Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-22
IMPORTANT REBEL MOVEMENTS,
The Rebel Army in Virginia Evaeuate Rich.
moDd and Occupy the Line Of the viFsinia
4uiA

The Rebel Army in Virginia Eyaeuate Rich
mond and Occupy the Line Of the Virginia
Central kattread.
We give the following from the New York
Herald for what II Is worth:
PooLsvILLE, Montgomery county, Nd, Aug.
10 II have some important news for you. A few
days intercourse with the secessonists Of this
neighborhood has enabled me to discover that an
extensive contrabsnd communication with the
Rebel lines Is kept mp In this quarter. Scores I
MaIyianders are daily paIsing through en- ,oste
ally return trip 10 made by citizens who have
been in JEFF Davis dominions since the begin
ming Of the war. / understand they cross the
Point Of Rocks, and from thence are struggled
through to Luray, whence the route Is open TO
the Virginia Central Railroad, via the south fork
Of the Shenandoah. There Ii no Union troops on
this route, the nearest forces being at HARPER
Ferry and Winchester.
The following narration was given me by a
civilian, who arrived from Richmond on the
night OF SundaI, the 18th instant. He left Rich
mCnd on Wednesday, the 18Th inst, travelling to
Sexton's Junction, twenty. seven miles north of
the city, by private conveyance; thence by rail-
road 10 Cord 1nsville, and thence on foot to the
Potomac. At the time he left troops were pour
Ing out Of the CITY on the Virginia Central rail.
road In such numbers that IL YVES impossible for
civilians to procure passage. ALI OF the troops
around Richmond were In motion towards the
North-some by rail and some marching, while
South, supposed to be that part Of the army bs.
tween Petersburg and the city.
IL was known at that time Mcclellan had be-,
gan the evacuation Of Harrison's Landing, and
the heavy movements Of rebel troops were under
stood 10 be caused by the knowledge on the part
OF the military authorities that the Union armies
were about concentrating for another campaign
against the rebel capital from the northward 1t
was not known that any considerable body Of
troops were left on the Peninsula to watch Nc
Clellan's movements or TO attack his rear.
Arriving at Sections Junction the narrator saw
heavy encampmsnts Of troops extending from the
south side OF the Pamunkey river to several mi les
north Of the Junction, and also from the Junction
In westerly direction up the valley Of the North
Anna river Small camps were visible a several
Localities along the railroad from the Junction to
the crossing the common road from Fredericks-
burg and Spottsylvania, where another large
body was also encamped. At Louisa Court
House was another large body, and thence to
Gordonsylle several reg iments were strung along
the road in camps, intervals Of every two or
three miles From Gordonsville, where there
were not more than six seven regiments, a
heavy force could be seen bivouackfng on the
hills stretchn ne to TIE northeast in the direction
ef Orange Court House. The narrator stopped
ten hours at GordOnsville, and during that time
saw not less than ten trains arrive Central
Railroad from the South and Charlottesville Rail
road from LYnchburg-those from Richmond
bringing troops, and those from Lynchburg both
troops and supplies LYnchburg has been the
principal depot for collecting supplies for the
now be forwarded to IL by these two routes
My Informant, judging from what he saw, says
that the whole Confederate army In Virginia Ia
by this time IN positions on the Virginia Central
Railroad, and that II numbers near TWO hundred
and fifty thousand men.
He saw no Notifications az any Of the above
mentioned place, but artillery appeared to be
p ennful in proportion TO the numbers Of infantry
OF cavalry he saw bu; little, most OF II probably
being In front Of the l!nss on or near the Quasi
neutral ground between the opposing armies.
Wagon trains were not numerous. and there In
evidently d lack of transportation facilities 1t
is understood that this was the reason jackson
fell back after the battle Of Slaughtefs Mountain.
tie could net feed a large army away from his
railroad communication.
StonFwall Jackson was said TO have left Cor.
dOnsrl!le, bat none knew bis whereabouts The
informant passed through stannardsyille, and
saw quite heavy force at that point. They
were not encanped, and appeared az II prepared
to move. More troops were said TO be marc ching
to the same point from Charleston and 6ordons-
vile. This looks a. II they contemplated q IA
movement against Popes right, and II 90 IL viii
probably b. led by Jackson.