Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-23
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
THE IMITATION

Elsewhere we print to day sundry Develop
ments with reference to the recent movements OF
General Pope's army Of Virgins, which Ut ap-
pears from that journals express declaration) the
New York Tyibsne was formally astAortssd TO
nIaks yesterday morning, by whom we know not.
The article (,rmy letter. to which we refer, war,
however, so clearly written under panic, III
concealed by the writer's bombast, al that we
deem It proper promptly to correct the impress
sons Il might otherwise make on the p Iblic mind.
Thus, we are very certain that instead Of being
a rapid and confused retreat, the detour Of Pope's
army from the Rapidan, twenty-five miles back
10 the Rappahannock, was as brilliant and sue
cessful movement az any that had marked the
progress Of the war Gen. PCpa's sudden and
mastery concentration Of bis army in the imme-
diate vicinity Of Culpeper Court House, not mere
clearly bs ff d the movement Of Jackson's army
eliminating In Its serious check at Cedar Noun
tain, than did this subsequent detour OF Pope,
(afer having accomplished all he could have been
seeking to schieve) Illustrate utterly the counter
move OF the whole rebel army, that grew out Of
Pops's advance to the Rspidan.
Instead Of being forced and unexpected re-
treat, we regard It as the military exploit that
muit ere long clear Virginia Of rebels in aims
how and why 1t IL not our present purpose to
explain. Gen. Pope's rear guard and the advance
Of Lee first came into collision on Wednesday
morning, In a skrmish, on the line Of the Orange
and Alexandris Railroad, two miles east Of Cul.
pepper Court House. Only cavalry ind artillery
were engaged The skirmish lasted from till
noon, when the rebels withdrew from the field.
The loss nn both sides is believed to have been
uncomfortable.
Throughout Thur lay 1.-THE whole OF Pope's
H. ptvIp1 ahaA 10 In
| which he had ordered II, without any loss what
ever diminishing occurred on the banks Of the
RaPpahannock from the railroad GRO sing down
to few miles from Fredericksburg. A cores
pondent Of the Star thus describes what was evil.
IDENTIFY the most serious encounter Of that day:
FRIDAY, AUGUST ~ Yesterday afternoon ut 4
O'Clock the Rebels appeared in force on the left
bank OF the Rappabannock, at Clouse's Ford, 0
miles from Fredericksburg, and attempted to
cross by erecting pontoon idge. Our force at
that point just then consisted OF the 25th New
York, sSth and Goth PENNSYLVANIA, and the 18th
AID 18th Massachusetts, regiments. Our forces
lined the banks, and permitted the enemy to lay
their bridge half way across the river, when the
federals opened FIRE, causing the boats TO drift
down the stream. Our forces captured seven
pontoOns The fight for few moments was des-
Perae, the bells using shell and canister. Capt.
Armsrong's Maine battery silenced the enemy's
batteries Our loss was IL killed and 80 wounded,
part Of whom are now at Cosper's, In Alexandria.
OCuCIol DeudVcu knfOuRuOut Win Rlcdb
GOODNESS, riding up and down the lines encour-
aging bis men, and praying for pontoons, so that
he could follow the rebels to the opposite bank.
Colonel Christian, Of the 26th New York, also
behaved with great gallantry.
Our impression Is that Gen. Ricketts, was not
present at tina: point on Thursday, and that our
correspondent mistook some one else for him.
The diminishing Of Thursday amounted 70 moth
ing to speak Of twas renewed yesterday at s
A IN NJ
ohcers and men who have since reached here by
rail from the Rappahannock) and continued fee
bly, until about noon. In the afternoon, a. was
plainly Visible from this city, violent rain
storm ragged in that vicinity for three Or four
hours. Knowing the streams there well, we are
satisfied that this storm must have put a stop 10
anything like serious military movements In
that quarter, for from twenty-four to forty-eight
hours-that is, on account Of high water.
We have not been able to hear that gun has
been fred to-day on the lines.