The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1862-09-06
Correspondence Of Tie n. Z. rrib,as.

W A0hlN0TO1s Aux. 10, 1909.
From On officer Of Gen. Pope's stat, who left
morning, have one or two facts not without
interest. 3a
The Rsppannock line IL abandoned, and our
forces have fallen back to another position ten
miles to the rear. Geu. Pope was not long in
discovering, what it may be presumed the
Rebels knew all the time, that the Rsppahan-
mock, above its junction with the Rapidan, Is
fordabls in many places where there are no es-
tsblished and recognized fords With the river
at its ordinary hight, therefore, the Rebels
might have chosen an unguarded pointer
along line Of such extent il 10 obviously i'm
possible to defend every point-and crossing by
night, might have established heavy force on
the northern bank, cutting in two the line of
defense and the cooperating forces, and e.
riously compromising both wings Of the Union
army. The attack on our center at the railway
bridge, moreover, showed that the strength Of
that position had been overrated, and oil circum.
stances seemed to unite In suggesting that the
Rappabanuock, which for the moment had
served Us % we'll, both a. . barrier and strate-
gic line, had no permanent value - . defensive
front.
When the river rose and threatened the safe
ty Of the railway bridge, it was ct fret reckoned
. misfortune, but the delay which it interposed
20 the Rebel movements was more than COM
psnsating advantage. Pro6ting BY the condi-
zion of the stream, which forbade any effort to
cross it with heavy columns much lees with ar
tillery or wagons, Gen. Pope again withdrew his
forces in the face of the enemy, and occupied,
without serious loss or hindrance, the line on
which bic army now reposea At the time Of
the first retreat the movement would probably
have been impossible, for only the river could
have checked the swift approach Of the Rebel
columns, enraged BY the unsupported escape Of
their outnumbered enemy. Deliberately adopt.
- now and successfully occupied in force, it
may probably be accepted - the true line Of
defense ~ long - defense IL our policy, and
the true base OF o6ense when forward move
,ment commence. .a
Bull Ran mountains, extending southwsstsrly
from Lsssburg, terminate near Wafrsnton.-
Disconnected ridges guard their western flank
ct the southern extremity. and the whole chain
forms apparently barrier, impossible except
through fheroughfsre Gap. Il may BE- pre-
sumed that Gen. Popei right dank rests near the
Warrenton 70 the Junction follows nearly the
general course Of the north fork of The Rappa--
hammock, and 10 necessarily within our lines; the
centre OF which might 6nd the Junction itself .
convenient pivot for strategic operAtious. Be,
tween the railway aud Frederioksbufg is stretch
OF country rather more then twenty miles broad,
bounded on the east by the Potomac -Fredef-
icksburg, Of course 10 retained in our possession,
and Acquaia Greek, % we'll q the rest Of the
Potomac bank, IL to be defended "a
II seems to be considered that the main force
of rebels passed to the west and north OF the
original centre of our lines on the Rsppahan-
mock. The cavalry dash on Cat)etts Station BY
way Of Warrenton was only meteoric detsch-
ment from the main force, and probably indioar.
ted, a. have before suggested, the near pres
ence Of heavier force. When onco The coufse
OF the main columns Wa ascertainedy Gen. Pope
drew 10 hls long-extended line to NEST them,
sending 6igel again to the right, from which he
had been withdrawn last Thursday, and 0siiect-
Ing tor the same purpose the other rather widely
separated corpa With the progress, Therefore,
OF the rebel columns moving on the outer and
larger arc OF coueentrio circles the whole line
OF Gen. Pope swung round to the right, and
changing the direction of It's front with rapidly
and precision, again awaited the rebel approach.
This 10 me movement which, ct he outset,
described BY saying that the army had fallen
back. Relatively 70 the Rappahannock it IL Q
rearward march, but In fact Il 10 maneuves
sntaer than movemsnt and consists simply in
keeping the face OF the army turned steadily to-
wards the rebels s1 c'CIe5 .it3.F All =
But tor the rise Of the Rappahannock. . bat
Hs would have been fought Last week between
che two arnisa Jackson, leading the advance
- before, crossed the river With bic corpe. and
the rest Of the army wss to have followed
Once over, Il would have had no choice bat "a
fight, and II beaten could have ESCAPED sunihi.
laton only BY surrender, for The swollen river in
il rear barred I'll retreat Il may b presumed
that The Rebels we're we'll awsrs Of the reinforce
msnts rapidly sent forward to Pope. Il would
be di@cals to cay what fact important 70 the
canpsign tasy may not b presumed to bs aware
a. They had therefore the alternatives Of i'm
snsdiate battle o. retreat Compelled to dsfsa
their attack, they are already retrsatipg, but
whether only from their Arst position Or In
esareh Of defensive line, may 30 stil 4uss
utios.