Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-09-10

uEADQUARTERSUEN.IO OPE hhAI, O6N-
TREvILE HEIGHTS Va, Sept. 2.
The Special correspondent of the New York
Tribune, arrived at Centreville on Saturday
afternoon as Gen. Pope and the army of Vir-
ginia were returning from the hard thought
battlefield of Manassas Plain. Seven hun
dred Rebel prisoners we're filed up the Fairfax
road in the rear of Centreville, while Nc
Dowell's corps came sweeping up from the
battle. continue the history of the retro
grade movement of the army of Virginia from
Saturday at six O'Clock, up to which time
full account has been furnished you by your
correspondent Gap.
Before commencing my report as an eye
witness l am enabled to give the following
succinct account of the previous four days
fighting, through descriptions and data kindly
given me by Gen. Kearpey, Though his Chief
of Staff:
THE COMMENCEMENT.
While Gen. Pope was stationed at Warren
| ton, the Rebels, under Jackson, Eweil, Long
street, Hill, Stewart, and Fitzhugh Lee, con-
ceived the strategic movement of marching
the great mass OF the Confederate army around
the head waters of the Rappahannock, through
Thoroughfare Gap, and thence to Manassas,
hoping to cut off the Army of Virginia from
it's base of supplies, and hoping thereby to
starve it out or compel them to fight on their
chosen battle field. As soon as Gen. Pope
was Informed of the intended movement of
the Rebels, thinking the force to be smaller
than it really was, he set about capturing the
force between him and Washington, and to
keep open the route from his army to his base
OF supplies. The fist appearance Of the Reb-
ell Army, after moving through Thoroughfare
Gap, was. made at Bristow's Station on the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad.
WEDNESDAYS MOVEMENT.
To carry out the plan OF capturing the Reb-
ell force at Bristow's, Gems. Reno's and Kear.
ney's divisions were dispatched from Warren
ton to Greenwich, on the Turnpike, north OF
Manassas, to cut off the enemy if he should
plan retreat back again to Thoroughfare
Gap. To prevent a similar movement on the
part of the enemy, Gen. Siegel was ordered to
Gainesville and Gen. Mcdowell was dispatch
ed to Thoroughfare Gap, Gen. Hooker was
advanced along the railroad to Bristow's Sta
tion, to attack the enemy in the front, while
Gen. Banks was ordered to follow Gen. Hook
| er as reserve, in case the enemy should de-
feat Hooker, and cause our forces to assume
a retrograde movement. The order to Nc
Dowell was also to keep Longstreet and Ewell
from joining Jackson at Manassas by the way
| of Thoroughfare Gap. Mcdowell was not
emy from being re-enforced by the great mass
of the Rebel army. The enemy, in force, ar
rived at Manassas on Wednesday evening,
| when Ewell was sent to Bristow's Station, to
destroy what Union supplies there should be
standing on the track. Ewe,l's force coming
up was met by Hooker coming down, and also
by kearney, who had arrived by way OF Green
wich. The fight at this station was a signal
victory on the part of Hooker and Kearney
Through the combined infantry movement of
Hooker and artillery movement of Kearney,
700 prisoners were taken in this engagement,
beside some small-a arms and accouterments
The enemy were driven back to Manassas, and
as night came on they took possession of the
nights across Broad Run. Then both forces
rested. In this battle the loss of the enemy
was heavy, and among them were some of
| their finest officers. Gen. Ewell was wound
ed in the leg by a shot from rifed cannon,
and his leg has since been amputated.
FRIDAYS FIGHT.
At dawn OF day on Friday, Kearney, Reno.
and Hooker, of Heintzelman's corps, and
Sykes's division of Porter's corps, came up
before Manassas.
Birney's brigade was first on the battle-
ground of Manassas at Z O'Clock on FRIDAY
morning. The enemy had left the immediate
vicinity of the Junction, and the buildings
were burning behind them. Kearney's divis-
ion was now ordered 10 march on, cross Bull
Kun, near the Orange and Alexandria Rail-
road, and move on Centrevile, where the en-.
emy were reported to have been posted in con-
siderable force. Kearney advanced, and drove
in their videttes. and crossed the Run without
opposition. One mile beyond the bridge. on
commanding hight, Kearney now made dis
position of his troops for battle, seading out
skirmishers to the right and left, &e. After
the arrival of Kearney, advancing to within
mile and half OF Centreville, they met a reg
iment of the enemy's cavalry, who immedi-
ateiy charged on them. Our cavalry skir-
mishers-two companies of the I'd Pennsyiya.
MIA Cavalry-turned and fed, the enemy in
hot pursuit. On arriving near our infantry
line, they were met by heavy fire from our
infantry skirmishers on the right and left of
the wood, and thrown back in confusion.
Gen. Birney here came near being taken pris-
oner. The RebelCavalry seeing him in front,
menced q scrub race for life oa one hand and
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