The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-12-11

HcUCweFs corps encountered the retreat
ing column on the afternoon of the -s9th,
near the Wnrrenton turnpike AID severe
hut sucsessful engagement crsucd. Jack
sonsMesAGain attacked on. TIN 2g{k near
tsB old httle ground Of Jxiy. 1881
Knowing that Longstreet was nee lstaa.,
he made most desperate stand. Thc
fight continued nearly all day, md was
aterninsled only by darkness. We had
gdsAed considerable ground, but nothing
WAS decided when the battle was closed.
1t was rene wed -sshs next morning, and
after another days hard sighting, css
forces fen back behind Haiis Ri, thsren-
envy not attempting any Pursuit.
Two days latter, however. he threw .
considerable force between ChAntilly and
Germantown, TO turn Pipes right. -
Hooker dislodged them after q short but
severe engagement, in which BrigAdier
Generals Kearne and Stevens, two Of our
very best officers. we're killed. Pope 3
army had been reinforced by the corps Of
Franklin and Sumner. and no further ap-
prehensions were felt FOR its safety.
Daring the operations of the previous
week, Of which 20 received very favora-
BILE but not reliable accounts, every effort
was made to push forward supplies and
reinforcsmsnts 70 Gen. Pope's army -
The troops from the Peninsula were
ordered not to wait for transportation, but
to march Immediately to the field Of bat
tie. Some Of the corps moved with be-
coming activity, but the delays Of others
were neither creditable nor excusable.
Our losses in these battles were very
heavy, both in life and materials, but as
no official reports have been received,
except brief sketch from General Pope,
marked exhibit No. 4, have no means Of
asccrtaining their extent. General Pope
was transferred to another department be-
fore the reports Of his subaEdinates could
be received probably they will soon be
handed in. Most OF the troops actually
engaged in these battles fought with great
bravery, but some Of them could not b
not be brought into action At al. Many
thousands struggled from their commands,
and 1t is said that not d few voluntarily
surrendered to the enemy, SO as to be
patoled prisoners of war,
In order to reorganizc the different
corps, gdt The stragglers back into th ir
ranks, and to supply deficiencies vi am
munition. clothing. &C., caused BY recent
losses. Gen. Pope requested md received
directions to bring his army within the
defences Of Washington, which were
then under the command OF General Nc
Clellan. This movement was executed
on the night, of the Sd without loss. Gen.
Pope, being now second in command Of
the united forces, applied to be- relieved,
and WAS transferred TO another depart
ment.
Altheugh this short and active cam
paign was, frem causes already referred
to, less successful than we had reason to
expect, it has accom- plished the great and
important object Of covering the capital
till troops could be collected for it's de-
fence. Had the Army OF the Potomac
arrived few days earlier the rebel army
could have been easily defeated. and, per-
haps, destroyed. la
Seeing an attack upon, Washington
would, noy be futile, Lee pushed his main
army across the Potomac for raid into
Maryland aud Pennsylvania. Gen. Nc
Cielian was directed TO pursue him with
oil the troops that we're not required for
the defence of Washington. Several
corps were Immediately out in observa-
ton at Darnestown, Rockville and Lees $
boro, and most of his army was in motion
by the 9th of September. A portion Of
it entered Frederick on the Eth. As
this campaign was 10 be carried on with.
in the Department commanded BY Major
General Wool, / directed Geo. Nc lcllan
TO assume control Of Ill the troops within
his reach without regard 10 department.
lines. The garrisons Of Winchester and
Martinsburg had been Withdrawn to Har-
pet's Ferry, and the comma ding officer
of that post had been advised by my chief
of staff 70 mainly oon6ns his defence in
case he wss attacked by superior forces
70 the position Of Maryland Heights,
which could have been held long tune
aeaiA& overwhelming numbess T0with.
draw him entirely from that position with
The main body Of Lees forces between
him and our army, would not only expose
the garrison % capture, but al tho artil-
lery and stores collected q thai place
must either be destroyed OF left to the
enemy. The only feasible plan vas for
him TO hold his position until Gen. Nc
Clellan could relievs him, Or open com
msnication 90 thst he cenld evacuste it in
safety. These views we're communicated
both 10 General Mcclellan and TO Colonel
Miles.
The left Of General Met lellan's army
pursusd part Of the enemy's forces %
South Mountains, where, on the Lib, he
made stand. A severe battle ensued,
thu enomx hain1 dafaatad and drixan