The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1862-09-09
a4.. From the N. Y. Tribune, Sept. 1.
REVIEW OF THE SITUATION.
The Struggle in virginla--The Rebel Plans and
Moyements---Cen. Pope's tCOuntcr-NIoyements--
Sharp Practice ON Both Sides.

When il was decided that Mcclellan was 10
evacuate the Peninsula, Gen. Pope was push
ed forward into the heart Of Eastern Virginia
to make diversion in his favor. To this
end, his cavalry made repeated and damaging
dashes at the railroad connecting Richmon
and Gordonsvillc, an important railroad juno
ton, nearly 100 miles northwest, while the
bulk of Pope's arm y-thcn some $4,000
strong-ad,ancrd down the Orange and AL
exsndIia railroad, which, running southwest.
warjly, connects Alexandria via Gordonsville
and Chailo,tc,v lie, with Lynchburg in the far
southwesi-o of course crossing both the Rap
pahannock aud the Rapdan. Pope also
crossed both these streams, and was reported
at one time 10 have occupied Gordonsvllc,
but the subordinate charged with that move
ment failed to execute it.
Pope's advance, as was calculated, dIstrac
tod the rebel attention from McCelan's re-
treat down the Peninsula, and collected their
forces 10 his front. Being soon outnumbered ,
he was ordered to fall back, and did so. The
bloody but indecisve bltt!e Of Cedar Noun
tain" was fought between tho advance Of the
two armies respectively, just north OF the
Rapidan, on August 0. Jackson soon after re
treated across the Raj aLidan--probably to tempt
Pope further from lis resources. After some
days desultory skirmishing, Pope fell back
across the Rappahannock, and stood at bay,
guarding the innumerable iords of that river
along line o. twenty or thirty milss. The
position was, Of course, advantageous TO the
defensive party, but lia6le to be broken
through by mass.ng heavy 70 ce at ethar of
score of points, and breaking the defensive
line by resoute effort. Still, through the
euemy (having ordered up everything from
Rchmond) were unlolbty much the stronger
in numbers, no serious eff)rt to pierce Gener-
al Pope's line was made. While he thus
stoo on guard, a rebel cavalry force under
Stuart, some 1000 to 200 in number, pierc
ed his lines at some ung1arded ford and made
q circuit in Lis rear, surprising his headquar-
ters at Catlett's Station on the evening of the
ed, AMI making considerable haul OF his
papers, with some money aud prisoners
Stuart was Of course, guarded to Pope's weak
ly guarded headquarters by traitors within
our lines. He was himself at the front, twelve
miles distant, with most of his staff, of whom
but one was captured.
For some days, an ominous Stiffness prevail.
ed on the rebel side Of the Rappahannock.-
No more skirmishes or artillery lels were in
vied from that side. Few men showed
themselves to our expectant forces. "Wbere
are lhe rebels! What are they about?" were
the wondering queries. They wero soon to be
answered, and current expectation that the
traitor chiefs would not await the rapid con.
ccntration Of our new leves at Washington was
not to be disappointed.
Early on Sunday morning, August Gath,
Stonewal Jackson, with some thirty or forty
thousand trusted veterans in the lightest
marching order, without tents or wagons save
for ammunition, left the rebel liass south Of
the Rappahanuock aud moved westward, IN
known to and unsupported b" Pope. Wind
ing his way among the sources of the Kappa.
hammock in Ia, Blue Ridge. b. roads unknown
to our side, he turned the right flank Of our
army. and emerging unperceved at Thorough.
fare Gap, about half : ay between Manassas
Junction and Pot Royal, his advance, con
sisting of Stuarts cavalry, swooped down up
on our depot of provisions, clothing, stores,
&c. at Manassas, like hawk among broo
of chickens The small forco guarding that
point was soon dispersed or captured, and our
heavy stores were appropriated so far as possi-
Lle, and the rest destroyed. Railroad trains
provisions and munitions to Pope,
and bringing back wounded, sick, empty cars,
&c, were captured and destroyed, those in
charge ef them running into tho jaws of the
wolf while uususpecting any danger.
Z he capture of the Junction was soon
known in Washington and the lst New Jer-
sey bridge, under Gan. Taylor, sent down to
reciify matters--no one suspecting that there
was anything more serious than another cav
airy dash our lines of communication. B",,
hy THE tiu,c considerable forcs Of rebel in
fantry and artillery had como up, and Gen.
TaylUr,s brigade and trimmings were sent TO
the right about with little ceremony, and with
a loss Of several hundred prisoners, who were
paroled so soon as possible. And still the
Junction, hardly thirty miles from Washing
ton, and nearly so far in the rear Of General
Pope, was firmly held by the rebels, who
challenged all comers.
Thus far Gen Pope would seem to have
been completely circumventcd. 1t was near
ly "Wednesday morning before he knew a
word of the nicc business going on in his
rear. When he did learn it. he appears 10
have activcd with judgment and decision OF
which our army movements hitherto have
evinced plentiful lack Instead of sending
back brigade to reopen HE communications
he at once OWNED that this was no mere cav
airy raid on his stores, but daring il not dcs,
perate attempt TO isolate him and fall with
crushing weight on some part of our forces,
preliminary to boil push upon Washington
or Baltimore. SO be promptly faced about
and starte! from Warrenton aud vicinity with
bis whole force--now sweled by reinforce
msnts to some 10000 or 0,000--determin
ed to know what all this meant lie march
ed il three columns by PARALLEL roads. His
central column under Hooker (Pope himself
with it) first encountered rebs. force that af
tornoon at Kettle Run, a few miles below
Manassas, and pushed it back, killing and
wounding 800 Of them. Pushing on to Ma
nassas next morning (Thursday,) Pope found
that place had been evacuated three hours be-
force by Stonewall Jackson, who had moved
TO Centreville (north) and thence westward
up Bull Run doubtless to avoid conflict
with superior forces and form speedi juno.
ton with the remainder Of the rebel army,