The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-15

a
Gen. Pope makes the following official re-
port of his campaign in Virginia, from the 9th
of August to the 1st OF September.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA,
September 3, 1862.
General: have the honor to submit the fol-
lowing brief sketch of the operations of this
army since the 9th of August
moved from Sperryville, Little Washing
ton, and Warrenton, with the corps of Banks
and Sigel, and one division of McDowell's
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 COM
pletely succeeded in drawing off large force
from Richmond, and in relieving the army of
the Potomac from much of its danger which
threatened its withdrawal from the Peninsula.
The action of August o, at Cedar Mountain,
with the forces under jackson, which CON-
PEELED his retreat across the Rapidin n, made
necessary still further reinforcements of the
enemy from Richmond; and by this time, it
being apparent that the army Of the Potomac
was evacuaiing 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
evacuating the Peninsula could be united with
it. remained at Cedar Mountain, and still
threatened to cross the Rapidan, until the 17th
of August, by which time General Robert Lee
had assembled in my front, and within eight
miles, nearly the whole rebel army. As soon
as I ascertained this fact, and knew that the
army Of the Potomac was no longer in dam
ger,I drew back my whole force across the
Rappahannock, on the night of the 17th and
day of the 18th, without loss of any kind and
one day in advance of Lees proposed move
ment against me. The enemy Immediately APP
peared 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 Rappahanock, which
i had been ordered to hold, that the enemy
might be delayed long enough in his advance
upon Washington to enable the forces from the
Peninsula TO land, and effect 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 enemy was
gradually forced around from the railroad
crossing to Waterloo Bridge, west of Warren
ton~ Meantime my force had been much di-
minished by actual loss in Battle, and by ia
tigue and exposure, SO that although l had
been joined by detachment under Gen Reno,
and the other division of McDowelrs corps,
my force barely numbered forty thousand
men.
On the - heavy rain fell, which rendered
the fords impossible for twenty-four hours
As soon as discovered this, / concentrated my
forces, and marched rapidly upon Sulphur
Springs, and Waterloo Bridge, to drive back
the enemy, which had succeeded 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 along around the
river, masking every ford with artillery,
and heavy forces of infantry, so that it was
impossible Tor me to attack him, even with the
greatly inferior forces under my command,
without passing the river over lords strongly
guarded, and in 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 con-
fronted me at Sulphur Springs, and Waterloo
Bridge was well known to me- but relied
confidently upon the forces which had been
assured would be sent from Alexandria, and
one stray division of which / had ordered to
take post on the works at Manassas Junction.
i was entirely under the belief that these
would be there, and it was not until | found
my communication Intercepted that was I'M
deceived. / knew that this movement was no
raid, that it was made by not less than twenty
five thousand men, under jackson. BY this
time the army corps of Heintzelman, about
ten thousand strong, had reached Warrenton
very day of the raid; but they came without
artillery, with only forty rounds of anmuni-
tiOn to the man, without wagons, aud even the
field and general officers without horses. Fitz
John Porter also arrived at Bristow Station
near Rappahannock, with one of his divisions,
4,500 strong, whilst his other division was still
at Barnett's and KeIyl's Ford. / directed that
corps, about $500 strong, to concentrate i'm
mediately at Warrenton Junction, where
Heintzelman already was. This was accom-
plished on the evening of the -th. As soon
as it was made known to me that Jackson was
on the railroad, it became apparent that the
upper Rappahannock was no longer tenabe
could not detach sufficient force to meet
Jackson, and at the same time attempt to con-
front the main body of the enemy. / accord
ingly at once evacuated Warrenton, and War
renton Junction, directing Mcdowell, with
his own corps and Sigel's, and the division of
Reynolds, to march rapidly by the turnpike
upon Gainesville, so as to intercept any rein
forcements coming to Jackson through Thor
oughfare Gap; and instructng Reno, with his
command, and Kearney, with one division of
Heintzelman's, to march on Greenwich, so as
10 support Mcdowell in case of necessity. |
moved back along the railroad upon Manassas
Junction.
Near Kettle Run, Hooker came upon the
advance Of Ewell's division on the afternoon
of the 9th. A severe action took place, which
terminated at dark Ewell being driven from
the field with the loss of his cainp and three
hundred killed and wounded The unfortu-
nate oversight of not bringing more than forty
rounds of ammunition became at once alarm
ing.