decided
when the battle closed. 1t was re-
newed the next morning, and after
another days hard fighting, our forces
fell back behind Bull Run, the enemy
not attempting pursuit. Two days la
ter, however, he threw considerable
force between Chantilly and German
town, to turn Pope's right. Hooker
dislodged them aftera short but severe
engagement, in which Brigadier. Gen
erals Kearney and Stevens, two of oul
very best officers, were killed. Pope.
army had been reinforced by the corp.
of Franklin and Sumner, and no further
apprehensions were felt for its safety
During the operations of the previ
Gus week, of which we received very
favorable but not trustworthy accounts
every effort was made to push forward
supplies and reinforcements to Genera
Pope's army. The troops from the
Peninsula were ordered not TO wait fol
, transportation, but to march immedi
ateIy to the field of battle. Some o.
| the corps moved with becoming activ
: jity, but the delays of others were nei
t ther creditable nor excusable. Ou1
losses in these battles were very heavy
both in life and materials, but as nc
official reports have been received ex
cept brief sketch from General Pope
marked Exhibit No. 4, / have M
!, means of ascertaining their extent
p Gen. Pope was transferred to anothei
; Department before the reports of hi
s subordinates could be received; prob
I ably they will soon be handed in
< Most of the troops actually engaged il
!. these battles, fought with great brav
d cry, but some of them could not b.
t brought into action at all. Man,
J. thousands struggled away from thei
J, commands, and it is said that not
e few voluntarily surrendered to the en-
q envy SO as to. be paroled as prisoners Q
7, war;, sHs IL sft.sv s.ff fe visltgr
q L. In order TO reoroan;1a the differeu