Evening star., 1862-08-26
SECOND EDITION.
THREE O'CLOCK p. u.
THE eITUATfON.


This afternoon we have reason 10 bellvs thai
already the great bulk Of the rebel force that
reached the Rappshannock on Wednesday and
Thursday last, is already far on IL way bach to
6ordonsville.
Yesterday we mentioned the fact that large
body Of rebel artillery (sucient for an aggregate
force from 20 900 to 25 900 strong) was certainly
on the march from the Upper Rapp,hsnnock, on
Friday last, back In the direction OF Little
Washington. From that point one fine turnpike
leads 10 Luruy, In the Valley, and another TO
Gordonsville, via Sperryville and Madison Court
House- The fact that no information has yet
reached eere showing that anv rebel force had
entered the Valley, satisfies us that the march Of
this receding force was to sperIyville, and
thence In the direction OF GordonsviIle
sirce Saturday last nearly all firing acrcss the
Rsppahannock has ceased. Hardly dozen shots
a dsT are being fred, and now most OF our fl cers
in front believe that on Sunday last Lee, Long
street, jackson DO, quietly "tcek the back
track: going somewhere-no one knows whittier.
"Ten to one' to Gordonsville, we think. The
signs yesterday were, that but q very small rebel
force was In our frsnt-hardly enough to keep
up the appearance Of an opposing force there.
We have further interesting information Of the
rebel army. On Thursday last there was an an
imated discussion among the members Of Lees
STAFF to settle the question where the blame should
rest for being outgeneraled by Pope.
1t seems that Lee and Jackson certainly eI-
pected their army to be on Sunday morning, the
18th, precisely where IL arrived on Tuesday morn
Ing, the 10th! Somebody gave a wrong order or
somebody did not promptly act upon right order.
However, the loss Of the two intervening days
utterly defeated the purpose Of their forward
movement
On Thursday last was conceded In Lees
military family that the movement had been a
dead failure Pope being found In position on
the north side Of the Rappahannock, instead of
being caught upon the bank Of the Rapidan, a.
designed.
The entire force that marched east from Cor
donsville was about $4,000 men-no, more.
Apropos Our loss in the skirmishing OF
Thursday, Friday and Saturday last, on the Rap
pahannock was astonishingly small: perhaps not
moro than $50 In killed and wounded, instead Of
ESQ, az we thought Yesterday.
Requests have come hither for the preparation
Of buildings to hold perhaps a thousand prison.
ers, taken by Pope's army 90 far. They are IN
derstood to be 9C0 taken by Sigel on Saturday, at
Waterloo g ford q short distance above Warren
ton Sprin2s), when, after allowing a small brig
ade OF the enemy to crou the river, he opened his
batteries aud closed In his infantry upon It as
that not q man escaped the whole being either
killed, wounded, or taken prisoners.
The other prisoners are undestood to be 140 Of
Fitzhugh Lees marsuding band that attacked
the train at Cauetrs on Friday night. We hear
that Gen. Pope dispatched q purauipg force after
Lee before daybreak I'D Saturday, and that por-
ton Of that force-the First Psnnsylvania and Sc
cond New York cavalry-came up with l.. In
time to retake most OF our men he had az prison.
srs, two pieces Of artillery Of ours Aahad appro-
priated a little below Catletts, twodssertes from
urside, and one hundred and forty rebel troopers
1t 10 conceded to day that Lee (Fitzhugh) tsok
either Lieut.. Col Fred Myers (McDowells chief
quartermaster) or Col. George ID. Ru9s&es, Pope's
chief Of stan. They are amazingly alike of
dark nigh-ruddy faced, with bright red heads,
whisken and moustaches and about the same
size and 'Ibuild." Lieut>Sols lsMyers was properly
by the side Of his train, while, according to the
wagonmaster Of Gen. Pope's staf train, Col.
Ruggles had ridden to 1t to give some necessary
directions with reference to its movements, and
was made q prisoner when within i've feet Of
him-the wagonmaster aforesaid. The guard to
Gen Pope's staH train 10 much blamed for the
affair Of Friday night. They were completely
surprised-with their loaded muskeh In the
wagons inst cad Of In their hands