The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1862-09-11

The disconnected manner in which
our dispatches have reached us, the ex-
pulsion of all army correspondents from
our lines, the unreliable sources of our
news and, many contradictory rumors
which are continually in circulation
all render itnearly impossible to obtain
clear idea of recent events in Vir.
ginia and their probable results From
careful comparison of official dis
patches and the various newspaper ru-
mors, we have prepared the following
condensed sketch of the various battles
and skirmishes, commencing with
Popc's movement frcm the Rapidan to
the Rappahannock. T "I l.'r'
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 20th.-It was
late Tuesday night that our forces
reached the Rappabannock river, hav-
ing fallen back from the Rapidan in the
face of vastly superior force. Our re-
treat was protected by General Sigel,
General Hatch's cavalry brigade bring
ing up the extreme rear. No fighting,
aside from mere picket skirmishes oc-
CURED, however, till l / a. m., on Wed-
nesday, when the rebels drove in our
pickets at Brandy, little station on
the Alexandria and Culpepper r. r.,
about FIVE miles from the Rappahan-
mock river. A brisk fight ensued, in
which the First Pennsylvania Cavalry
charged on the enemy, and drove them
back with loss. They were speedily
reinforced, however, and our forces-fell
back to the Rappahannock. Here our
cavalry charged again, but were re-
pulsed by the rebel infantry, who lay
behind an impossible ditch. They
then crossed the Rappahannock, close
ly followed by the rebels who were in
turnrepulsed by our urartilley. This end,
ed the fighting for the day, our forces
bivouacing at night OIL the banks of the
Rappahannock.
THURSDAY, Aug. 21st.-The whole
day was occupied in skirmishing and
maneuvering. Early in the morning
the rebels attacked our centre and an
artillery fight continued without mate
rial change of position to one p. m.
They made several attempts to eros:
between the Rappahannock and
Waterloo station, but were repulsed
with loss A little later they appeared
at Keily's Ford, further up the river
and heavy cannonading commenced
there. At 5 p. m, they met with Sc
we're repulse in an ill-timed attempt to
cross and retreated in great disorder
At p. M, another detachment of reb
els appeared on our left flank at Clouce's
Ford, nine miles from Fredericksburg
where they attempted to cross by erect
ing a pontoon bridge. Our forces, con
sisting of five regiments, lay quietly
concealed on the banks till the bridge
was nearly completed, when tremen
duous fire of musketry and artillery was
opened on them destroying the bridge
and scattering the rebel infantry. A
hot artillery fight followed, but the Isl
Maine Battery finally silenced the rebe
guns. This ended the contest along
the river for that day.
During the attacks at various points
the rebels improved their opportunitle.
and built bridge well upon our righ,
flank, and large body of Stuart's cav
airy passed unobserved, made detoul
about Warrenton, and in the early par
of the evening passed around to oul
rear and made a raid upon Catlett'l
Station, small place on the railroad
about twenty miles from the Kappa
hammock. They fred on two trains n
that place, but through the presence o
mind OF some of the passengers, boil
managed to escape. They then at
tackled and scattered the lst Pennsyl
vania Regiment, captured several pris
oners and. large number of mules, an,
rummaged Gen. Pope's baggage, for
tunately, however, capturing no valua
Bile papers, After creating great alarm
they safely made their escape assa
FRIDAY, Aug. 20. General cannon
aiding prevailed along the whole lin