The national Republican., 1862-08-29
From Fredericksburg.
HEADQUARTERS OF GN. BuRSsrpr, CAMr
NEAR FREpERIcEWuRa, Va, Aug. 2j.


~ NEAR FREDEIoKssuRo, Va, Aug. 25.
IAst evening mail carrier named Aleck
Pslfick, Of The 4th Michigan cavalry, arrived
here from General Morrell's division Of Nc
Clellan's army, which is stationed al Ellis's
Ford, on the Rappahannock, distance Of 20
miles from here. lie states that ehort time
before he left camp, three cavslrymen from
Pope's army had arrived in their (Aorrell's)
camp, aud from them be learned that fight
conmeaced on the river, in the locality Of
Rappshannock station, at sunrise on Thursday
morning. II was opened with artillery on
both sides and at long range, our troops being
on the north aide Of the river and the enemy
advancing cautiously 10 the south side. The
firing was continued all day Thursday and a
part OF Friday.
On Saturday two regiments and battery Of
the enemy succeeded In crossing the river,
but had no sooner done 20 than they were
driven back In confusion by General Sigel.
whose men charged on the enemy in splendid
style. .
During the cannonading we had one gun
dismounted and two officers belonging 70 one
OF our batteries wouuded--a captain and Q
lieutenant. The latter had both legs taken off,
and the captain was wounded In the arm.
The enemy must have suffered good deal,
a. our artillerists had o great advantage Of po-
sition over the rebels. Our guns were on
knoll which had direct sweep over the ene-
my's, and all our shots went into and through
their lines, while mostly all Of theirs struck into
the high bank OF the river. The fling was dis
Continued on Saturday evening, ut 10 O'Clock,
and the main body Of our troops were falling
back on Warrenton Junction. ehsve strong
force guarding Barnett's Ford, and II is now
said the river Ia unfordable, owing to the late
rains. So you may depend on II nothing de-
cisive hss been done yet, and Of course every
days delay only weatens the tnemy's chance
OF success and strengthens ours. Hurry up all
the troops In the whole North, send them down
10 Washington and of TO join Pope; and when
he has all be wants, send us down some 70 this
place, and send some 10 Yorktown and viii
iiamsburg, and every spot in Virginia that they
can be landed on, for we may want them, and
We will gain by having plenty ot them oil over
this State. 5
am sorry 10 notice that some of our SOL
diery think there Is no harm or sin 10 the
world In cheating poor contrabaud out OF any
little money or vsluables he may have. A
poor darkeY belonging TO this place bad Q
watch he met Zoo zoo, or red leg, a. Cuffee
calls him-but hs turned out to be black leg,
~ the story will prove. Red leg wanted TO
buy exactly such o watch, and persuaded his
white eyed friend to sell. Accordingly, the
sale was made for the sum Of SIS. Cuffee said
"Yaas, you kin hab him." So red leg did
"hab him." and psid-of bis friend in three
IS bills, such as can be bought in New York
for cent piece, being nothing more than
those fac si,nies OF Confederate money sold by
the newsboys through the streets. There Is
any amount Of this money In camp, and when
ever darkey Ii met with anything for sale, u
he is knOwiag enough 10 refuse tle money,
they threaten 10 take him 10 the lard house
Il hs refuses Uniied Slates money! 1t Is some
times difficult TO tell one colored man from
ano,her, but 10 the case Of the unfortunate indi-
vidual who sold the watch, It was dimcult 70
tell one white man from another, rs the only
thing be could tell the officer TO whom he com.
planned was, that the man be sold TO had red
l.ga There were 900 red legs 10 the immediate
locality.
There was an evening dress parade through.
ont the whole camp at 81 O'Clock yesterday.
could mention several regImsnts that looked
splendidly indeed, but the Ninth New York,
I1swkins Zouaves, carried OF the palm, and Ii
there had bsen 200 regiments here have no
doubt they would do the same. The Seventh
New York. In its palmiest days, never excelled
the appearance ind drill Of the OH az 1t went
through the manual Of arms last evening. AT.
ter drill they formed, like the other regiments,
. hollow square, lace inwards, and the chal
lain OF the regiment addressed them eloquent
ly. The meu listened with very great atten-
tion to bis renal ks. which were not very long,
but to the point. The very splendid band Of
the regiment played hymns both before and
after the religious service. l lett the ground
with the impression. that II there was perfect
regiment in the United States ssrvice, that reg
iment was the Ninth New York. l am only
sorry that the red leg above mentioned belongs
TO it.
The day in the city was very quiet Most Of
tho churches were open, the congregations
being mostly ladies, and here and there
sprinkliDg OF Uncle Sans soldiers. l attended
two of the churches-an Episoopslian and n
Methodist. Neither OF the preachers alluded
In any way to the present state Of things in
their city or country, but mainly TO religion
alone. There are some two or three hundred
sscssh 10 town. 1t 10 said they are dessrtsrs
from Stonewall Jackson; however. ! would
advise Our Provost Marshal here to keep close
eye on them, as have no doubt some Of them
would apply torch to some of the buildings
we occupy and use, II they could get chance.
Geus burnside and Fi,z John Porter return.
ed from Acquia Creek yesterday. They had
an interview at that place with Gen. Mcclellan.
They returned on special engine, aud ran up
from the creek 10 the camp In twenty minutes.
The weather is moderately cool and pleasant.
d.