The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-09-11
The Recent Battles in Virginia.
REPORT OF MAJOR-GEN. POPE.

GENERAL: have the honor to submit the
following brief sketch of the operations OF the
army since the 9th of August
moved from Sperryvile, Little " ashington,
aud WarrentOn, with the corps OF Banks and
Sigel. and one division of McDowell's corps,
numbering in all thirty two thousand men. 10
meet the enemy, VINO had crossed The Rapidan,
and was advancing On Culpepper. The move
mcnt towards GOrdOnsville had completely sue
ceeded in drawing off large force from Rich
mond, and relieving the army OF the Potomac
from much of the danger which threatened lta
withdrawal from the Peninsula.
The action OF Aug. 9, at Cedar Mountain,
with the forces under Jackson, which compelled
his retreat across the Rapidan, made necessary
still further rGlDtOrcements Of the enemy from
Richmond nd by this time, it icing apparent
that the army ui the Potomac Was eyacuatlng
the Peninsula, the whole force Of the enemy
concentrated around Richmond was pushed for-
ward W it'll grea, rapldgy 10 crush the army OF
Virginia, before the forces eVacuatln5 the Pc
ninsula could be united with it, remained at
Cedar Mountain. and still threatened 10 cross
the Ra pidan, until the Il tn Of August, by winch
time Gen. Robert Ice had assembled IN my
front, and within eight miles, nearly tae whole
rebel army As soon as | ascertaned this fact,
and knew that the army OF the Potomac was
no longer IN danger, | drew back my whole
force across The Rappahannock, on the night OF
the l7Ch, anu day OF the 18th, without loss OF
any kind, and one day IN advance OF Lees pro
posed movement on me. The enemy lmmedl-
ately appeared in my front at RaPpaha"nock
Station and attempted to pass the river at that
! bridge, and the numerous torda above an below,
but without success
The line Of the Upper Rapplhonnock, winch
| had been ordered to hold that the enemy
might be delayed long enough IN his advance
upon Washington to Ell able the forces from the
Peninsula to land and effect d Junction with
me, was very weak, as 1t couli BIZ crossed at al
most any point above the railroad bridge by good
fords.
By constant vigilance aud activity, ,tnd inueA
severe lighting, for three days, the enemy was
gradually forced around from the railroad cross
ing to Waterloo Bridge, west o! Narenton.
Meantime my force had been much diminished
by actual loss in battle, and by fatigue aud ex
posure---so that although had been joined by
detachment undcr n. Reno. and the other
divisions OF McDowell's corps, my orce barely
numbered fo'ty thousand men.
On the heavy rain fell, hich rendered
the fords impossible Tor twenty-foug hours As
soon as | discovered this, concentrated my
forces, and marched rapidly from sulphur
Springs and Waterloo Bridge 10 drive back the
forces of the enemy, which, had succeeded iii
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 cou
tinued to move slowly around along she river,
masking every ford with artillery and heavy
forces OF Infantry, 80 that 1t was impossible Tor
me to attack him, even with the greatly inferior
forces under my command, without passing the
river over fords strongly guarded, in the face OF
superior numbers.
The movement Of jackson toward White
Plains and in the direction Of Thoroughtare
Gap, while the main body of the enemy con-
tronted me at Sui phur Springs and Waterloo
Bridge, was well known to me, bu. | relied
confidently upon the forces which | had been
assured would he sent from Alexandria. and
one stray division Of which had ordered 10
take post on the works at Manassas junction.
| was entirely under the belief that these would
be there, and it was not until | found my COM
municatiun intercepted that | Was undecelqed.
| knew that this movement was no raid, and
that it was made by not less than twenty-five
thousand men, under Jackson. BY this time
the army corps Of Hentzeman, about ten
Thousand strong, had reached arrenton juno
tiou one division OF it, think. on the very
day OF the raid but they came without az
tillery, with only forty rounds of ammunition
to the man. without wagons, and even the field
and General officers without horses titz-John
Porter also arrived at Bristow Station, near
Rappahannock, with one of his divisions, 1 800
strong, while his other division was still at
Barnett and Kelleys Ford. | directed that
corps, about 500 strong, to concentrate I'M
. mediatelv at WarrpntOn Junction. where
Hemtzleman already was. This was accom-
plished on the evening of the til. AS soon
as it became known to he that jackson was or
: the railroad it became apparent that the upper
: Rappahannock was no longer tenable. | coulC
Y not detach sufficient force to meet jackson
d and al the same time attempt TO confront til,
i maiu body OF the enemy, accordingly at once
| evacuated Warrenton and Warrenton Junction
e directing Mcdowell, with his own corps an(
J. SIgeIs, and the division of Reynolds, to marcl
l. rapidly by the turnpike upon Gaines iIle so u
l. to intercept any reinforcements coming to Jack
son through Thoroughiare Gap; and instruct
ing Reno, with his command, and kearney
: with one division of Heintzleman $, to marci
q on Greenwich, so as to support Mcdowell il
g. case of necessity. moved back along the rail
o road upon Manassas junction. Near Kettl
!. Run, Hooker came upon the advance of Ewell'
" DIVISION on the afternoon of the 9th. A Sc
we're action took place, which terminated IA
dark Ewell being driven from the field Wit
s. the loss OF his camp and three hundred kille
and woun1ed. The unfortunate oversight
~ not bringing more than forty rounds OF ammu
d, milton became at once alarming. At nightfa
Hooker had but about five rounds TO the ma
=. leit AS soon rs | learned this, ! sent back OF
dcrs to FitZ John Porter to march with his corr