Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-09-11
Review of the Battle Week.
WAsuIHGToN, Wednesday, September 3,

The exciting events of the past week, and
thus far of the present week, seem TO have
commenced at about the time the advance
columns of the Army OF the Potomoc reached
positions, placing them within supporting dis
tauce of the Army OF Virginia.
From the moment FltZ Johu Porter's corps
disembarked at Fredericksburgh, until the
present time, it mas been almost continually on
the move. The marching and counter-march,
ing performed by that portion of the army
within the past ten days, is astonishing. 1t
would first be ordered to advance to a point
on the Rappahannock, above Fredricksburgh,
aud then, having accomplished that duty, it.
would be ordered to return over the same
road it came Oae day it would be required
to march, perhaps thirty miles in a certain
direction, and upon the following day the
same distance would be traversed in an entire
ly different direction. 1t cannot be supposed
that such constant travelling would have
beneficial effect upon tue energy and enthus-
asm of the men, aud when they at last made
their appearance at Warrenton Junction, on
the evening of Wednesday, the 9th ult, they
resembled more group of convalescent
patients, just discharged from hospital than
they did soldiers sent to reinforce their com
rades. But, notwithstanding the hardships
they had undergone, they were called upon to
take part in the engagement of Saturday last
and during the brief time they were ex-
posed to and returned the enenmy's fire, they
not only behaved like gallant solierS, bat
showed what weak and exhausted men could
endure, when impeed by patriotic motives.
1t will be rememb bered that Kearuey'S Di.
vision arrived at Warrenton Junction on Fri
day, the 22d. The other division of Ii Heintzel
mans Corps arrived on the following Tuesday
On that same night, three hours aft HCoker;s
Division had left the cars which conveyed it
from Alexandria, and while those cars were
going back, the enemy made his appearance
at Brl>tlOW Station, on The line Of that rail
road, eight miles below WarrentOu Junction.
Fortunately, the cars were uladened, but as
it was they fell into the euemy's hands aud
were consumed. During the whole OF Tuesday
night, the rebels were busy at work, burning
cars, destroying buildings, tearing up the rail
road track, dem0lishing and taking prison rs
Cur meD,
kearney's and Hooker's division were the
first TO go tol ward "a d meet the enemy at
Bristow. 4 an early hour on "Wednesday
morning, HookerS division aud Que brigade
OF kearneys proceeded dowu the railroad to
within a mile Of Bris ow, when they encounter,
ed the encmy'S picketS. After a sharp con.
test, which lasted about two hours, the rebels
were compelled 10 abandon their position aud
occupy a new one the old Bull Run Battle
field The rebel loss on this occasion was al
least equal to our own. We had about fifty
killed and one hundred AID fifty wouudtd
On Thursday kearney and Hooker took
positions on the tX'reme right of the Uulou
line Of defence before the rebel army at Grove
ton. On Thursday night "a portion of Nc
DoweIl's corps proceeded to Thocoughturt
Gap to prevent relntorcemeDts rCachug jack
sou, who was between Bull Ran Mountains and
the Warreht Z turnpike. Bat the rebel rem
forcementS nuder command of L0ngstreet out.
numbered McDowelPs troops, aud succeeded
in getting through the Gap. During the
whole OF that ght jackson was receiving re
Inducements.
On Friday our line of battle was formed
with view of closing up the Gap and sur
rounding the rebels Jackson understood the
movement and sent a strong force agaiasr
Sigel's troops in order to turn our right After
combating the rebels successfully from 6 o
clock A. NJ, till 2 p M SigeI's force was re,
eved by HeintzIeman'S, which fought in its
turn till dark. The b,agc c, n Iuct of Hooker
and hearuey on that occasion Will long be re
membered by those who saw them BY their
hei o;c eXtrtiOus and the ardOr and c0uTa ge OF
the nea uuder their commands, the right wing
not only held its ground, but forced the enemy
TO fall back one mile. Our loss on Friday
was severe, hut we had the satisfaction OF
knowing that something had becu accomplish
ed
On Saturday the conflict was renewed by
Porter, who occupied position to the left OF
Hooker and in advance oI Sge The enemy,
however, had learned by this time what meta!
he had to contend against on the right, and
acted principally on the defensive. Bat late
IN the afternoon he coz cHntratr d bis main
force opposite our centre, and after q brief
contest, during which McDowell's troops, who
were the party attacked, made only pretence
OF resistance, he broke the line and compelled
our entire army to fall back toward Centre
vile
On Sunday afternoon nearly the whole of
the Union army was at Cent7eville Any one
acquainted with the country in the vicinity of
Centreville, will at once see the mposSbity
of holding that place, even with q superior
force. The line of denfenCe would sbe TOO ex
tended to avoid weak points, and the enemy
knowing this woul soon manage to force back
either the right or left wing. For this reason
the Union army took up the line of march
toward Alexandria and Washington on Mon
day.
The enemy followed closely, and on Mondly
night attacked our rear guard betw cen Cen
trevilIe and Fairfax Court house He was
finally obliged to withdraw.
Yesterday, as Porter's and Sigels corps
were On the way from Fairfax to Falls Church
the rebels opened upon them with cannon
| planted on hill at the left of the road. Cav
airy was sent out and the rebels quickly retir
ed
TODAY tho army ;S rntirinp in order to the