Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-09-12
"THE PANORAMA OF THE WAR.

each other with such tremendous rapidity that
the record has failed to keep up with them
We are moving from WarrentOn on the enemy;
we are at the Rapidan we are checking an
attack of 25,000 with forlorn hope of 1000;
we are menacing GordonsVille, and threaten
ing to destry the railroad arteries of Rich
mond we are evacuating the Peninsula, and
holding our breath as we tremble lest the re-
treating column be aunihilated we are re-
treating from the Rapidan we are frozen
with horror as we learn that the whole rebel
army is pouring down on our weaker wing
'ye draw long breaths of relief as We retreat
across the RlppIhannock in safety the an
guish- born prayers Of Nation go up that
the Slow Man of the Peninsula may for once
be fast, while the brave souls on the Kappa
hammock held ont against the billowy advance
of foe that comes in like the ocean at high
tide.
AT last we give thanks for the Nations
Safety. The advance from the Peninsula ar
rives and hnrries toward the Rappahannock,
TO the relief Of their s0rely-preSsed brethren
in arms. Surely the main body of our re-
leased Peninsular veterans must be pressing
hard behind. Thanks, once more Musket
for muskei, Rlan for man. we are ready for the
foe while "the three hundred thousand more
are rushing 10 the Capital, 30 secure the safety
of the rear. Deiiverance at last and ,low,
On to Richmond
And then there comes a time of which we
have no rccord-when the very lightning lags
behind the movements Of our armies.
We are fighting on the RIppahannocll we
are holding the lines. defending the forts, tax
ing prisoners, but still on ;he defensive we
are moving from Fredericks burg we are
throwing forward the Newb,rn expedilona nv
corps; I'VE are menacing he rebel lines of com
munication Suddenly our headquarters are
captured, staff officers are taken prisoners,
trains are burned, telegraphio communication
is cut OF While we all stand wondering,
there comes fresh disaster. Omnous silence
prevails on the Rtppahannocl ;-Hrnassas
Junction is in the hands Of the rebels It
must be another of those cavalry raids, more
shall speedily punish the reckless temerity OF
the band that thought to d.liver such an in-
suit with ihIpanity mot man oT them shall
escape.
We push ont a brigade or two and wait 10
sec them march in the prisoners they have
taken. Back come the raw troops, flying in
disorder. They had charged plumb into u
rebel army of thirty thousand mcn the fear
ful truth begins 10 hreak upon us we are
cut off from our army the rebels are in
PupeS rear in force, and between him and the
Capital! Presently CentrcyilIe is taken
Fairfax Court House is ialcn; our telegraph
cavalry are securing the country up 10 within
five miles Of Washington. We take up a
span of the Chain Bridge, sciz. every stray
soldier and hurry him to the forts, and wait
to hear the opening of the guns that shall tell
us the Capital is attacked.
And then there comes Il blank. RumorS
Of heavy fighting, by somebody somephere
near, CONS in the fugiliveS from the country
round about Manassas and Ceuireville tell u-
of an immense rebel army, in light marching
order, pushing on. The roar OF artillery is
again heard in the Capital the President
again listens TO The guns whose stern voices
are pronouncing the fate of the Republic he
is striving to save. Then come The swift
lidngs of glad news. Pope has poured buck
like an avalanche, he has fought battle a day.
he has driven the enemy before him. he has
detached divisions to cut off their retreat, his
combinations work out with perfection as
charming as Their eclerily was adniirgble
from the field Of the last days battle he sends
the proud dispatch. all glowing with the en-
lhusiasm of glorious victory The enemy
are driven from the field. We now occupy it.
Our troops have behaved spcndidy. The
IL.
We have made great captures. We shall
push matters in the morning, as soon as Fitz
j ohm Porters corps comes up"
All! gallant General-''as soon Fitz
j John Poriers cqFps comes up!' Why has it
not come up long ago? And where are
Franklin aud Sumner, who, we all had hoped,
might have joined you on the Rappahannock
a week before? somebody has blundered.'
Then, again, there is blank. Still, no
news is good news. Pope must be TOO busy
to send dispatches and everybody pours out
of Washington toward the battle6elds, TO care
for the wounded. The loEg miles of wagon
trains are all moving iouard Washington-
The army droves of cattle are being driven
back. A few pieces of artillery come hurry
ing back. Even as near as Fairfax Court
House. bodies of cavalry are being sent out
to look after appreheuded attacks on our line
of supplies. Surely this is net Indicative of a
victorious army and dashng pursuit. As
the se8ne of action is neared, the truth forces
itself too paIpabIY on all. We have been de-
feated-driven from the field-forced back TO
Centreville. The enemy has the aggressive
there ia fear that we will be pressed back to
the Qualifications around Washington. And
these corps of FRANKLIN and Sumner are just
coming up toward the fields their fresh forces
should have saved.
and again there comes suspense. The
wounded heroes of the ranks come back-a
multitude that fills all our hospitals, and de-
mands our public buildings AND private houses,
but still only tithe of the whole number
Their comrades are ia the hands of the enemy.
The gunboats that were menacing the rebel
capital are ordered up the Potomac to pro-
tect our own. The Angel of Death has swept
off the flower of our army all over the land
there is mourning for brave sons that are not;
and every mother is dreading to hear that hers
too are in the fatal lists. And still we hear
nothing more from the imperiled army of the
Republic Since Saturday last, when we
were defeated, We know little or nothing of
what has transpired.
And 40 we remain ia horrible suspense
uncertain whether we shall next hear the
sopnd of tha Gateful conflict still nearer fha