Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-08-16
LATEST NEWS
By TELEGRAPH.
THE WAR NEWS.
OFFICIAL REPORT Of TIE
LATE BATTLE IL
VIRGINIA.
The Rumor of McClelIan's Re-
treat from the Peninsula
Untrue.
INTERESTING ACCOUNTS FROM RE-
BEL JOURNALS.
The ERgs cement With the Arkansas
THE ENEMY RETREATINGF FROM
THE RAPIDAN,
Disastrous Collision on the
POtomac--.73 Lives Lost.
DEFENSE VESSELS In PROCESS OF
CONSTRUCTION.
Disastrous Collision on the
POtOmac--.73 Lives Lost.
DEFENSE VESSELS In PROCESS OF
CONSTRUCTION.
Virginia News.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA. I
WASHINGTON. Aug. Is.

WASHINGTON, Aug. l3.
To Najor General HrAeck:
On thursday morning the enemy crossed the
Ea pidan liver at Barnetford in heavy force aud
advanced towards Cu!pepper. | had established
my whole foce on the turnpike between Cupep-
per and sLeryswie, re ,dy to be concentra ed at
either place as soon as the enemy's plans we've
Developed Early on Friday it became apparant
that the move on Madison Court House Was mere
Iva feint t. drive the army cross Of Sigol at
Sperrysville. and that the main attack Of the ne
my would be at Culpepper to which place had
thrown forwarl part Of Banks and Nci oweifs
corps. brig. Ger. Bay ard, with part of the rear
Of McDowcli's corps, who was Ia the advance near
the Rapdan river, fell slowly back, del .yiLg and
embarrassing the eneny's alvaGce as far posi-
bic, and capturing some of his men. The force Of
Banks and Sigcl and one OF the divisions OF Nc
Uoweli's corp we're rapidiy concentrating at Cul-
pepper during Friday and aturlay nights, Ranks
corps be ng pushed forward Eve mics south OF
Cui, eyper. For n few hours Saturday tn e
enemy advanced idly to Cedar Mountain, Ia 4
sides of which they occulid in heavy force.
Gen. Banks WAS instructed to t.ke up his pos
zion on the ground occap pied by Cr~w!ords bri gaze
of his command which had peen thrown out the
day previous to observe tho movements Of the Gu
elny lie wac directed net 10 advance hey oDd th at
point, and if attacked by the enemy, to defend
his position and send back timely notice. 1t was
my desire to have time to give the corps Of Gen.
Sgel all the rest possible after leI forced march.
and to brirg forwsrd all tho forces at my disposal
The artillery OF the enemy opened arly in tb
D. m., but he made no advance until nearly 5 o.
clock, ut whicn time few skirmshers were thrown
forward on each side. Under Of the heavy
Mo1a n "wsrd trony force m the rear Of ss
skirmis ers and Gen. Banks advanced to the at
tack. The engag ement dill not fairly open uns il
after o'clock, but for an hour and q half was fu-
rious and uncessing throughout. Tee tannon ding
Was .t frst desultory andsdiree,ed mainly against
the cavalry had continued to receive reports
from Gen Banks that 10 attack WAS appIehended.
and that no considerable infantry force of the en-
envy had come forward. Towards evening the in
crease in the artillery firing having satisfied me
an engagement might be ct hand, though thoia,e-
ness OF the hour rendered it unlikely, | ordered
Gen Mcdowell to advance Rockets division to sup
port Zen banks, and directed Gen Sige! to bring
his men on the ground possible. | al
rived lcrsonally on che field at 7 p M, ard found
the action raging furiously, the infantry fire was
inces san, and severe. ioand Gen anks holding
the position he tooI up early in the morning, his
Losses we're heavy. ricketts, division was immedi-
ately pushed forward AMI occupied the advance Of
Gen Banks, the brigade of Gen Gordon being di-
rected to change their position from the right ana
mass themselves in the centre. Before this could
be Effected it was quite dark though the artillery
continued At short range without intermsson.- -
The artillery FIRE at night by the End and Srd Me.
batteries, in Rockets division, was most desruct-
i've, rs was readily observed the next morning in
the dead and horses and broken gun carriages
OF the enemy's batteries which had been advanc-
ed against it. Our troops restei on their arms
during the big in line Of battle, heavy she'll
ing being kept up both sides until midnight,
At daylight. next mornng the enemy fell back
miles our front and still higher up the mount
tain. Our pickets at once advanced and occupied
the ground. The fatigue Of the troops from long
marches and excessive heat made it impossible
for either ride to resume the action on Sunday
the m q were, therefore, allowed to rest and re-
cruit the whole day, our only active operations
being that OF the cavalry on the encmy's flank
an rear Monday was spent in burrying the dead
and getting off the wounded. The slaughter was
severe on beth sides, most Of the fighting b ing
hand to hand the dead of both armies eng found
mixed together in masses over the whole ground
Of conflict The buryng Of the dead was not
completed until dark ON Monday, the heat being
so terrible that severe work was not possible
On Monday night the enemy fed from the field
leaving many If bis dead uEburied and his wound
cd on the ground and along the read to Oran ge
Court ouss, as will be seen from Gen. Buford's
dispatched cavalry and artillery force under Gen
Buford " as i'm edately rown forward in pur-
suit and followed the enemy to the Rapidan, over
which he passed with his rear guard by 10 o.
clock in II e morning.
The behavior of Gen. Banks corps during the
action WAS very fine, No greater gallantry and
daring could be exhibited by our troops.
Icsnnot speak too highly Of the eoolness and
intrepldity ot zen Banks himself during the
whole Of our engagement. He was in the froAt,
and was exposed as much as any man in the
commend. His example was Of the greatest ben.
eft, he merits and should receive the commenda
ticn of bis Government. Generals " Villains
A ger, Gordon, Crawford, Prince, Green and Gear
~ behaved with cons icuous gallantry. Auge
ard Geary we're severely wounded. Ard Prince
by loosine his way in the dark while passinr
rom one flank to the other, fell into the hands OF
the enemy.
desire publicly to express my appreciation Of
the prompt and skiltul manner in which Generals
McDougal and Sigel brought forward their re-
srec.ve comma nds and established them IN the
seld and Of their cheerful and hearty co-opera
ticn with me from beginning to end.
Brig. Gen Roberts, chief Of cavalry Of this
army was with the advance Of our forces on Fri
day and Saturday, and was conspicuous for his
gall. ntry and for the valuable aid he rendered to
Gems. Banks and Crawford. Our loss was about
1900 killed, wounded and missing, of whom 200
we're taken prisoners - might be expected Fl ON
the character Of the engagement, . very large
proportion Of these were killed. The wound ded
and prisoners Of the enemy We ere now sati SIZED
10 in excess of our our.
A full list of casualties will be transmitted as
soon as possible, together with detailed report,
il which shall sAdssvor to Do justice to all.
ISienedl JoHN PoP..
Brig. Gen. Com.