The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1862-09-04
THE BATTLES In VIRGINIA,

VIC CAndSb AVui tuC DOStOu OOuiHdiy anu
other papers, such material as goes to make
up general account of the four days fighting
in Virginia last week, with the exception of
such details as we have already published
POSITION AND OBJECT OF THE REBELS.
BY Wednesday last the bulk of the rebel ar
my extended from Manassas up to the south
bank OF the North Potomac. They were in
force at Leesburg, Dransville, Vienna and
Fairfax Court house, down to Manassas juno
ton in short they had thrown themselves
completely in the rear of Gen. Pope, and in
front of the Notifications at Alexandria and
Washington.
This is, by all odds, the most remarkable
feat of military strategy in history. The
throwing of an entire army into the rear of
another army, and cutting off all supplies and
the line of communication, and obtaining COM
plete possession, in short, of its entire rear,
was maneuver worthy of any of the great
captains of history. The celebrity of move
ment and deXtrous handling of troops display
ed military abilities of the very highest order.
The apparent object of the rebels was to
force Pope to retreat toward Fredericksburg
or the line of the Potomac. AT either of those
places it would be impossible for his army to
be transported to Washington or Alexandria
in time to be of use in opposing the invasion
they expected to make on Maryland. Their
object was to cross at Leesburg, or perhaps
even at Great Falls, feat they could easily
perform, as the river is not more than knee
deep at either of those places, and rapid
march upon the Relay House and Baltimore
would have placed Washington at their mercy,
as it is understood to be completely undefend-
ed in the rear.
The scheme was a bold one and exceeding
ly dangerous, as with proper precautions being
taken by our generals and a superior force at
lacking them, their entire army was liable to
| capture. They evidently hoped to confound
and bewilder our generals, take advantage of
the panic, and seize Washington if possible.
WHAT GENERAL PofE dbl
Gen. Pope, however, is a man of undoubted
| pluck, and not at all afraid to take the respon-
sibility. Instead of retreating upon Fred
| ericksburg or the Potomac, as the rebels evil
IDENTIFY wished, he boldly changed front and
| marched back toward Manassas. 1t may be
| that he was instructed to do so by Gen. Hal
| leck. As, however, communication was cut
| off for a couple of days, and as the movement
| was executed in the meantime, it is more than
| probable that he advanced to attack the enemy
| of his own motion. 1t was well he did so.
THE BATTLE OF WEDNESDAY.
We have heretofore given accounts of the
| attacks on the enemy on Wednesday, by Gems.
| Hooker and Taylor, where the latter General,
| with the New Jersey brigade, was driven back
| from the battle-ground of Manassas to STAN
| nard's Station, fighting all the way; while at
| noon the same day, Gen. Hooker, with that in
| vlncible division of his, left Warrenton juno
| ton, where he had been encampcd followed
| by Gen. Kearney, with his division as a re-
| serve, and marched directly against the enemy
| at Bristow,s Station, utterly regardless of the
nature and extent of the opposing forces, who
| were under the redoubtable StOnewall Jack
| son, whose name in itselfis tower ofstrength.
Coming up within sight of them some time
| aftpr thraa oclnec fbay immadiafaiy cd
| fire upon him with the field pieces they had,
as well as keeping up at the same time we'll
| directed infantry fire; our men promptly re-
turned it, the firing being brisk and rapid on
both sides for some three-quarters of an hour.
| At this Gen. Hooker ordered charge. The
| boys gave one of their loud, terrific cheers,
| which are peculiar to this division charged
bayonets, and started on full run directly in
| the face of the enemy. OF course the enemy
broke, started for the woods, nor did they stop
until reaching Manassas.
| BATTLE OF THURSDAY
| Jackson during the night was compelled to
| withdraw his outer lines. and concentrate his
force at Manassas JuRction. where he held the
old rebel fotr, and defended itby artillery TAX
en- from the New York battery the previous
| Monday night. The attack on him was re-
newed on Thursday morning, Hooker having
been reinforced by the residue Of Heintzel-
mans corps and by the corps of Fitz John
| Porter, which had come up and taken position
| that morning. Jackson was driven from Ma
nassas with heavy loss, and fell back by the
| Centrevie road, retreating first to Centreville
abandoning that position precipitately, and
| continuing his retreat towards Vienna.
| Gen. Bulord's cavalry brigade pursued the
| flying enemy and occupied Centrevile.
Simultaneously with this brilliant success,
the corps of Longs .. t.. which was adyanc-
Gap, to the relief of Jackson, was met, attack
| ed and defeated by the combined corps OF Sigel
and Mcdowell, at Gainesville. Part of Long
streets routed troops are said TO have attempt
ed to escape by way of Warrenton, but his
main column is supposed to have fallen back
through Thoroughfare Gap, to unite beyond
the mountain with jackson, the two pursuing
their retreat together to the Shenandoah
Gen. Pope's dispatch of Saturdays date, how
ever, says: "The enemy are still in our front,
but badly used up.y
Gen. Pope captured large number of pris-
oners and great quantities OF baggage.
The army of jackson was said TO be in great
distress from want of supplies. They carried
with them only three days supplies, moving
with tut wagons, and relying on the arrival of
Longstreets supporting column in season to
furnish provisions. They expected also TO
have found plentiful commissary stores at Ma
nassas, but it is now reported that they captur-
ed in the whole not over $4,000 rations. As
much of this was wasted and destroyed, the
supply cannot have heen sufficient for two
days for the whole army of Jackson.
The army correspondents Of the Philadel-
phia Press give full accounts of the battles of
Friday and Saturday. We copy
THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY
On Friday after tedious night advance,
Mcdowell, Sigel and Reno came upon jackson
six miles west of Centerville, as he was retreat
ing to GAINESVILLE, and severe pitched battle
took place, which lasted all day, and the field
was stoutly contested This was drawn bat
tie, but Jackson's loss was very heavy, and
observing the trap that had been set for him,
he endeavored to retreat across Bull Run on
Friday night, but from some cause he did not
get his army entirely over Our forces moved
after him that night, and by daybreak Satur-
day morning had driven the enemy over Ca
tharpin Creek. Up to the date of General
Pope's dispatch, headed "Groveton near
Gainesville" we had captured all of Jackson's
baggage, wagons and camp equipage, and
large number of prisoners. The fields were
said to have been full of rebels overcome with
exhaustion, hunger and thirst, who readily
gave themselves up. Some of these men state
that they started out from Thoroughfare Gap
In light marching order, with ten days ratons
OF very poor quality; and that this had all
been consumed.
The enemy had now relocated for some dis
lance and was back of GAINESVILLE. Mcdowell,
Sigel and Reno still held the enemy at bay,
and waited anxiously for the arrival of Cen
Porter's corps of fresh troops from Manassas,
but from some unaccountable delay he did not
arrive. The probability is, that his men have
been oveatasked with long marches and want
q