The Portland daily press., 1862-09-01

er, but would endeavor to do so several miles
further up, the order was given for our troops.
who were across the river guarding the rail-
| road, to retire. This was done in an orderly
manner, the troops filing across the bridge in
| splendid style and in the best possible spirits.
After all the cavalry and artillery and infantry
had crossed, the order was given to blow up
the bridge, and in less time than it takes to
note the fact, the match was applied. and the
bridge, which had been built by us only sever
al weeks before. was mass of ruins. On this
SIDE was an Immense amount of commissary
and quarter-master stores. All the empty cars
were filled, and what was left was massed to-
gether and the match was applied The
amount of stores destroyed was not very large
but still it was better to destroy it than TO let
it fall into the rebels hands,
BATTLE OF sUNDAY-rHE REBELS DEFEAT
ED EVERYWHERE.
As morning dawned, the rebels were OBJ
served by Gen. Sigel to have crossed the river
in considerable force. He Immediately bro't
two batteries into position, aad opened fire,
using shell, grape, and canister. The rebels
also placed several batteries, which replied Wig
orously and for several hours the cannonad-
ing was terrific. Our batteries were placed i'm
naturally strong positions, so as to cover the
whole country within mile of the Springs.
and our artillery practice was some of the best
ever saw. AT each discharge of our pieces
terrible gaps were made in the rebel ranks, but
they were soon filed up.
1t continued thus for at least two hours.
when the rebels, hoping to make diversion in
their favor on the right, planted two batteries
on our extreme left, and, in consequence of
the immense amount of infantry congregated
at this point, and who were on perfectly lev
el field, without any protection at all. large
loss Of life was anticipated by our officers =
but Gen. Stevens, of Gen. Renos division,
commanding our rear-guard, brought several
batteries TO bear on the two belonging TO the
rebels, and in about half an hours time the
rebels had such hot fire concentrated on
them that they were obliged to leave the field
IN quicker time than they came on it. The
loss of life here. on our side, only amounted to
three or four killed, and fifteen wounded.
In the meantime the firing had become more
rapid at the Springs on the right and your
correspondent fastened to that point Bat
terry was replying to battery. and everything
was completely enveloped in smoke Gradu-
ally the rebel fire became less rapid and It
soon ceased altogether. As soon as the smoke
had cleared away the rebels were observed to
be retreating. Gen. Sigel sent parting shots
after them, which greatly accelerated their
flight. Our batteries shellcd the woods to the
rear of the Springs for several minutes when
Gen. Sigel pushed his pioneers forward for the
purpose of bridging the river They were pre-
ceded by our sliarpshooters. In an incredible
short space OF time the bridge was thrown
across, and everything was got in readiness to
cross, and pursue the rebels
1t was now about the middle of the after
noon. II was generally supposed that the rcb-
els would fight, and consequently all our
troops were brought up, and everything got in
readiness for action. Our batteries again COM
menced TO shell the rebels, and were replied
to by one battery situated on the margin of
the woods, 10 the left of the Springs. The
battery replied vigorously for some tme when
our two batteries got its range. and poured
such cross-flre into it that artillery men aban-
doned their guns, and took to the woods. Ey-
cry now and then two or three of them would
boldly emerge from the woods, and try to fire
of another round, but our shell burst so rap
idly around it that they were forced to desist,
and, If they did succeed in firing load, they
generally paid the penalty by losing their life
before they reached the woods.
The rebels, seeing that the case was hone
less here, moved forward to the right with
the intention of crossing at Waterloo But
here, too, they were doomed 10 disappont-
ment. They no sooner made their appearance
here than they were greeted by such storm
OF shell and shot that admonished them that
our troops were wide-awake for them. This
was on our right.
THE REBELS RETREATING.
learn, and my informant is well posted.the
rebel army has or is undoubtedly retreating.
They have tried our lines at all points, and
found them impregnable They had the best
general in command, Gen. Lee. together with
the bulk OF the Richmond army. From all
the deserters and prisoners / have conversed
with, they affirm that the rebel army when
they started felt confident of being able to an
nilate Pope's army, and then March into Mary
land and Washington. Jackson has been de-
tached, and has gone off in another direction.
He has probably gone to Little Washington.
and thence by turnpike TO Front Royal, when
he can strike over into the Shenandoah Val
ley.
But all are confident, both in the army and
here, that no matter what moves the rebel gem
erals may make, our authorities are prepared
for them at all points.
The Washington Star of Wednesday says:
Up to or p. NJ. yesterday there has been
no more lighting across the Rappahannock;
nor, as we can learn, had the rebels shown
themselves in force about there.
We therefore adhere to the opinion express
ed yesterday that they have already made Off
llor the most part) for Gordonsvie, leaving
Col. Fitzhugh Lees small cavalry force to
worry and annoy us on our right flank as he
certainly is doing1 and thus delay pursuit as
long as possible.
We reject the theory that the rebels have
sent considerable force in the Valley again;
so to do so.their Generals know well, would be
to insure its immediate destruction. They
know, if but from the publications in the New
York newspapers, that the army of the Poto-
mac is now where it can conveniently operate
in conjunction with the army of Virginia
They know, too, that if they lose Gordonsville.
Richmond falls of its own weight very shortly
afterward; and that they must keep all their
strength in this region together, for its defense
While raids upon our flank and rear, like
those of Colonel Lee, annoy us beyond bear
ing. they effect nothing whatever in shaping
the general result of campaign. WewiIl be-
come more watchful of such matters. doubt