Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-08
Special correspondence of the Chicsgo Times
The War I'm virginia.
The Situation on Wednesday-Battle of Bristoc
StatiOn-The Rebel Raids upon Manassas,
Fairtar and BuTke's Station, DC, &c, &c.

Last night a hundred or more contrabands
reached here from Fredericksburg They bring
the intelligence that General Burnside has evacu-
ated that point ana that his forces have come up
the Potomac and ale to day barring the road of
the invader to Washington.s From this it will
be seen that our armies are now all concentrated
upon the road 10 Richmond, and that facing them
on the same route are the entire columns of the
Confederates The position. however, is a pecu-
liar one. By series OF feints in force last week,
across the north fork of the Rappahannock, the
rebels succeeded in detaching powerful force,
which, striking westward, proceeded up the val
ley through which the north fork of the
Shenandoah, passed through the Blue Ridge at
Manassas Gap, and following along the Manas-
sas Gap railroad, swept down upon Bull Run
bridge and Manassas Junction, and disposed the
main body on the north bank of Broad Run be-
tween Gainesville and Manassas Junction. This
was the situation of Wednesday, and from this
it will be seen that the rebels bad placed them
selves between General Pope and Washington.
occupying the Orange and Alexandria railroad
from Bull Run bridge, three miles this side of
Manassas Junction, to Brissow Station, some
four miles beyond.
Wednesday Gen Hooker attacked the enemy
at Bristow Station, and after hard fight. which
lasted all day, rolled the enemy back on Manas-
sas Junction, while, at the same time. General
Scanlon attacked them at this end, and Bull Run
bridge, but was unsuccessful. That same night
heavy force of their cavalry swept into Fairfax
Station, point still nearer Washington than
Bull Run bridge, and captured guard composed
of New jersey troops. During the same day a
party of mounted rebels dashed into Burke's Sta
ton, point still nearer Washington than Fairfax
Station, and succeeded in running out small
guard of Federal troops at that place.
Thus il will be seen that the operations of the
rebels on Wednesday extended from Burke s
Station, fourteen miles from Alexandria, to Bris-
tow Station, thrty-four miles from the same
place-in all a distance along the railroad of
twenty miles They also burned the bridge over
Accotink Run, point only ten miles from Alex
andria. and not more than seven from the outer
line of Notifications around Washington. The
latest information from the scene OF operations
fails to inform US what is being done by General
Pope. Whether he is moving down upon the
enemy or executing some movement to catch
them, is not known.
The late movement of the enemy was of the
most daring character. They engaged the atten
ton of our army in front, while they made long
detour, passed around our right, came in behind
US, and quietly set themselves down in force, be,
tween our army and Washington. There they held
possession of the railroad for distance of twenty
miles, burned cars, captured or burned stores to
died" our forces from every point, destroyed
bridges, and made themselves generally at home
The only serious interruption they received was
from the veteran Hooker, who, having once fought
over nearly the same ground, felt himself per-
fectly at home, and, aided by his seasoned SOL
diers, gave the enemy the only check their late
operations have yet received.
What may be the ultimate object of the enemy
in this singular and daring movement is not yet
known. OF course, with Pope on one side and
Burnside on the other, they cannot hope to hold
their position and hence they will be likely to
suddenly disappear, TO suddenly re-appear in
some unexpected locality Possibly push into
Maryland and Pennsy ylvania, by the way of Lees
burg, may be the programme. At all events, af-
ter their late operations, we need not be aston
ished to frd them turning up almost anywhere.
Cincinnati and Philadelphia are both tempting
places, and both within striking distance of the
omnipresent rebels. GALWAY.
"A dispatch from Washington Sunday night stated
that Burnside had possession Of Fredericksburg at p