New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-09-04
Gen. N7cCleiinn's Command - Saturdays
Rettle-t;er. Eanis's March.
From Oar Special Correspondent.

| Yesterday, as it was understood, Gen. Mcclellan
was put in command of the Notifications and deeuses
Of Washington. This morning bis body guard end
| headqusrter wagons came over the river, and he
has resumed the Offices which be formerly occupied
on the corner Of FifeonsDd-i half street and Penn
sylyaua avenue. lie went over into Virginia to-
day.
had long conversation day with iield-offcer
belonging to Gen. Rickettss Division, who described
10 me in detail the battle OF Saturday, he it
rom IN ambulance in which his illness obliged him
70 lie. and Of various important events not hitherto
noted which he Witnessed previous 10 TINT battle
lie il cool snd intelligent witness and value
his testimony.
As regards Saturday battle he Gays that we were
conphtey ouimanelyered by the Rebels. Until
- o'clock l,ue GghLug occurred. Our skirm'sl.-
ers pushed into the woods from the open PLAIN
where orr troops were nassed, aad gradually drove
Their sAirmis egs back the rIglt, unco veIing "A
considerable force behind them. Between twelve
md one, upcna hil in front of tie woods which they
occupied opposite our centre, Rebel battery made
IL atl eaiAuce fired q few shots, and after fifteen
Minutes sairmishng with one OF our batteries, re-
tired Presently, On au0her crest Of the hill fur
tier 10 the e.l another battery appeared, few
more shots weI. exchanged, and Il also dropped
behind the hll. Thls repeated on another bill
further and further to the lef several times, then all
was quic. for a few moments. Presently, the whole
range Of Ills vas covered with batteries, and an
imm,nse force appeared opposite our lett am center
ana @, ened "a terrible ie. sal further to he ieii
cloud Of dust marked tie advance Of heavy conInn,
marching u turn that flank. Before tie eoncen-
trated hre from the hI and the charge OF the
column On the fans, cur troops gave way. Several
batteries were captured, even our reserves were
,ha<en, and at least on this part OF the field reg-
meu's retired not precisely as they would withdraw
from IA parade. Many regiments, However, were
honorable exceptions.
Early in the morning the field officer who narrates
these facts 70 me listened TO the convention OF
Rebel prisoners, taken before the fight commenced
in earnest. One Of them boasied to some Of our men
that the day wonld close with Confederate victory
that they would whip ne ont and ont. when
a ked how he knew il, he replied tina, Gen. Jackson
told him 50 that roTning and he knew. Another
said that Gen. LongstTeet joined Jackson with 70
regiments and Elk batteries. Another computed
Long-treets force at 20 900, and said that behind
him would come three miles OF wagons, bringing
supplies. Jackson, according to this authority
malchod with Six days rations, and 10 baggage.
He should have been supported sooner by Gen.
Longstreet and the main Rebel arm. Delay bad,
however been caused by the necessity of clearing
passage through Thorougtflre Gap, which was
obsuucied during Jacksons las Shenandoah cam
paign TO prevent orr pressing 100 closely ulon Lis
rear Immense rocks had been thrown down and
trees felled Tor this purpose. Jackson himself had
marched 10 Manassas through Smokers and Alirrs
Gaps. Washington, al these prisoners said, was
tho.r goal.
Oar Geld-oifcer was able to be in command of biz |
regiment when it waa, with the rest Of Ricketts,
Division, cent ont to hold Ionestreet in cheek I
and prevent him from re-eniorcing jackson by /
way of Tboroughiare Gap. Three regiments
Were pushed forward 20 seize the Gap, bat they
were too late. The Rebels held it in force, aud
poured from above, from each sde, and tie front
dc .tuclive Ere the marksmen being entirely invis-
Die. The Gap was discovered 20 be very .rfow.
iIoriing barely passage for the railroad, ard car
riage road by its side, and small steam, and turn
pike. and a carriage road beyond 1.-THE mountains
nsiag prccipately on each side. 70 the ret,a the
entrance OF the Gap, gully, and this eide of
]
Massacmsets cent several companies TO feel tie
enemy, who were posted on this NH in force, ard
firing from above Al men, but they found the hlll
On thls side too steep 10 climb. The division soon
found that il Was Impossible to hold its groand and
WAS Obliged to retire.
Another fict worth noting il communicated by the /
same witness He fays that when hs regiment was
in advance on the other side of the Rappahaunock, |
holding tie redoubis on the two three bills which
formed our ontpos,s, he saw for three days con-
slant stream OF infantry and cavalry, artillery and
wagons, moving up stream ia the direction which !
they would naturally take in order &c fam; Ger.
Pope a. they DID. Why dis moyenl9nt was allowed
TO 20 on. why our counteracNng movements were
taken al so a.e All hour after the enemy bad passed,
he does not say.
Portions OF Tie glnbodt and mortar ileet are lere
OF at Alexandra ana Commander Wilkes IS IN town.
The only regret expressed is that Bul Run is not
nayigabie ior these ryer monsters. They have
proved 70 seryceable to the army heretofore that
their absence at our late battles was seriously ielt.
four o'cl9rk p 1.-The following is a diary OF
Gen Banks marcb, derived from conversations with
him and bis staff
The corps under Gen. Banks left the Rappahsn.
mock west Of Warrrrton on Tuesday night; passed
to Ercntre, and thence north OF Manassas juno
ton, cross ng the southern extremity of the old
battlefield, and Bul Run, and Atchel's Ford
Joining the Union forces eas Ct Bull Run on Sunday
night. On Monday they We're engaged in holding
ford against TIE enemy. No portion of lis corps
in any engagement excepting being shelied on Tues.
day neag the RapTahannocA.
The corps left Mitchelps Fond on Monday noon.
passed to Centreyille some Union citizens Of Wash
ipg,on in tie rear destroying a quantity Of guns,
spades axes, tents, and baggage wagons, near Plack
Lurn.a InIl % urnYnnL iLD,n fr-m Ii mo n-o Lln