Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-09-17
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER II, 1876


ingly whipped
am hurrying everything forward to en-.
deaYcr to press their retreat to the utmost.
A third dispatch, dated at Bolivar. Sept
10, 10 a. m, says:
information has this moment been re-
ceired confirming the rout and demoraliza-
ton of the rebel army Gen. Lee is re
ported wounded and Gen. Gland wounded.
Gen. Hooker alone has over 900 more
prisoners, 700 having been seut to Freder-
lex. 1t is stated that General Lee gives
his loss at $4,000. We are following as
rapidly as the men can move.
We have little news this morning. Gov.
Curtin stated last evening at Harrisburg
that he had just received a dispatch from
the War Department, in which he was as
sured that Gen. Mcclellan was in most
important position near Sharpsburg Gen.
Mcclellan bad Gems. Longstreet, Jackson
and Ewell, who had combined force of
over $4,000 men under their command.
completely in his power, and was only wait
ing for the morning fog to disappear before
he commenced operations; and he was con-
fident that he could either force them to
surrender or annihilate their combined for
ces at will. Cannonading had since been
heard.
The following extracts from the official
report Of Gen. Pope, unless disproved, go
far to show that there has been something
wrong. Let the truth be known.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF VIRGINIA.,
September 3, 1862.
Genera5-I have the honor to submit the
following brief sketch Of the operations of
this army since the 9th Of August:
moved from Sperryville, Little Washing.
ton and Narrenton, with the corps of Banks
and Sigel, and one division Of u :DowePs
corps, numbering in all thirty two thousand
men, to meet the enemy. who had crossed the
Rapidan, and was advancing on Culpe.
per- The movement toTavd Gortonsville had
completely succeeded in drawing off large
force from Richmond, and In relieving the
Army of the Potomac lrom mach of the dan
ger which threatened its withdrawal from the
Peninsula
The nction Of August 9, at Cedar Noun
tain, with the forces under Jackson, which
compelled his retreatacrosS the Rapidan, made
necessary still further rcinforcements of the
enemy frcm Richmond: and by this time. il
being apparent that the Army of the Poto.
mac was eyacuating the Peninsula, the whole
force OF the enemy concentrated around Rich |
mond was pushed forward with great raniditv
to crush the Army &c Virginia befare the for
ccs eracuating the Peninsula could be united |
with it. l remained 1t Cedar Mountain. and |
still threatened to cross the Rapidan, until
the l1th Of August. by which time General
Robert Lee had assembled in my front, and
within eight miles, Ecary the whole Rebel
army. As soon as | asceriaineI this fact,
ana knew that the army If tie Potomac was
no longer in danger, drew back my whole |
force across the Bappahannock on the night
Of the 9TH and day of the 18th without loss |
of any kind, and one day in advance Of Lees !
proposed against me. The enemy
Immediately appeared il MY frontal the Rap /
pahannock Station and attempted to pass the |
river at the numerous fords above and below, |
but without success.
The line of the Upper Raprahannock, 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 Peninsula to land and effecta junction with |
me, was very weak, as it could be crossed at
almost any point above the railroad bridge |
by good fords.
BY constantyigilance and activity, and much
severe fighting for three days, the enemy was
gradually forced around from the railroad eros
sing to Waterloo Bridge, west of Warrenton |
Meantime my force had been much dimin,
ished by actual loss in battle, and by fatigue
thof nltb I boA
Joined by detachment under Gen Reno and
the other division of McDowelPs corps, my
force barely numbered forty thousand men.
Our men, much worn down by hard service
and continued fighting for many previous
days, and very short of provisions, rested |
on their guns. Our horses had had no forage |
tor two days. l had telegraphed and written |
earnestly Tor rations and forage to be sent us,
but on Saturday morning, before the action |
was resumed, | received letter from Gen. |
Franklin, written the day before at Alexan- |
drla, stating to me that he had been directed |
by Genenal Mcclellan to inform me that |
ratlons and forage for my command would |
be loaded into the cars and available wagons !
as soon as | would send cavalry escort to !
Alexandria to bring them up.
All hope Of being able TO maintain my po-
sltlon, whether victorious or not, vanished |
with this letter. Nv cavalry was utterly |
broken down by long and constant service in
the face of the enemy, and bad as they were
could not be spared from the front, even if
there had been time to 60 back thirty miles
to Alexandria and await the loading of the |
trains. At the time this letter was written
Alexandra was swarming with troops, and |
my whole army interposed between that |
place and the enemy / at once understood |
that we must, if possible, finish what we had
to do that day, as night must see US behind |
Bull Run if we wished to save men and an
imals from starvation.
On Friday night sent peremptory order
to Gen. Porter to bring his command on the
held, and report to me in person within three