Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-09-16
TIE RECENT BATTLES IN VIRGINIA.
IMPORT OF MAJOR GxxHRAL POPE

brief skstch of the operations Of this army since the
oh of August:
moved from sperryyile, Little Washington, and
WarrentoD, with the corps Of Banks and Sgs and one
division Of AcDowel5 corps numbering In oil thrytwo
thousand men, to meet the enemy who had crossed the
RapidaD, and was advancing on Oulpeper. The move
ment toward Gordonsvlle had completely succeeded In
drawing of large force from Richmond, and In reev-
ing the army Of the Potomac from much OF the danger
~ Ioa threatened It's withdrawal from the Peninsula
The action OF August g. at Cedar Mountain, win the
forces under Jackson which compelled his retreat across
the Rapid w. made necessary still further reinorcemene
Of the enemy from Richmond and by this time, De-
ing sppAreut that tho Amy Of the Potomac Was eVscu
asing The Peninsua tue whole force OF the enemy con-
centraied around Richmond was pushed forward with
z,eat rspioy TO crush the Army Of Virginia before the
forces ovscusiug the Peninsula could De united WIN IT,
remained az Cedar Mountain. and still threatened 70
cross the RapidAr, uatl the II Of August oy which
time General Robert Lee had assembled In my 'front.'
and within eigh, miles nearly the whole rebel Amy. As
soou as sscsrtaned this fact and knew that the Army
of the Potion was no longer in danger, drew back
nv whole force across the RsDpahannock on the night
OF tbs 18th and day Of the Is b. wiihou! loss Oh any
Kind and enc day In advance oil Lses proposed move
ment against me. The enemy Immediately appeared In
nv front at Rappahannock Station, aud attempted to
pass the river st that bridge and the numerous lords
above and below, but without success.
Toe line of the upper Rapp,hsnnock, which had
been ordered TO hold that tbs enemy might be delayed
long enough IN Ma A0VaDCe upon ecnlutsph
the forces from the Peninsula to land and 'fcs j1nc
ton with me- was very weak, a. t could be crossed at
slmoss any point AbOys the railroad bridge BY s0oo
fords.
By constant vigilance and activity, and much severe
6gnrg for three days. the enemy was gradually forced
around from the railroad crossing TO Waterloo Bridge,
west Of Warrenton. Meantime my force bad been much
diminished by actual loss in battle, and by fatigue and
,xposure-so that although had been joined by de.
tachment under General Reno aud the othst division OF
hcDoEciis corps, my force barely numbered 40 thou
sand men.
On ths-a heavy rain fell, which rendered the fords
impss able for twenty four hours AS as discover
cd this concentrated my forces and marched rapidly
upjn Sulphur Springs aud Waterloo Bridge to ariye
back tie enemy, which had succseded in crossing at
those p1ats This successfully done, and the bridges
dss royed.
paced one dsy-or rather part Of one-at Warren
ton and beyond. The enemy still continued 10 move
slowly soand Gong the river masking every ford With
artillery and heavy o;ces Of intsntry 30 that II was I'M
poss BILE for me attack him. with the greatly IN
rior forces under my command, without passr the
river over fords ely guarded in the fscs OF
numbers.
The movement Of Jackson toward White Plains, and
in the dirtsion of ThoroughiAre Gap, while the mSil
body OF the enemy confronted me at Sulphur Springs
and Waterloo Bhtge, was well known TO ne, but re-
Lied confidently upon the forces which bad been as
sured would be from Alexandria, aud strsy d.
vision Of which hsd ordered 10 take pot On the works
az Mlnassas JUNCTION. entirely under tn, belief
that thpse would be there, and II rot unt found
my communication intercepted that was undeceIVed.-
sreu that this movement raid, and that il was
made By not less than twenty five thousand men, under
Jackson BIZ this time the army corps Of Heliz lmsp,
about 10 600 strong bad reached WaTrenion Junction
ore dvson Of It, think the very day Of the raid;
bu. they without artillery, with only forty rounds
of anmruon 10 the man. without wagons, and even
the eld and general e,ers without horses. Fig Jdhn
Porter also arrived al BristoN Station, near R'pps.
hammock with one OF his divisions, four thou
ssud slroug while his other division 1Gs still
at Baraet'5 aud Kely's Ford. / directed that
corps Abcui 300 s'roIG, 70 concentrate Immediately
&. RaErenioE JUNCTION, where Hem zltman already Wss
T1is was plshed tho evening OF the til. As
SOFA "a IL becSme known TO that Jsckson tie
railroad it became apparent that tho upper RIPARIAN
n0ck vas no logger terable could lot detsch fut
hesnt force meet Jackson, d a. the sans tine a..
tempt 20 Confront the main body 81 tue enemy. nc
,sdrply at once evacuated War;eu;oa ard Warreno
,nclior directing Mcdowell, With his corps and
sges aud the division Of Reynolds, TO march rapidly
bT the turnpike upon Gantfvle 10 utstcep. any
rs.enfoIctments coming 10 Jackson through Thorough
fare Gap and lis rUctrg Rene With his command and
Hesrney With ere division Of Hsi1'zslmans 10 march
cn GfeepSich, 20 auplo-t NDoWs! in case o. be
csssIy moved Ick along he rairold upon Manassas
Junction. Near X tile Run, Hooker upon the sd.
vance Of ESers Division 90 he Afternoon OF tho 27tb
severe action took p'acS, which terminated AZ dark,
Z
camp and 300 killed aud wounded. Toe unfortunate
oversight OF not bringing more than forty fouuds c!
sumg lion hsc'ms AZ one, u rmIg. Al nigatAii
alok,E hal bu; Ebnu. Eve Ioaude 10 The MAJ oit AZ
socn learned THE sen. back orders 10 FGf John
Porter 10 rarch With hi5 corpIGG o'clock ha L so
IS % be wth Hooker at Daylight 10 the moraicg Tao
distance ocly nine rio' end h. received tSc dis
ch al $50 cclsek bu: did not reach toe gourd pat
after 10 o'clock next moroiDg De eau PROBABLY explain
better .bAn cen the reason OF this delay.
fortunately Hooker hEi hACClsj the army 20 severely
he evening befort and the movement Of Ned i5e bad
begun 70 be % sgparer' that the enemy fsrul Of bs
Ing snFrc u1ded mad streAtei prccPNtey trcm Sanas
lz Junction dirCo3r lie retres: though Cyn'revl-
geDssel Rsuo and Ksarney had aste the road h5opg5
d,inesyiio morac.iclbe. Immediately pashni forward
% Manassas ard thelcs 20 Ce9irv s which occgp.sd
by carney thai gh; only .s~ hours sf-r the enemy
had {. L. R,no rad reached MIzas'.s JIpctiori md
FL Ia Pcst1T VS. iEm,tia,6.y ordered NJ i!cm
Broai Run, who're he had goPptd.. hoDOSeVa move.
aeat, colduC OF With TgGr aud speed, had osen com
pI ey succcssiu tic enemy brng intercepted a. Gaines
vile, and part Of hs G0rcts driven beck through TIC
rouPh'Ars ". Lato 70 the evni1E Of lie -, Mellow
els aiyaacs (G.hbous Bfigsis) ms; The force OF jack
con retriug nom Cent evls AID abou. six miles from
tat place very sharp skirmh took place, ended by
tao darkuss in which the Brigade OF G:bOon behaved
veiy handsomely, and suffered heavy loss.
Sege was close at hand With his corps but did no.
Join the action. instructed Kearny to move forward
a. carly day dawn towards Gainesville closely fclIoSsd
BY Hooker and Rnuo, and engage the enemy thus
placed between Mcdowell and Sisgel on tie wts',
aud Fdz John Porter on the SOUTH | Also Instructed
ii John Porter with his own corps and Kings dVi.
SIGN Of aeDoEells corps, which had for some reason
fallen OK from the Warrsuton Turnpike toward Ma
uAssas Junction, at daylight IN the morning uF
on Gainesville, slobg the Manassas Gap Railroad unsil
they communicated closely With the forces under Helnt
I4man and Siegel csutionng them not 70 90 further
than was necessary tfct this junction, ss We might
be obliged to retreat behind Bull Run that Uyht for sub
as'encs, If nothing else.
Helm z,lman marched early from 0entrsviis towsrjs
GanosVils, closely followed b. Reno. Meantime, short
y after daylight, SegeTs and RAyro.ds division CT Nc.
DoEelrs corpa had become engaged With tbs enemy,
-ho vas brought to q s.an5, snd so01 j7nsd by
Hsiu'5,lman aud Reno, VIXEN lie whole lie became
a,ely suGsge1,
Porter marched as diIfctai, followed ny K,Ues Dvi