The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-09-05
The Line of Retreat.


The Line of Retreat.
The Washington correspondent of the Tri-
bune gives the following account of affairs,
which should be correct as it processes to be
obtained from an officer of General Pope's
officer -
"The Rappahannock line is abandoned,
and our forces have fallen back to another
position ten miles to the rear When the
river rose and threatened the safety of the
railway bridge, it was at first reckoned mis-
fortune, but the delay which it interposed to
the rebel movements was more than COM
pensating advantage. Profting by the con-
dition of the stream, which forbade any ef-
fort to cross it with heavy columns, much less
with artillery or wagons, Gen Pope again
withdrew his forces in the face of the enemy,
and occupied, without serious loss or him
drance, the line on which his army now re-
poses. Bull Run mountains. extending,
southwesterly from Leesburg, terminate near
Warrenton. Disconnected ridges guard their
western flank at the southern extremity, and
the whole chain forms apparently barrier
impossible except through Thoroughfare
Gap. 1t may be presumed that Cen Pope's
right flank rests near the foot of these noun
tains. The railway from Warrenton to the
Junction follows nearly the general course OF
the north fork of the Rappahannock, and is
necessarily within ou. lines, the center of
which might find the Junction itself conve-
nlent pivot for strategic operations. Be-
tween the railway and Fredericksburg is a
stretch of country rather more than twenty
miles broad. bounded on the east by the Po-
tomac. Fredericksburg, of course, is retained
in our possession, and Acquia Creek, as we'll
as the Potomac bank, is to be defended"
The Alexandria correspondent of the Tri-
bune, however, has other information -
! "During the night while Stuart was fum-
bling in the trunks of Gen Pope, and OBJ
tanning clean linen enough to last through
the season, Jackson crossed his whole corps
at half a dozen points above Warrenton
Springs. Jackson, according to the program
was to engage the right fGen Pope,draw of
his attention if possible from his left and
center, so as to give the main body of the
rebel army an opportunity to cross at othe.
fords than those guarded by US, and then
when safely over take the risk of the most
desperate conflict of the war. The programme
succeeded so far as Jackson was concerned
He crossed the river. Stuart performed his
part well, and both rebel and national army
are to-day enjoying the practical joke he
played off upon Gen Pope. But Providence
in this instance seemed to be upon our side
A heavy black cloud rose in the west, and al
about midnight burst in furious storm on
both armies. 1t was to dark to see the fords
even if they could have been passed. The
storm continued all night. In the mo, ming
the river had become impossible. Gen Lee
could not pass, and Jackson was alone on thi.
SIDE of the stream. Gen Pope could moi
learn the exact strength Of Jackson, and die
not feel strong enough to engage the whole
army therefore he did not take the offensive
Jackson, learning that Gen Lee could not re-
inforce him, kept close to the river and the
bushes, and as the river fell re-crossed it ant
joined the main body of the army. But for
this thunder storm the greatest battle of tn,
war would have been fought before this ant
God alone knows with whom would hay,
been the victory. The day following, the ar
my of Virginia fell back from the line of tn,
) Rappahannock and invited the enemy to eros
but he politely declined the invitation. To
day your correspondent understands the ma
tional army again assumes the offensive, t,
abandon forever, it is to be Hoped, its line
of retreat"