The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-09-02
From our Army Oh the Rappahannock-In.
teresting Diary-FxecuiiOns on the Route,

teresting Dfary-fxeCutiOns on the Route.
As late news about the movements of our army
il very properly "contraband," even IL the press
were able TO get hold of it, give interesting
extracts from the diary of "Personne" published
in the Charleston Courier:
august 20.--Army crossed the Rapidan, the wa.
ter thigh deep. Scene exciting and amusing. Near.
ly whole day thus occupied.
August 2l.-The enemy in close proximity. and
we have to move cautiously. Longstreet's corps is
in the front. From hill on the other side of the
Rapidan we have magnificent view for miles,
Three columns-long, black winding lines of men,
their muskets cleaning in the sunshine like silver
spears, in sight, moving in the direction Of Fred
ericksburg or down the opposite bank of the river.
More skirmishng in 'front.' Good many stragglers
by the wayside, but they are generally broken
down soldiers and trudge slowly along In the tracks
of their comrades An attractive part of the pro-
cession is the baggage trains vending their way
In the rear of the army. Thousands of wagons are
in sight, and between the stalling of trains, the
shouting of drivers, and the chaotic confusion which
emsnates from the motley mass, no man can CON-
plain of the ennui of a march.
Nothing can be more pcturesquely beautiful than
the bivouac at night. Thousands Of troops line
the woods on both sides of the road for miles
Camp.fres glimmering In the trees. muskets are
stacked along the edge of the forest. and the men
are disposed in every conceivable manner. Some
are rolled up in their blankets, and already dream.
ing away the fatigues of the day some sitting
a,0und the camp fires watching the roasting ears,
and discussing tie coming events which cast their
shadows before" and some are among the trees
moving to and fro in the gray film of smoke that
has arisen from the myriad fres and rests upon the
earth Between the dusty figures Of the soldiers,
the various occupations In which they are engaged
the road filed with wagons aud guns the appear
ance of the illuminated trees and bushes, forming
against the deep gloom of the night fantastic back
ground, and ali the details combined with the al.
most unnatural auty, the spectacle resembles one
vast embroidered transparency that has been work
- -Ic lNk hoa ,plonA
tents and fixtures arrayed In her richest trappings.
can never hope to equal those Of the curious and
careless efforts OF nature. We live on what we
can gst-nOw and then an ear Of corn, fried green
apples or a bit of ham brosd q stick, but quite
as frequently do without either from morning until
night. We sleep on the ground without any other
covering than blanket, and consider ourselves for
tunate If We are not frozen sti9 before morning.
The nights are both damp and cold
august 22-TOday, another busy scene. The
army resumed its march at daylight, Longstreet's
twelve brigades moving toward the Potomac on
the right, and Jackson on the left The latter has
passed the Rapidan Station ON the Virginia Cen.
trail Railroad, and Ia pressing northeast OF Cul.
pepper. Several small skirmishss have taken place
on the front, ard eighty or ninety prisoners went
by on their way TO the rear. Among the Yankees
captured by Jackson were two wen, who. ~ soon
az they fell into our bands commenced 10 ask after
their old comrades in an artillery company. An
inquiry being instituted, they confessed that eight
months ago they were soldiers in our army but that
being tired Of service they had deserted and joined
the ranks of the enemy. without further ado, the
General ordered them TO be hung to q tree, which
was done in the presence of large portion Of hia
army
In Longstreets division there has also been ac-
tive work. The enemy several times attempted to
check our advance, but were signally repulsed.-
Pickett's, Wilcoxs, and Pryors brigsdes were sew.
orally engaged at different periods Of the day, aud
lost q few men killed and wounded At Mountain
Run. small branch which joins the Rappahan.
mock, q Federal battery Of six pieces commenced