Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-11-26
THE IMPENDING BATTLE,
From the patprsburt, IVA EYnrnsS N,


days of rain.
THE IMPENDING BATTLE.
From the Petersburg (Ya.) Express, Nov. q.
1t seems to be now pretty well asccrtained
that Burnside has withdrawn the bulk of his
forces from the Potomac to the Rappalan-
mock. We presume that IL corresponding
movement has been made by Gen. Lee. The
theatre of operations has again been changed,
and the Fredericksburg route to Richmond,
either teignedly or really, selected by the en-.
envy. 1t is hard to say what the latter intend
to do. Gen. Lee has been trying to get a
fight out of them for weeks, but in vain.
Thinking that Lincoln was in earnest when
he declared his determination to push his ar
my of the Potomac on to Richmond by the
way of Warrenton, he threw himself in front
for the purpose Of preventing the execution
of his purpose. Mcclellan would not ad-
vance, and he was superseded by Burnside,
who, instead of advancing, has "changed his
base" by slipping his forces around to the
Rappahannock, with the obvious design to re-
occupy Fredericksburg, Whether he will
succeed in so doing, few days will deter
mine. If he makes the attempt to get to
Richmond, there lciU necessarily be mother
battle, and bIoodie1' one than has been fouqht
get. Where or when it VIII be is past our
conjecture.
From the Fredericksburg Herald Nov. 81
During the afternoon the impression pre-
vailed that the enemy were embarking in the
vicinity of Aqua creek, the Potomac river
being reported as full of transports. A large
toraging party went down the same day the
river road in Stafford, and will probably con-
tinue its depredations into King George. The
train consisted of one hundred and seventy
wagons, and had with it four pieces of artil-
lery, two infantry and two cavalry companies.
On Tuesday and Wednesday the Potomac
river was covered with vessels of all sizes
and kinds, mainly of the transport order.
That these are intended to carry off the army
Is an opinion entertained by many. Enough
OF the army will be over the river, though, to
''keep up appearances" We shall not be
surprised if by Saturday night the main bulk
OF Burnsides force is well on its way to their
new destination, though of course this is con-
lecture to great extent. We understand
that federal prisoners captured estimate their
numbers at over one hundred thousand, but
we doubt the figures. The confederate force
here as under officers IN lchom our people can
weH afford to repOSe trust, and be the battle
here or remote, there is no cause to fear the
result.
From the Richmond Examiner
Though the enemy is undoubtedly in large
force in front Of fredericksburg, there are in
dtcatlOnS that the great battle is not to come
off IN that vicinity. The most obvious of
these indications is that the enemy has not
already struck blow at this point before any
reinforcements could have possibly arrived
There are only two suggestions on which the
inacton can be accounted for-either that the
rapid movements on our side have disconcert-
ed the plans Of Burnside, or that his demon
stratlon at Fredericksburg is really a feint.
We learn that on Tuesday and Wednesday
the Potomac river was covered with vessels of
all sizes and kinds, mainly of the transport
order. That these vessels were intended to
carry off the army is an opinion entertained
by many. 1t is not improbable that General
Burnside is at this time embarking his army
at points along the POtomac-Aquia creek
ana Potomac creek-fOr the real point of at
tack on Richmond. The main column for
TINS attack, 1t is supposed, will move via Suf-
ok, and probably lesser columns from other
points.
sroNEWALL JACKsON's MOVEMENTS.
Correspondence New ork Herald
HARPER's FERRY, Va, Nov. 24.-News of
interest has reached me from the headquarters
OF Stonewall jackson as late as Saturday last.
CiA'Nii tiSh iit'Oi lllo at Berry
vile, and was there in person. His force was
thirty thousand, and the number of his guns
sixty. Gen. Echols division was with Jack
son. On Friday evening jackson received
the following telegram from jeff Davis:
'lt you do not leave the valley at once and
come to help us defend Richmond, it will not
be worth your while to come to its defence at
all"
Jackson's reply is not known, but his forces
were not in motion on Saturday morning. The
inference is that he replied in the negative.
l his was the fourth dispatch jackson received
from Davis calling on him to come to the de-
fence Of Richmond.
SIGELs HEADQUARTERS, Nov. 24.-Such
information has been received at these head
quarters this afternoon, as leaves no further
room to doubt that the entire northern por-
ton of Virginia has been abandoned by the
rebel troops. There are few white guerril-
las roaming about Leesburg, Mount Gilead,
Martinsburg and vicinity. jackson has gone
towards Richmond.
The chaplain of the I'd Massachusetts regi-
ment writes to the Congregatonaist ga new
commander we must have, for Col. Andrews,