The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-09-19
THE RECENT BATTLES In VIRGINIA
REPORT OF MAJoR-GEN. POPE.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
Sentpmhar 2 1892.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA, |
September 8, 1862. {
GENERAL have the honor to submit
the following brief sketch OF the operations
of this army since the 9Th of August
I moved from Spsrryville, Little Wash
ington and Warrenton, with the corps oil
Banks and Sigei, and one division of Nc.
DOwell's corps, numbering in all thirty two
thousand men, to meet the enemy, who had
crossed the Rapidan, aDd Was advancing on
Culpepper. The movement toward Cor
louisville bad completely succeeded in draw,
ing of large force from Richmond, and in
relieving the Army of the Potomac from
much of the danger which threatened its
withdrawal from the Peninsula.
The action of August 9, at Cedar Nouns
tain, with the forces under jackson, which
compelled his retreat across the Rapidan,
made necessary still further reinforcemeDts
of the enemy from Richmond /; and by this
time, it being apparent that the Army OF
the Potomac was evacua ting the Peninsula,
the whole force of the enemy concentrated
around Richmond was pushed forward with
great rapidity to crush the Army of Vir-
ginia before the forces evacuating the Pen.
insula could be united with it. | remained
at Cedar Mountain, and still threatened to
cross the Rapidan, until the 18th of August,
by which time General Robert Lee had as
sembled in my front, and within eight miles,
nearly the whole rebel army. AS soon as
ascertained this fact, and knew that the
Army of the Potomac vas no longer in dam
ger, l drew back my whole force across the
Rappahannock, on the night of the 18th and
day of the 18th, without loss of any kind,
and one day in advance of Lees proposed
movement against me. The enemy imme
diately appeared in my front at Rappahan.
mock 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 Kappahannock,
which l bad been ordered to hold, that the
enemy might be delayed long enough in bis
advance upon Washington to enable the
forces from The Peninsula to land and effect
a junction with me, was very weak, as it
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 from the railroad
crossing to Waterloo Bridge, west of War;
renton. Meantime my force had been much
diminished by actual loss in battle, and by
fatigue and exposure-so that, although /
had been Joined by a detachment under
Gen, Reno and the other division of Nc
Dowell's corps, my force barely numbered
forty thousand men.
On the "a heavy rain fell, which rem
dered the fords impossible for tweuty-four
hours. As soon as I discovered this, 1 con-
centrated my forces, and marched rapidly
upon Sulphur Springs and Waterloo Bridge
to drive back the forces of the enemy. which
bad succeeded in crossing at these points.
This was successfully dore, 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 COM
mand, without passing the river over fords
strongly guarded, 10 the face OF superior
numbers.
The movement of jackson toward White
Plains and in the direction of Thoroughfare
Gap, while the main body of the enemy
confronted me at Sulphur Springs and Wa
terloo Bridge, was well known to me, but l
relied confidently upon the forces which 1
had been assured would be sent from Alex
andria, aud one stray division of which
had ordered to take post on the works at
Manassas Junction. was entirely under
the belief that these would be there, and it
was not until l found my communication
intercepted that was undeceived. l knew
that this movement was no raid, and that it
was made by not less than twenty-five thou.
sand men, under jackson. By this time the
army corps of Heintze!man, about ten thou.
sand strong, had reached Warrenton juno
ton one division of it, l think, on the very
day of the raid but they came without ar /,
tlllery, with only forty rounds OF ammuni-
ton to the man, without wagons, and even
the field and general officers without horses.
Fitz John Porter also arrived at Bristow
Station, near Rappahannock, with one OF
bis divisions, $500 strong, whilst his other
division was still at Barnett's and Kelly's
Ford. l directed that corps, about $500
strong, to concentrate Immediately at War.
renton junction, where Heintzelman alrea-
dy 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
kappahanuock was no longer teuable
could not detach a sufficient force
to meet jackson, and at the same time at.
tempt to confront the main body Of the enc
my. l accordingly at once evacuated War,
renton and Warrenton Junction, directing
Mcdowell, with his own corps and Sigel's
and the division Of Ravnoldc r. vn.,.L,...