Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1862-11-01
IMPORTANT FROM THE ARMY
Oh FHEE POTOMAC.
a General Movement Along the
Whole Line
BALTIMORE, Oct, 2T.

followed by any immediate general advance |
of our forces, is undoubtedly AN initial move
ment Of that long promised activity on the .
part of the army of the Potomac, which we |
all hope is to deal against the rebellion a .
most staggering blow.
To-day there has been no movement be- /
youd gradual, but heavy rciniorcemcnts of
General Burnside in the position he has
taken on the Virginia side of the Potomac,
near Loycttsvillc. Infantry and artillery it
will not do to say in what number) have
been moving in that direction until it is
evident that the movement is no mere re-
connoissanCc, but in reality an advance of
the left wing OF the army. This movement
il will be observed, brings our left wing,
which was previously in the rear, or nearly
in a straight line with the centre and all the
distance from Pleasant Valley to Lovetts-
VILE nearer to the enemy. In this respect
it will be seen that the movement was a
necessary preliminary to placing the army in
u position for an advance, whilst it does not
i'll the least bctray the plan on which that
advance is to be finally made.
From Lovcttsyillc General Burnside threat
ems equally the rebel flank at Winchester
and, their line of communication via Front
Royal
Gen. Burnsidc's forces arc masscd in the
vicinity Of Lovcttsvillc.
Our cavalry and light artillery, under Gen.
/ Plcasanton, are reported to have occupied
/ LCCsburg last night, the rebel cavalry force
| there retreating before our advance but we
| cannot now verify the report from any one
acquainted with the facts.
In relation to the rebels We have numcr-
GUS reports. all tending to one conclusion.
that the main portion, if northc entire army
/ have fallen back beyond Winchester The
/ fact may be said to be certainly established.
/ that they have deserted the line of the Po-
, tumac and are neither To- be tuundin Charles
town or Nartiusburg, nor ShcphcrdstOwn.
/ Daring several days of last week il has been
thcir practice usually before Il retreat, they
showed thcmsylyc, in strong force in yari-
ous point Of our lines, and their picket,
were yiCiuusly hcIii@crcnt, firing at any and
everything ON saturday all these demon
strltions ceased, and thcirpickct- disappear
cd entirely from our front.
Refugee, from Winchester are also report
,d to have come within our lines. and stated
that their town had been evacuated by the
enemy, who were rrtrcatiug towards Ntaun-
ton. ! give it only a. report. Il i, the
very g,arrai bciirt however, that Gen Lee
is making fast time towards Gordcnsviilc,
and that the main portion of his army is
already well advanced in that direction.
Everything is quiet at llarpcr'~ Ferry cN-
ccpt the hustle and stir incident TO the pre-
scEcc Of IL large body OF men.
Notwithstanding the predictions that have
been almost daily made for week past Of
an advance of the force, on Bolivar and
Mnrylcnl Heights. they are vet quiet at
their tcuts, engaged with nothing more i'm
portant than the usual duties of camp life.
The men, myigoratcd hy a bracing north.
wcstcr, appear in the finest health and spirits.
- 1t is admitted that the army is now fully
prepared Tor offensive movements and the
present quiet, therefore, mean, nothing
Our outposts in this direction have been
in lIailtoWn for several days, and. it i rpa.
aonahlc 70 conclude, now hold Charles
town.
The rlin Of Yesterday wound up last
, night in turiou5 storm Of rain and wind
that vas severely felt in camp occupying
exposed positions on ihc summit Uud sidc-
Of ,nc mountain. On Bolivar and MARYLAND
p Heights ,hc storm ragged with such fury tina,
J tents were overturned and men forced to q
midnight battle with the elements.
notwithstanding the considerable Uuanti
- ~ of rain that tr.! yesterday and last night
I the river has been but little effected thereby
= The water has not risen over "a foot. au,
: wagons cross the ford at the ferry to-day
70 without difficulty. The rain will rathr
; tend to the facilitate than rctard any move
c mcuts that may be in contemplation. Uudc
i the influence OF the bright sunshine and dr,
p wind that has followed, it will harder
thc roads, and place them in irat-Iatc con
dion
Judging the condition Of the army b,
what J have seen Of il there and at Sharp,
burg, think our men were never in u tinc
. I. !. ..ty -.