The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-09-02
FROM THE RAPPAHANNOCK.

Pope Retreating-furs"h by oar A'my, dc.
RICHMOND, Aug. PA guard of one hundred
and fifty men, left to blow up the railroad bridge
across the Rappahannock river after the Yankees
had crossed, was surprised by Thurs
day and captured. There were taken at the same
time two splendid locomotives and tenders, and
five or six cars, which to have been used by
the guard in making their retreat after the work
was finished. The prisoners arrived here last
night.
On Monday, the 18TH Gen. Stuart, while max
ing daring reconnaissance within their lines,
came very near being taken prisoner. He IN
a house, and saw some men coming up, whom lie
took to be his own, that he had sent out and was
expecting. He found out his mistake only in
time to take horse and gallop off, leaving hat and
haversack behind. 1t is stated that his haversack
contained important papers, and that two of his
aids were taken.
Monday and Tuesday, there were some move
ments OF troops, and on Wednesday morning
Jackson's corps started in pursuit of the enemy.
That day, brilliant cavalry skirmish occurred
near Stevensburg Our men charged them sue
cessfully, repulslng them, killing and wounding
several, taking IS prisoners and number of
horses, with only slight loss on our side.
On Friday last General Stuart crossed Hazel
river, at Welford's Ford, with about three thou
sand cavalry, and proceeded to Waterloo bridge
From thence the command advanced to Warren
ton and waited for the columns to close up. The
advance guard was then sent out about five miles,
and reported everything quiet. The column again
moved forward, and reached within mile of Cat
let's Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Rail
road, about dark. The enemy were. completely
surrounded and surprised, and their whole force,
consisting Of about five thousand men, were put
to flight.
Quartermasters and commissary stores, wagons,
tents, etc, Of the estimated value of five millions
Of dollars we're destroyed by our troops. They al
so captured three hundred and sixty seven prison
ers, including seventeen commissioned officers,
among whom are one Colonel and three Captains ;
also General Popes two horses, his saddle, bride
sword, uniform, his servant, and his quartermas-
ter, Capt. GouldingO and the Quartermasters
horses. Also, 900 in specie and Treasury
notes, and mail, containing official letters from
General Pope, of the highest importance, which
are now in the hands of General Lee
The Richmond Dispatch, of the Goth, says:
"The news from the line Of the Rappahannock,
though rot so full and complete could de-
SIRE is nevertheless, interesting and important
1t is understood as perfectly reliable that the ad
vance of our forces have reached Manassas juno
ton, where they captured some eight or ten heavy
guns and an immense quantity of valuable stores.
The portion of the Yankee army under Pope
was at Warrenton on Wednesday, aud it is stated
that its retreat in the direction of Alexandria is
entirely intercepted. The only route by which he
could reach that point is by way of the Junction,
which is now in possession of our forces. 1t is
not probable that he will succeed in forcing his
way back to the Potomac by taking that route
If this statement be correct-and we have no rea-
to question its authenticity-the only road for
his escape would seem to be by way of the Plains
to NIiddlcburg, and from thence to Lcesburg, in
LOudoun county.
Burnside, with his army corps, was at Freder-
icksburg yesterday, and was reinforced by two dl-
visions Of the army lately under Mcclellan, but
will never reach Pope.
We have no intelligence of any heavy fighting,
and it is somewhat surprising that troops have
met with SO few distractions in their advance. In
Government circles there seems to be not the
slightest apprehension for the safety of our army
Indeed, we have reason to believe that the most
lively hopes are entertained of triumph which
will eclipse any that has been vouchsafed to our
arms since the war commenced. The intelligence
that the enemy has been reinforced has created no
uneasne IS, and not the remotest idea ofa reverse
is entertained.
To sum up the whole, we are warranted in the
conclusion that the enemys forces so situated
that further retreat would be decidedly more
disastrous than the acceptance of BATTLE and that
in either event he is inevitably subjected to re-
verse from which it viii be no easy matter to
recover"