Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1862-09-02

entire company Of cavalry lett Montgomery
county, on the Potomac, last week, and squads
are constantly moving into Virginia,
LETTER From RICHMOND.
sUecial Correspondence of the Appeal
RICHMOND, August &c, 1862.
The operations of our army on the upper
Pappahanuock are now, aud have been for len
DAVIS mast. exclusively confined to the pursuit OF
the retreating enemy. Within that period,
Pone. with the flower of the Federal army,
| gatbered from the lsgions of Hslleck and the
debris of McCleIan's imposing command has
given up entirely the counties OF Madison
Orange, Culpeper, and, ere this, Fauquier, re-
treating over a distance of more than htIy
miles, and leaving behind him, in "hosPltable
graves" thousands Of his best soldiers In
Guiding the results of the battle of Cedar Creek
| we have a thousand prisoners, a large amount
of captured arms, ammunition and PROVISIONS
the right of way to Manassas, and the brilliant
moral effects of successful strategy and success
sive victories.
On Friday last the Federal army was pushed
back upon the Rsppahsnnock, and on Saturday
morning Gen. Jackson precipitated his advance
upon its strongest positions, and at one O'Clock
routed it along the entire line, and crossed IN
pursuit. Gen. Longstreet's command followed
on Sunday, and on yesterday a third army
CORDS succeeded. Gen. Jackson arrived at
Wsrrenton on Sunday, aud made his tempo
rary headquarters at Warrenton Springs, while
our other forces are supposed to have been dis
patched in a divergent direction, to maintain
the position of the enemy between them, and
prevent him, if possible, from fanking of
toward Fredericksburg, to escape heading on
at Manassas.
Warrenton is situated some fifteen miles from
Manassas plains, the scene OF the last years
memorable campaign in Northeastern Virginia.
It is seven miles north of the Orange and Alex
andria railroad, with which it communicates by
a branch of railway, which is not, however OF
any service at present. The enemy's route lay
upon the turnpike along the course of the Alex
andria railroad, while Jackson's forces, on his
left flank. are h~urrying down the Warrenton and
Manassas turnpike, and Longstreet's are press
ing on Immediately in the enemy's rear, or, as
already surmised, bearing off to his right flank.
Although many rumors have come in as to the
success of cur movements in that quarter, it IS
more than probable that the enemy will escape.
The efforts on the part of our gallant troops, in
order to carry out successfully a plan requiring
almost superhuman endurance, will, 1t IS to be
feared. fail, but not without glory. Their path
Is already strewn with l%aurels, and their conduct
in doing their utmost to intercept the retreat Of
sn enemy who had started with every advantage
on his own side, must, should it be barren OF
great results, stamp them as soldiers unexcelled
for spirit, energy and mobility, by Roman,
Greek or Gaul.' A fifty mile chase on foot,
with a skirmish or a battle every day, and all
the attendant hardships of a running fight upon
running fare, is no holiday undertaking.
McClellan's disappearance from Berkeley con-
tinues to give rise to speculatiOns Of every I'M
| ayinable nature. 1t is confidently asserted that
he is now in Washington, and that his army
has been removed to Maryland, upon whose
soil many believe the next great battle viii
be fought. The authority for this and similar
reports, is beyond the possibility of being es-
tablished. It IS only necessary to mingle with
the coteTies that gather upon the corners to goS-
sip upon probabilities, to come to the conclusion
that they all originate in conjeetures given to
the breeze. Rumor feeds upon passing pre-
SYMPTOMS, the credulous swallow the rumor,
and so the excitement is kept going.
Congress has as yet not gone thoroughly to
work upon the severalimportant questions which
it was believed would form the staple of its pro-
eeedings. Yet, from the tone of the debates,
| thus far, there is a strong indication Of a busy
and boisterous term. The c~Onscript act has
already been the source Of several spirited late
raj debates in the House, and the conduct of mil
itary commanders, in certain cases, have been
the subject of bitter criticism. In both the Sen
ate and the House, the abusers, first of the med
zeal department, and then of all the departments,
the follies of commandments of military districts,
the Passport system, the short eomiugs OF army
quartermasters, and similar topics Of Importance
have come under review, and the language used
in regard to them was neither gentle nor com-
promising. The preiminaries are daily being
gathered fr the storm that is, or at least prom
Uses, to sweep clean the chsmbers of government,
from top to base. Resolutions of inquiry and
committees of investigation have commenced
TO be the order of session, and we may naturally
afford to hope that .he parties interested will moi
he too smart for their examiners. Committees
of investig alton too usually make q soft thing
of their missions and return reports OF al
! right without any respect to the existence o.
unpleasant truths. Reform IS needed IN every
branch Of the government, andIt Is essentia
against a general degeneraey INTO the Yankee
system that the reformation commence cary sno
4 be kept up.
. RrpENrrKG.-I; is stated that the Fedora.