Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1862-08-29
The March Of Grand Army.-The RETREAT
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airy was preceived in the rear Of the White
House, Just to the right Of the Culpepper
road, and within three-quarters of a mile
Of the Rapidan river.
During the day our pickets had been
driven in by the rebel cavalry, which made
its appearance on the opposite bank Of the
river, and there being no resistance made
10 its crossing, by night quite a large
force occupied the ground previously held
by us. From this fact Il was plain TO see
that falling back Of our entire lines was
contemplated.
Sigels forces were then in the advance,
Renos forces Of Burnside's command
holding the left, in the vicinity of MitchelIs
Station, on the line Of the Orange and
Alexandria road and McDowelps forces,
supported by Banks, occupying the right
and centre. At half-past ten Oclook that
night-our troops in the advance having
remained in town during the entire day
and night-General Sigers forces COM
menoed moving back towards Culpepper.
Previous to this hour, however, the
troops in the rear had already taken up
their line Of march, and were passing
onward in the direction Of the Rappahan-
mock The night was dark and cold and
the march necessarily slow, in consequence
of the immense train of transportation
wagons, which were placed in advance of
the troops, the latter acting as a guard, in
case ola surprise on the part of the enemy.
All the usual camp fires, with the ex-
ceptiOn Of those necessary for the safe
transit Of the wagon trains, were extin-
guished, and all unnecessary noise and
hustle was avoided. The retirement was
conducted in as orderly manner, and as
speedily, too, as the exigenoies of the case
would allow.
It was not until a late hour on the fol-
lowing morning Tuesday, that the ad-
vance Of SigePs corps reached Culpepper.
At Slsughter's Mountain, the scene of the
late signal conflict between the gallant
troops Of Banks corps and the forces of
the rebel jackson, our troops took a
lengthy rest, some delay having been Oc-
casioned by the jumbling up of the wagon
trains Of Sigels and Kings forces.
1t was midnight at this hour, and the
few glimmering lights of the camp fires in
vested the surrounding scenery Of the
mountain with a weird-like aspect Over
the trench-formed graves of our fallen he
roes few struggling rays occasionally
glanced in a strange and mournful man
ner, reviving in the minds Of the beholders
all the tragic scenes of the week previous
Thousands Of bayonets CLEANED in the
light-thousands offorms were outstretch-
ed upon the cold ground, waiting for the
signal to march on.
So far we had ridden by the side Of the
Colonel of the 10th Ohio Regiment; but as
the air became keener and the cold more
penetrating, we bsde our friends adieu and
rode onward. A short nap by the way
side, just before the break of dawn, and
then we rOde onward to Culpepper. The
scene presented on the outskirts of the
town, just as the sun was bathing the east
ern hills in sea Of glory, was magnif-
Gently grand. McDOwelPs and Kings
forces had already passed through the
town. Banks division yet remained at
their old encampment on the right of the
road, while Sigeps forces were bringing
up the rear.
As far as the eye could reach there was
to be seen but moving masses ofinfantry,
cavalry and artillery; while, far beyond
that, you could Just catch a glimmer of
the white covered tops of wagon trains,
slowly winding up the distant hills. Of
fcers, giving words of command, were
moving in every direction over the field
while mounted cOuriers, riding in hot
haste, were passing in and out Of the
town.
At the Medical Department Of the Army
of Virginia-located in the imm ediate vi
.cinity of the depot, which department, by
the way, is 50 admirably conducted by
DR.. Rauch, Of Chicago, together with his
corps Of assistants, Drs. Vanderkert, Whit
ney, 7. R. Dunglison, of Philadelphia, and
others-there was all the hustle and con-
fusion incident to a hasty removal Of the
sick and wounded yet remaining in the
hospitals. -
Already had our ammunition and other
stores at this point been laden and des-
patched up the road, and that class Of SOL
diers Just named were being speedily en-
barked All these, with the exception Of
some eighty-fve men, a list of whose names
were previously sent you, their injuries
being Of such character IS TO prevent
their safe removal, were got of by five
o'clock in the afternoon, at which hour
DR.. Rauch closed the Office of the medical
department at Oulpepper, and we, in his
company, left for the direction Of the Rap
pahannock.
Just as we mounted our horses at the
door, the whistle Of the engine bearing the
last train from this point blew a shrill
sound, and defantly, it seemed, rumbled
its way in the direction indicated.
The rear guard of the army in its retreat,
was composed Of the cavalry under COM
mand Of our gallant young General Bay
ard. To them had been entrusted the haz-
ardous duty Of preventing a surprise on
the part Of the enemy, and Of seeing that
both men and army stores were gotten out
of the reach of the rebels, before they came
upon US. The movements Of our troops
were made in number Of directions, all,
however tending to the same point-that of
RappahannOck station,
Being with the rear foFee-that of Si-
gePs-We are not aware at what time the
first troops passed across the bridge, but
suppose it must have been at an early hour
during the forenoon. SigeTs forces en-
camped on Tuesday night some four miles
in the rear of the bridge, and this point
having been gained, further movements
we're not characterized by the same activi-
ty that they were during the previous
night and the early part Of the following
day.
All night long, however, army trains,
infantry and artillery, were moving across
the bridge and by noon on Wednesday
the cavalry composing the rear guard made
its appearance just on the west side of the
RappahannOck bridge, it there being drawn
up in line Of battle to meet the enemy's
cavalry, with whom Bayard had skirmish-
ing from Cedar Mountain. There, at
about one o'clock, the enemy charged upon
our force, but accomplished nothing be-
yond the wounding of some few men. Our
cavalry then came across the bridge, and
the retreat across the Rappahannock was
successfully consummated.
The notorious George N. Sanders is the