Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1862-09-12
The RECENTBATTLE sINFRoNT
OF WASHINGTON.
Report OF Maj Gen. Pope to Maj Gen.
HaIIeek, GommRnder, In Chief.
HEADQUARTERs AaMY 81 YIReMIA,
Sept. 3, 1852.

sept. ., l6Dz. Is
GENERAL: have the honor to submit |
the following brief sketch of the opera. |
tons ofthis army since the 9th of August:
Il moved from Sperryyille. Little Wash. |
ingtOn and Warrenton, with the corps OF
Banks and Sigel, and one division OF Nc |
Dowelps corps, numbering IN all thirty
two Thousand men, to meet the enemy, |
who had crossed the Rapidan, and was
advancing on Culpepper. The movement
toward Gordonsville had completely
succeeded in drawing off a large force
from Richmond, and inrelieying the army
Of the Potomac from much Of the danger
which threatened its withdrawal from the
Peninsula.
The action of Aug. 9, at Cedar Noun
tain, with the forces under jackson, which
compelled his retreat across the Rapidan,
made necessary still further reinforce
ments of the enemy from Richmond: and
by this time. it being apparent that the
army of the Potomac was eVacuating the
Peninsula, the whole force of the enemy
concentrated around Richmond was
pushed forward with great rapidity to
crush the army of Virginia before the
forces eyacuating the Peninsula could be
united with it j remained at Cedar Noun
tain, and still threatened to cross the Rapi-
1 dan, until the 18th of August, (which time
Gen. Robert Lee had assembled in my
front, and within eight miles, nearly the
whole rebel army. As soon as l ascertain
ed this fact, and knew that the army of
the Potomac was no longer in danger,
drew back my whole force across the
RapDahanock, on the night of the 18th
and day of tho 18th, without loss of any
kind and one day in advance of Lees
proposed movement against me. The
enemy Immediately appeared in my front
at Rappahannock Station, and attempted
to pass the river at that bridge, and the
numerous fords above and below, but
without success.
The line of the upper Rappahannock,
which had been ordered to hold. that the
enemy might be delayed long ugh in his
advance upon Washington to enable the
forces from the Peninsula to land aud ef-
feet a junction with me, was very weak, as
Il could be crossed at almost any point
above the railroad bridge by good fords.
By constant vigilance and activity, and
much severe fighting for three days, the en-
envy was gradually forced around from the
railroad crossing TO Waterloo Bridge, west
of Warrenton.. Meantime my force had
been much diminished by actual loss in
battle, and by fatigue and exposure-so
tachment under Gen. Reno and the other
division of MeDowell's corps, my force
/ barely numbered forty thousand men.
On thea heavy rain fell, which rem
dered the fords impossible for twenty four
hours. AS soon AS l discovered this, l
concentrated my forces, and marched rap
idly upon Sulphur Springs and Waterloo
/ Bridge to drive back the forces ofthe enc.
, my; which had succeed in crossing at these
points. This was successfully done, and
: the bridges destroyed.
passed one day-or rather part of one
at Warrenton and beyond. The enemy
still continued to move slowly around along
the river, masking every ford with artillery
and heavy forces of Infantry, so that it was
impossible for me to attack him, even with
, the greatly inferior forces under my con-
mand, without passing the river over lords
strongly guarded, in the face of superior
numbers.
The movement of Jackson toward White
Plains and in the direction of Thorough
fare Gap, while the main body of the enc
my confronted me at Sulphur Springs and
Waterloo Bridge, was we'll known to me,
but relied confidently upon the forces
which had been assured would be sent
from Alexandria, aud one stray division of
which had ordered to take post on the
works at Manassas Junction., was entire
t ly under the belief that these would be
there, and it was not until fOund my COM
mnnication intercepted that was Jude
ceived. knew that this movement was
no raid, and that it was made by not lees
8 than twenty-five Thousand men, under
Jackson. By this time the army corps of
Heiutzelman, about ten thousand strong,
had reached Warreuton Junction one di .
vision of ii, think, on the very day of the
raid ; but they came without artillery, with
only forty rounds of ammunition to the
man, without wagons, and even the field
and general officers without horses. Fitz-
John Porter also arrived at BristoW Sta
ton, near Rappahannock, with one of his
divisions, 1900 strong, whilst his other
division was still at Barnett's and KeIly's
Ford. - directed that corps, about 500
strong, to concentrate Immediately at War
renton junction, where Heintzelmah al
ready was. This was accomplished on the
evening of the -th. As soon as it became
known to me that jackson was on the rail
road, it became apparent that the upper
j Rappahanneck was no longer tenable. L
could not detach sufficient force to
meet jackson, and at the same time
attempt to confront the main body
of the enemy. accordingly at once
evacuated Warrenton and Warrentou
, Junction, directing Mcdowell, with his own
corps and Sigels, and the division of Rev
nolds, to march rapidly by the turnpike
upon Gainesville, SO as to intercept any re-
Endorsements coming to Jackson through
Thoroughfare Gap; and instructing Reno,
with his command, and Kearney, with one
division of Heintzslman's, to march ON
Greenwich, so as TO support Mcdowell in
case of necessity. Imoved back along the
railroad upon Manassas Junction. Near
Kettle Run Hooker came upon the advance
of EWelps Division on the afternoun of the
} 27th. A severe action took place, which
terminated at dark, Ewell being driven
from the field with the loss OF his camp and
threa hnndred killed and ,rnnnhnh THE