Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1862-09-18


Pope's official report of the recent battles in
Virginia, 1t has been crowded out of our col
umns for few days past by the press cf mat er
connected with the State Fair, A brief extract
was given in our issue Of yesterday, but owing
to our following the paper from which we took
it, too closely, an error occurred in it, Partly
for this reason, but chiefly because the document
is very essential part of the history of the
rebellion, we now give it entire to our readers,
THE REPORT.
Headquarters Army of Virginia,
September 8, 1869,
GENERAL IL have the honor TO submit the
following brief sketch of the operations of this
army since the 9th OF August
moved from Sperryville, Little Washington,
and Warrenton with the corps of Banks and
Sige, and one division of McDowel's corps,
numbering in all thirty two thousand men, 10
meet the enemy, who had crossed the Rapdan,
and was advancing on Culpepper, The move
ment on Gordonsville had completely succeeded
in drawing off large force from Richmond
and relieving the army Of the Potomac from
much of the danger which threatened It's with
drawal from the Peninsula.
The action OF August 8, at Cedar Mountain
with the forces under Jackson, which compelled
his retreat across the Rapdan made necessary
still further reinforcenents of the enemy from
Richmond and by this time, it being apparent
that the army of the Potomac was evacuating
the Peninsula, the whole force of the enemy con-
centrated around Richmond was pushed forward
with great rapidity 10 crush the Army OF Vir-
gnis before the forces evacuating the Peninsula
could be united with it. remained at Cedar
Mountain, and still threatened to cross the
Rapidan until the 18th of August, by which
time Gen. Robert Lee had assembled in my
front and within eight miles, nearly the whole
Rebel army. AS soon as ascertained this fact,
and knew that the Army of the Potomac was
no longer in danger, | drew back my whole
force across the Rappahannock, on the night OF
the 18th and day of the 18th, without loss of
any kind and one dav in advance of Lees pro-
posed movement against me. The enemy i'm
mediately appeared i'll my front at Rappahan.
mock Station, and attempted to pass the river at
that bridge, and the numerous fords above and
below, but without success @ ..
The line of the upper Rsppahannock, which ]
had been ordered to hold, that the enemy might
be delayed long enough in his advance upon
Washington to enable the forces from the Pc
ninsula to land and effect junction with me,
was very weak as it could be crossed at almost
any point above the railroad bridge by good
fords.
BY constant vigilance and activity, and much
severe fighting for three days, the enemy was
gradually forced around from the railroad cross
ing to Waterloo Bridge, west of Warrenton
Meantime my force had been much diminished
by actual loss IN battle. and by fatigue and ex
posure-so that. although had just been Joined
by detachment under Gen Reno and the other
division OF McDowell's corps, my forces barely
numbered 40 thousand men.
On the - heavy rain tell, which rendered
the fords impossible for twenty four hours
As soon as / discovered this, | concentrated my
forces, and marched rapidly upon Sulphur
Springs and Waterloo Bridge to drive back the
forces of the enemy, which had succeeded in
-nssing at these points. This was successfully
Ca nd the bridges destroyed.
oone' Ia 20 dsy-or rather part of one at
", passeu Va. "a hs -nnd. The enemy still con-
,;'S ~ n,aye slowly n,-nund eloIg the river,
masking every ford with artillery and heavy
forces Of infantry, so that it was impossible for
me to attack him, even with the greatly interior
forces under my command, without passing the
river over fords strongly guarded, in the face OF
superior numbers. a
The movement Of Jackson toward White
Plains, and in the direction of Thoroughfare
Gap, while the main body of the enemy con-
fronted me at Sulphur Springs and Waterloo
Bridge, was well known to me, but relied con
fidently upon the forces which | had been as
sured would be sent from Alexandria, and one
stray division of which / had ordered to take
post on the works at Manassas junction. / was
entirely under the belief that these would be
there, and it was not until found my commu.
nication intercepted that | was undeceived
|, III ~
it was made by not less than twenty five thou
sand men, under jackson. BY this time the
army corps of Heintzleman, about 10 600 strong |
had reached Warrenton Junction. one division !
of it, | think, on the very day of the raid but
they came without artillery, with only forty
rounds of ammunition TO the man, without wag |!
ons, aud even the field aud general officers with
out horses, Fitz John Porter also arrived at
Bristow Station, near Rappahanno ok, with one /
of his divisions. 600 strong, while the other I
division was still at Barnctt's and Kelly's Ford. |
directed that corps, about 500 strong, TO con
centrate Immediately at Warrenton junction, |
where Henzeman already was, This was |
accomplished on the evening Of the til. AS |
soon as il became known to me that Jackson was |
on the railroad, it became apparent that the |
upper Rappahannock was no longer tenable | |
could not detach a sufficient force to meet Jack |
sou, anu db Iuc odulG tiut dbhCliPb W 1Outiouh
the main body of the enemy | accordingly at
once evacuated Warrenton and Warrenton juno
ton, directing Mcdowell with his own corps |
and Sigel's, and the division of Reynolds, to
march rapidly by the turnpike upon GAINESVILLE
so as to interrupt any reintorcements Coming to
Jackson through Thoroughfare Gap; and in
structing Reno with his command, and Kearney
with one division Of Heintzleman's, to march on
Greenwich, so as to support Mcdowell in case
of necessity. | moved back along the railroad
upon Manassas Junction. near Kettle Run,
Hooker came upon the advance of Ewells di.
vision on the afternoon Of the 27th. a severe
action took place. which terminated at dark,
Ewel being driven from the field with the loss
of his camp and 800 killed and wounded. The
unfortunate oversight Of not bringing more than
forty rounds of ammunition became at once
alarming. At nightlall Hooker had but about
five rounds to the man left. As soon as learned
this, | sent back orders to Fitz John Porter to
march with his corps at O'Clock that night, so |
as to be with Hooker at daylight in the morn. |
ing, The distance was Cnly nine mi es and he /