Newbern weekly progress., 1862-09-06
FROM VIRGINIA,

WV oo"iS" "Hao 'dSuC uilu lHuietllCl'
Gen. Popc's despatch from Manassas
junction, on the evening of last Thurs
Cay, the 2Sth, at 10 o'clock, gives the
most Ineligible, as we'll as (ofcourse)
the most accurate report Of the march
es and encounters. On reading this
and referring to map Of the locali-
ties, it is possible to get tolerably
clear notion of how matters stood at
that time.
Pope, with his original army strong
ly reinforced by the corps Of Heintzel-
man and Porter, had been encamped
at Warrenton and Warrenton juno
ton, on the Orange & Alexandria, R. r.
the two being connected by the War
renton Branch R. r., and both distant
about ten miles from the North Fork
of the Rappahannock, along which
heavy skirmishing had been taking
place for several days, and which the
enemy had apparently been attempt
ing to cross. While there he discov-
cred that it was the plan of the rebels
to hold him in check in this position
with small force, whilst the body of
the rebel army marching North from
Richmond, by the way of Front Roy
al, then turning Eastward, passing
through Manassas Gap down on to
White Plains, and thence through
Thoronghfarc Gap on the line of the
Manassas Gap r. R.,-should attack
and overwhe!m him in the rear. Tho
roughfare Gap is distant about twelve
miles from Warrcnton as the crow
flies, and bears nearly due North.
As soon as Pope had discovered this
scheme, he marched rapidly back in
three columns. Mcdowell, with his
ovn and Sigel's corps, marched north
ward by the Warrenton and Alexan-
dria Pike, in the direction of Thor.
oughfare Gap. Reno and one division
of lIeintzelman, marched on Green
wich, in direction nearly parallel to
Mcdowell, and near enough to rein
force the latter, should there be need
Pope himself, with Portcr's corps and
Hooker's division, marched more to
the eastward, in the direction of Wash
linton, upon Manassas Junction.
In the meantime, jackson, with a
considerable force, had passed through
Thoronghfare Gap, and arrived at Ma
nassas Junction, a distance of about
twenty miles. The rest Of the rebel
force were passing, or about to pass,
through Thoroughtare Gap. 1t was
the object of Mcdowell to interpose
between jackson and the main body
of the rebels, whilst Pope, marching
upon jackson, shonld attack him,
thus cut off from reintorcements.
Mcdowell came upon Longstreet,
who had already passed through the
Gap, and arrived at Bristow Station
on the Manassas Gap r. R.,a distance
of about six miles from Ihoroughfare
Gap. Here a battle took place, and Long
street was driven back to the western
side of the Gap. In the meantime
Hooker who was advancing, as be-
fore mentioned, from Warrenton juno
ton to Manassas Junction, came upon
the enemy, (probably portion Of
Jackson's command,) at Kettle Run,
small branch of the Occoquan Riv.
er, running about East. Here again
the enemy were defeated with a loss
of camps, baggage and arms.
Jackson, meanwhile, probably hear
ing Of this attempt to cut him off, had
evacuated Manassas Junction and
having marched through Centreville
was endeavoring TO form junction
with the main body Of the rebels by
rctreating westward from Centreville
in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap
Mcdowell, it will be remembered
having driven back Longstreet through
Thoroughfare Gap to the West, was
now advancing eastward over the very
road to Centreville, by which jackson
was endeavoring to make his retreat
The armies met at Bull Run, six mile,
west of Centreville, on Thursday the
2sth. A severe fight took place, and
the enemy we're driven back at every
point, when darkness separated tho
colnbatants.
Here our account ends. But th'
position of the armies was this. Jack
son was on the left bank ii. e
that nearest Washington,) of Bul