Dayton daily empire. [volume] (Dayton [Ohio]) 1850-1865, 1863-10-20
FRoM wAsH1NeroN.
Disasters TO the Army of the
Potomac.
GENERAL LEE'S ARMY STILL EIGHTY.
FOUR THOUSAND STRONG.

WAsUNCrON. ObIObpr

many persons by surprise IL was attributed
by most persons TO secret news OF au unfavor-
able character from the army in the West.
The N, Y, Post of that evening attributed il
to the export oftwo millions of gold during
the last few days But neither of these ex-
plantations was the true one The true reason
was, the defeat and the repulse of Meades ar
my on the Rappahannock, aud the reported
retreat OF that army to Centervie, pursued
by the Confederate army under General Lee
Intelligence of these events was secretly tee-
graphed from here to New York between nine
and ten o'clock on Saturday morning with
what result the cOuntry knows. Your well
informed correspondent with the Army OF the
Potomac win nd you the details OF the
facts as they occurred. ! will only state that
tits understood here that on Friday body o {
about 1000 Union cavalry were sent out from
their camp west of Cedar Mountain to make
a reconnaissance towards Madison Court
House that they were met, while on the way,
by superior force of Confederate cavalry,
and, after q sharp fight, compelled TO fall back
upon the army corps which was holding post
near Cnlpepper IL was supposed that the
enemy would not press the pursuit, but they
did so The Confederate cavalry we're follow
ed by several batteries of arti llery and by a
strong infantry force and, between this force
and our troops near Culpepper, battle ensu-
ed, the result of which was, according to the
accounts that have reached here, that our for
ces at Culpepper--in other words, lbe remnant
OF Meade army-were compelled 10 retreat
from that place toward Centerville. This re-
suit affords another example of the manner in
which Lincoln and Stanton are managing the
war. 1t is no longer a secret TO the world
that two whole corps Of bleades army were
withdrawn from him q week or two ago, and
sent to the West Even If his corps were each
ten thousand strong--and every one knows
that il is liberal estimate, this would leave
him only fifty thousand men in his other five
corps, besides the cavalry, The least degree
of military judgment, therefore, would have
dictated the immediate Withdrawal of Meade's
depleted army TO line much nearer this city
But who looks for military Judgment in either
Lincoln, Stanton, or Haleck The little ar
my, therefore, was kept pushed out to Culpep-
per, with long line Of railroad to guard, and
| behold the result MIR. Lincoln's apologists
say in his defense that he believed that the
bulk Of Lees army had been sent to the West
to reinforce Bragg. 1t is true that number
| of reliable contrabands did bring into our
| lines story to the effect that all Of Lees
army, except the single corps Of A. p. Hill,
had been sent to reinforce Bragg and it is
true that Mr.. Lincoln, and Mr. Stanton too
! did believe it,
But the truth is, only our divisions, out of
General Lee . army, have been sent to rein.
force Bragg Two of lIongstreets divisions
aud two Of Ewells, are now with Bragg. But
the divisions of General Lees army are each
ten thousand strong, and his army was one
| hundred and twenty-five thousand strong lust
before the battles of Ohickamauga we're
fought. He has now, therefore, eighty-fo four
thousand troops, including his splendid caval-
ry and all his artillery What he may dare to
do with vast body of veteran soldiers few
days will decide. The situation of affairs here
he is perfectly acquainted with The ir-
repressible Mosby has taken care of that. On
| Thursday and Friday OF last week, Mosby
and his band of 800 guerrilas reconnoitered
the whole country in front of Washington, in
the neighborhood of Csntervile and Fairfax,
from the Chain Bridge and Lewinsville to
Springfield Station on the railroad and, on
Friday night they visited Munson's Hill,
Falls Church and Bailey Cross Roads thus
coming within seven miles of Washington
General Lee is well served, indeed, in all
directions During Schencks absence in
Ohio, he has left matters at Harpor's Ferry
to take care of themselves. General limbo
den, who commands some 5000 mounted
guerrillas, became quickly aware of that and
has, within a few days advanced from his
camp near Winchester to point between
Harpers Ferry and Martinsbnrg. Here, on
two separate days, he encountered and defeat
ed two separate regiments OF Union troops,
with heavy loss on our side From the pris-
oners whom he took on these occasions, and
from his previous scouts along the line oe the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Imboben learn
ed all that he desired to know about the recent
movements Of Union troops westward
There is reason TO believe, however, that
whatever movements of eastern troops we're
made toward the West were made too late to
be available. 1t is known that, Immediately
after the battle OF Chickamauga, General
Bragg and General Johnston were strengthen
ed by 10000 more troops from General Lee 8
army, besides those already there under Long
street. by 10000 troops drawn from those
who had been stationed along the railroad be-
tween Richmond and Wilmington; by lO, 600
from Charleston, and by 10000 from points
west Of the Mississippi 1t swell known that
Johnston and Bragg had fully 10000 troops
in the recent battles, while the three corps OF
Thomas, McCook and Crittenden could not
! have numbered over 10000, The admins.
tration papers here are boastng that since
! the battles, Rosecrans has been Reinforced by
70, 000 men. Admit it, and that it will raise
Rosecrans' strength TO 75 900 men. Is it to
: be expected that he can hold his ground
| against Confederate force that must be- as
! have shown, 10000 strong2
. From all that cRn be learned here, il is evi
4 dent that it is the intention OF General John
r ston TO invest Chattanooga on all sides, anC
: besiege that place in regular form. 1t is, un
Q fortunately, pletely commanded by Look