The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-09-10
Correspondence ofthe bet. Free Press.
FROM THE MICHIGAN THIRD.
ALEXANDRIA, Sept. l.

ALEXANDRIA, Sept. !.
When l wrote you last, the Army of
the Potomac had been under marching
orders for some days, but the where and
the when still remained mystery to us.
On Friday, the 18th, the mystery began
to be solved, for before daylight our tents
were all struck, hasty breakfast taken,
and the long column began its march,
The army was divided into separate col
umns, took different routes, and departed
on different days, and thus less obstruc-
tons would be met with on the march.
Whoever has seen, or conceived of an ar
my on the march, with its immense COL
umn of baggage wagons, ambulances and
artillery, will easily conceive the necessity
of punctuality in obedience to orders !;
when this punctuality is omitted the COL
umn is delayed-wagons, ambulances and
artillery block up the passage, and the
whole mass is thrown into confusion. Of
this we have had more than enough of
experience; and the arrest OF officers for
neglect could not prevent the unpleasant
consequences.
Weary and overcome with fatigue, heat
and dust, and exposed to the damps of
night, we arrived at Yorktown on Tues
day, where part of the column embark
ed on Wednesday, and another part at
Newport News, and arrived at Alexan-
dria, on the Potomac, on Thursday, where
Col. Champlin, of the Third Michigan,
although not yet completely healed of his
wounds received at the battle of Fair
Oaks, met his old companions in arms,
and was received with enthusiastic dem
onstrations of joyful greeting. Such was
the press of troops to join Pope's army,
that only on Saturday could our brigade
find passage by the Warrenton railroad.
You will have seen ere this reaches you,
how Stuart's rebel cavalry, some 1900
strong again, as at White House, on the
Peninsula, got into our rear and surprised
Pope's headquarters at Catlett's Station,
Selling papers, money, and several prison
ers. How he could have done this un-
aided by traitors in our own ranks re-
mains a mystery. You will have seen,
too, how, while Pope retired across the
Rappahannock and expected IN attack
from the enemy in front, Jackson stole a
march upon him, and taking a circuit
round the Blue Ridge Mountains, march
ed his forces sixty-two miles in less than
two days, and without tents or baggage,
and but two days provisions in their hav-
ersacks, passed through Thoroughrare Gap
and fell upon our communications, COM
pletely thanking us. Thus, while the en-
envy was looked for in front, he was in our
rear, Lad seized upon our depot of pro-
visions, clothing, supplies, etc., at Manas-
sas Junction, and appropriated all that
was needful TO his naked and famished
troops, and destroyed our railroad trains
and MI the stores which he could not APP
propriate.
Thus was all communication between
Washington and our army cut off for sew
eral days. I have it from good authori.
ty that before Longstreet's division pass
ed through Thorougbfare Gap, Mcdowell
was ordered up to prevent his passage,
and thus his junction with jackson; but
that instead of promptly obeying the Or
der, he delayed until it was Too late, and
thus Jackson's force, which might have
been taken prisoners or cut to pieces, was
strengthened, and Pope's plan defeated.
Whether this is perfectly correct or not,
such is the current rumor and belief here,
and founded upon respectable authority.
Certain it is, that the movements of Nc
Dowell are held in suspicion by all the Of
fcers of the Army of the Potomac; and
in the streets of Washington the excla-
nation from the lips of officers is often
heard when his name is mentioned, de-
nouncing him in good, set terms, and de-
claring that he ought to be hanged"
only state to you the current opinion
and belief and that upon authority wor-
thy of credit.
No sooner had Pope knowledge of the
fact that he was outfanked, and his com
munications cut of, than he broke up his
camp at Warrenton, and with his whole
force marched on Manassas Junction,
which he found Jackson had evacuated