Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-09-20
SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1862.
OLD SERIES, VOL. 90, NO. 52.

the immediate command of Gen Mcdowell.
When night closed our left had been forced
back about half mile, but still remained
firm and mistaken, while our right held its
ground.
General Franklin with his corps arrived
after dark at Ccntrcvillc. six miles in orr
rear while Sumner was four miles behind
Franklin. could have brought up these
corps in the morning in time to have renew
ed the action, but starvation stared both
men and horses in the face, and broken and
exhausted as they were, they were in no
condition to bear hunger also. Iaccurding-
" retired to CcntrcyillC that night in perfect
order.
Neither on Sunday nor on Monday did
the enemy make any advance upon us. On
Monday | sent TO the army corps command
crs for their effective strength, which all
told, including Sumner and Franklin, fell
short of sixty thousand men. Instead of
bringing up thirty thousand men, franklin
and Sumner united, fell short Of twenty
thousand, and these added TO the fore had
already wearicd out, and much cut up, did
not give me the means to do ANYTHING else
than stand on the defence.
The enemy during Monday again began to
work slowly around to our right for the pur-
pose of possessing Fairfax Court House, and
thus turning our rear
COuCh's division and one brigade of Sum
ncrs had been left there, and sent down
Hooker on Monday afternoon to take COM
mand and put himself at or in front of Ger
mantown, at the same time directed Nc
DowcIl to take position along the turnpike
from Ccntrcville to Fairfax Court House,
about tyo miles west of the latter place.
ucintIzcmau was directed to post himself
In rear and support Of Reno, who was push
cd north of the road at point about two
and half miles east of Centrcvillc, and TO
cover that road, it being my purpose, in the
course Of the night, 30 mass my command
ON the right, in the direction of Germantown
where l felt convinced the attack of the enc
my would be made.
Late in the afternoon Of Monday, the enc
my made his demonstration upon German
town, but was met by Hooker at that place
and by Reno, reinforced by Kcarncy, further
west. The battle was very severe though
short, the enemy being driven back Il mile
with heavy loss, leaving his dead and wound
cd IN this short action We lost two of our
most valuable and distinguished officers,
Generals kealnCy and Stevens.
BY moving, the whole Of the command
was masscd behind difficult creek. between
Flint Hill and the Warrenton Junction with
the advance, under Hooker, in front Of Ger
mantown.
With the exception Of Sumner, the com
mandcrs Of the army corps Of the Army OF
the Potomac had continued to inform me
that their commands were and had been
dcmoralzed ever since they left IIalrison's
Landing; that they had no spirit or diSpo-
silon to fight This latter statement their
conduct in the various actions fully contra
dictcd, but the struggling in these corps was
distressing.
Tutgay "Sif acFn6dng FnS6dng 10 G'fn Glcp flSpqrG4 6 6 n
trcnchmcnts near Washington. which was
accordingly done on that day and the next,
III good order and without the slightest
loss.
Banks, who had been left with the rail
road trains, cut of at Bristol by the burning
ol the bridge, was ordered to Join me on
Monday at Ccntrcyille, which lie did on the
afternoon Of that day.
ms brict summurywill explain sufficient
" IN detail the whole Of the operations of
the forces under my command, during six
Iech days OF continuous lighting by day and
by night.
10 confront powerful enemy with great !
'N'' ''- ANl'N0, tAllAA 4l-AL MN titN 10y tiIN
without losing your army; to delay and /
his movements, and to force lFm. /
by persistent resistance to adopt long and /.
'ircuitous routes to his destination are the |
lutlcS which have been imposed upon me.
They are, of all military operations. the |
most difficult and the most harrasing. |
10Th to the commanders and 10 his troops. |
How far we have been successful | leave !
o the judgment Of my countrymcn. The
lrmlcs of Virginia and OF the Potomac have
'Ccn united in the presence and against the
hortS of wary and vigorous enemy in
.roatly superior force 10 either. with no
oss for which they did not exact full rctri-
ution.
Among the officers whom l feel bound TO
lcntion with especial gratitude, for their
loSt hearty, cordial and mtring zeal and
ncrgy, are Generals Mcdowell Banks, Reno.
Hooker and Kcarney, and
lany Others Of inferior rank, whom / shall
axe great satisfaction in bringing to the
office of the Government.
The troops exhibited wonderful patience l
nd courage, and cannot say to much for !
lcm. I