The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1862-12-16

prepared to hold its passes as long as
possible. He had been reinforced BY
Kings division and part of Burnside
corps, under Gen. Reno. from Freder.
lcksburg. | also directed Gen. Burn.
side to occupy Richards and Barnett's
Fords, which were between him and
Gen. Pope's main army.
The enemy made several attempts tc
cross at different points on the Kappa
hammock, but were always repulsed, and
our troops succeeded in holding the line
OF The river for eight days. 1t was hop
ed that during this time sufficient forces
from the army Of the Potomac would
reach Aqua Creek to enable us to pre-.
vent any further advance of Lee. and
eventually, with the combined armies
to drive him back upon Richmond. On
the Gath he made flank movement, and
crossed portion of his forces at Water.
loo Bridge, about twelve miles above the
Rappahannock Railroad station Pope
directed an attack upon the forces which
had crossed the river, hoping to cut
them off, but the enemy escaped with ne
great loss. The annexed telegram from
Gen. Pope, marked Exhibit No. 3, and
dated the Goth, gives his views Of the
condition of affairs at that date. The
enemy, however, had not fallen back as
he supposed, but on being repulsed at
Waterloo Bridge, had moved further up
the river, and entered the valley which
lies between the Blue Ridge and Bull
Run Mountains. The object OF this
movement was evidently to get in Pope s
rear, and cut off his supplies from Wash
iagton.
Anticipating this danger, l had tele-
graphed to Pope on the esd "By no
means expose your railroad communica.
ton with Alexandria. 1t is of the ut.
most Importance in sending your supplies
and reinlorcements On the 26lh,
telegraphed "Ifpossible to attsck the
enemy in flank, do so. but the main OBJ.
ject now is to ascertain his position 4"
From this time till the 3Oth | had no
communication with Gen Pope, the tel.
egraph lines being cut at Kettle Run by
a part of Jackson's corps under Ewell,
which had marched around Pope's right
and attacked his rear.
Finding it doubtful whether we could
hold Rappahannock long enough to ef-
feet this junction of the two armies,
had directed part of the Peninsula
force to land at Alexandria and move
out by railroad as rapidly as possible.
4 | l,.,.l II. IL
had turned uen rops rrgrt iIuun uHd
forced him to change his front, order
ed the remainder of the army of the Pc.
tomac to Alexandria, and directed Gen.
Burnside to prepare to eyaouate Freder.
icksburg aud Aqua Greek. Idelermiu-
ed, however, TO hold this position as long
as possible for base of future opera
lions.
Gen. Pope's dispositions at this june
ture were well planned. The corps OF
Mcdowell and Sigel, and the Pennsyl-
vania reserves, under Reynolds, were
pushed forward TO Gainesville, Reno aud
Kearney were directed upon Greenwich,
while Hookers division was sent against
Ewell along the railroad Unlortunate-
ly, however, the movement was too late,
as large detachment OF Lees army was
already east OF rhoroug hlare Gap Hook
er encountered the enemy near Kettle
Run, and sharp engagement ensuad
This gallant division drove Ewell dis
tance Of five miles. the enemy leaving
their dead, aud many OF their wounded
on the field. AS Mcdowell, Sgel and
Reynolds, had reached their positions.
there was now every prospect that Jack
son would DO destroyed before reinforce.
ments could come to his relief
uNAccouNrABLE CONDUCT OF FIrz JOHN
PORTER.
On the evening of the eth, Gen. Pope
ordered Gen, Porter to be at Bistow' S
Station by daylight on the morning Of
the 28th. with Morell's, and also direct.
ed him TO communicate To Banks the or
der 10 move forward to Warrenton June.
ton. All trains were ordered this side
OF Cedar Run, and to be protected by a
regiment OF infantry, and section OF ar
ulIery. For some unexplained reasons
Porter did not comply with this order,
and his corps was not in the battles OF
the 28th and Goth
THE BATTLE OF MANASSAS.
Helntzleman's corps pressed forward
TO Manassas on the morning Of the 28th.
and forced Jackson 10 retreat across Bull
Run by the CentrevIle turnpike. Ne.
Dowell had succeeded in checking Lee
at Tnoroughfare Gap but the latter took
the road from Hopeville 10 Newmarket
and fastened to The relief of Jackson,
who was already in rapid retreat A
portion OF McDoMell's corps encountered
the retreatng column on the afternoon
Of the 28th, near Warrenton turnpike.
and n severe but successful engagement
ensued. Jackson was again attacked on
the 29th, near the old battle ground OF
July, 1861. Knowing tha. Longstreet
was not distant he made most dssper-
ate stand The fight continued neal "
all day, and was terminated only by dark
ness. We had gained considerable
ground, but nothing was decided when
the battle closed. Ii was renewed the
next morning, and after another day 5
hard fighting, our forces fell back be-
hind Bull Run, tho enemy not attempt