The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-06
War News of the Week.
tbs War III VIRGINIA.

THE War II VIRalx:A.
The week (from the date of our last
ya.ne) has been one of most exciting in
tsrsst in Virginia, and crowded with
thrilling events. The reports, however,
tslsgraphic and otherwise, are 30 confused
sAf conflicting, that We find it next to inn
pessible TO give IN ineligible outline. We
shall do the best We can, after days hard
study.
Oar last weeks report (up to about the
2lst ulk) left Gen. Pope's army on the
north bank Of the RappahAnnack, strung
alsng from Fredericksburg to Warrenton,
facing the enemy drawn up on the oppo.
sits bank. On the 22d, it appears the
enemy commenced . movement westward
via Jsderson and Little Washington, to
The foot Of the Blue Ridge, where the
river (north branch of the R"ppahannack
O. North Army il 20 shallow as to be easily
Anrded. crossed the river, and by Tuesday
fz7th) had n,assed the greater part of his
srmv 1t White Plains. between the Bull
Run mountain range and Blue Ridge
Subsequent events show that he thence
passed through Thoropgfare Gap and
emerged in the vicinity of Centreville, be-
tween Pope's army and Washington.
How soon Pope became aware Of this
important movement Of the enemy can
only be conjectured, but it would seem the
first positive intimation he had of it, was
an attack, on the 26th tuesday on rail-
road train at Bristow's Station, four miles
southwest Of Manassas. There were few
peEsons on the train, and no guard at the
Station. Some four hundred rebel cavalry,
It appeared, had laid a lot of ties upon the
track, expecting thereby to throw the
train oH, and then concealed themselves.
The train came dashing along, but instead
Of being thrown Of the track, swept off
the obstruction by the COW catcher, and
moved on at redoubled speed. The enemy
gave it . parting shot, killing one man and
wounding three others. The train passed
Manassas Station at high speed, giving
warning there, and dasked on to Bull Run.
Here it came in collision with an empty
train standing on the track, and after de-
molishing half dozen of cars, killing
three men more, came to halt amid the
pile Of ruins
The rebel cavalry, foiled in their plan at
Bristsw, were now largely reinforced, and
pushed on to Manassas. This point, it ap-
pears, was guarded only by New York
battery of 10 guns, and few companies
of infantry. This force the rebels found
engaged in hurrying off four or FIVE heavy
trains loaded with stores, and in no way
prepared for fight. At the first dash the
rebels took four Of their guns, but not
Withstanding their surprise, our troops
rallied and engaged the enemy with such
fury a. to compel the rebels to retire to
the wooda Being heavily reinforced, how
ever, our force was driven back, retiring
slowly and fgthing towards Bull Run,
taking their remaining 6 guns with them.
When reaching q point some two miles
from Manassas, were met by the Second
New York infantry, who had been sent tc
reinforce them. Here making a stand
they naintained their ground, and for hall
- -four longer an artillery duel was II
progress, when both parties, as if by mu.
AuAl .e....s, ceased nrIng until early
morning.
At that time the same artillery practice
was again commenced and kept up until
one o'clock, 2. n, when our people quietly
retired, taking with them two cannon
leaving secesh the other four, for no othe,
reason than that they had used up all the,
ammunition, and no more to be procured
Secesh being in possession Of all that had
been At Manassas The force finally halted
half way between Centerville and Fairfa,
c. II. The federal property destroyed b,
this raid upon Manassas Is believed to have
amounted to over 100000.
Next Morning "wednesday on hearing
of this affair at Manassas, Gen. Taylor.
brigade list, I'd, Sd, and 4th New Jersey
.sg,men.s) was hurried fffrom Alexandr's
{, Manassas by railroad to CIRCULATE"
things. Arriving at Bull Run. they loft
the cars, aud went the rest of the way a
miles) by foot Within mile of Manass-
a they met the rebel skermishers, whom,
they drove back, and pushed on On com
ing within, the circle Of the Notifications at
Manassas, which they had no idea were
occupied, they we're dismayed to find
themselves met by = heavy concentrated
fire Of artillery. They fell behind hill,
where they engaged force Of infantry
and then seeing large force of rebel ca
valery move towards Bull Run, Gen. Taylor
withdrew by way of Blackburn's ford,
fighting all the way as he went, and was
wounded through both legs. He was pur
sued % far as Fairfax Court House and
oven to Annandale, losing large part Of
his brigade Is prisoners.
The rebel cavalry force that had moved
70 Boil Run encountered, at that point,
0eaalain's brigade of Gen. Cox's division
largely outnunbering him. Tho contest
was for the possession Of the Railroad
hridss. and lasted with great obstinacy
until night, the rebels still holding the
bridge.
BAT now 70 return. Gen. Pope, hearing
Of the attack 1t Bristow station (en the
26th) now Cor the frst time appears to be-
come aware Of the movement of the enc.
my to tho westward, and dispatches
Hooker's and Kearney's division north, to
look him up. They come up with large
rebel force near Bristow on the 9th. A
heavy engagement ensues, lasting all day
until dark, our forces driving the. ene~y
step by step to Manassas. Our loss this
day is reported at 800 killed and wounded