The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1863-10-30
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.
GEN. MEADE'S RETREAT.

Correspondence of the Herald.
HEADQURTERs ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Oct 15.-An outline history of recent op-
erations may not be unacceptable:
On Friday, October 9th, from our signal sta
ton on ThOroughfare Mountain, a considerable
force of the enemy was discovered moving to.
wards Madison Court House. On Saturday they
crossed RObertsOn's River at several points. On
the same day our army was ordered to advance.
Gen. BufOrd with his cavalry division, crossed
the Rapden. The rebels also crossed that river
with cavalry and infantry, thus compelling
Gen. BufOrd to fall back.
Gen. Fitzpatrick was attacked on Saturday, at
James Ctv, and after considerable skirmishing
was driven back on Sunday.
Our main army commenced its retreat on
Saturday, Gen. Fitzpatrick covering its rear and
having brisk skirmish with the enemy near
Culpepper Court House, assisted ry one divis-
Station Gen. Fitzpatrick found confronting him
a rebel force, which had driven and followed
Buford whose division was drawn up in line
some distance beyond. Several charges were
made on both sides, resulting in the scattering
and driving from the ground the forces of the
enemy.
General Gregg was on our right near Sulphur
Springs, and guarding Beverly and other tOrds.
He was attacked on Sunday and ekirmished
with the rebels, without important results. He
was attacked at Sulphur Springs on Monday,
the First New Jersey regiment doing the prin-
cipal fighting on our side, and driving the rebel
cavalry back upon their infantry.
The First Maine cavalry were sent to Jeffer-
son where they soon found themselves cut Off
A squad sent to report to General Gregg was
captured. The regiment retired by way of
Waterloo and WarrentOn to Bristow Station,
where it arrived Tuesday night. The balance
of Gregg's division retired to Fayetteville. On
TuacdnV rnOrpipU X kinotricl, n (HrorU'S
relief
After retiring across the Rappahannock,
General BufOrd recrossed to the south side on
Monday afternoon, followed by the Second,
Fifth and Sixth Army Corps A line of battle
was formed with the Fifth Corps on the right.
the Sixth on the left and the Second at first in
the centre and afterwards Gas the other two
corps were pushed forward) in reserve The
enemy declined to take up the gage of battle,
bu. moved towards cur right, General Buford
following and skirmishing with the rear guard
OF the rebels to Culpepper Court House Our
burning the bridge at Rappahannock Station
and blowing up the abutments.
On Wednesday an attack was made upon
Gregg's cavalry division and the 9th and I'd
infantry corps in the vicinity of Auburn The
most noticeable and perhaps only really i'm
portant engagement in this connection was that
of the I'd corps.
This fight on the part of the I'd corps was the
most brilliant of the campaign. The particu-
lars and a full description having already been
given, it is sufficient to say here that gained
u most signal success, among the fruits of which
were six pieces of artillery and some seven
or eight hundred prisoners, captured from the
enemy. after dark Il most brilliant cavalry
duel ensued giving rise to one OF those sublime
scenes OF war that defy description.
The gage OF battle was at this time again
thrown down by Gen. Meade, and this time
on the memorable Bull Run battlefield. The
old corps was drawn up in line of battle on
this field, the 9th corps on its left. The enc
my declined this offer and continued to move
on our right On Wednesday night our troops
were Withdrawn to the heights OF Centrevilie,
the last reaching that position early on Thurs
Gay morning, and the cavalry guarding the
ford across Bull Run.
Our wagon train moved in two columns
through Caletts Station and by way of
Breatsvllle, the rear arriving ut Fairfax Court
House at about 3 O'Clock p. NJ. on Thursday,
The management OF this train on the long and
difficult march reflects the highest credit on
nose having it in Charge.
,gtse Secret History OF the war.
WASHINGTON, Oct IS.-The following
is a copy Of letter from Senator Mason
to jeff. Davis, and was found among the
Intercepted correspondence Of the latter.
1t plainly shows the reasonable purpose
of the writer at the time: ~
~ 8i 9s MASON to J. DAVIS. IL
.,,.e. SELMA, VA, NEAR WINCHEsTER,l 4
Sept. 80, 1856. { 4
My DEAR SIR: Ihave a letter from Wise, of
the 9th, full Of spirit; he says the Governors
of North Carolina. South Carolina and Louisi-
ara, have already agreed to rendezvous at Ra-
leigh, and others WILL, This in your most pri-
vate ear. He says further that he had officially
requested you to exchange with Virginia on
fair terms OF difference, percussion for flint
muskets. don't know the usage or power of
the department in such case but if it can be
done even by liberal construction, hope you
will accede. ss8
Was there not an appropriation at the last
session for converting flint into percussion
arms? If SO, would it not furnish good reason
for extending such facilities to the State? Vir-
ginia probably has more arms than the other
Southern States, and would divide in case of
need. IL a -
In letter, yesterday, to committee in
South Carolina, gave It as my judgment, in
the event Of Fremont's election, the South
should not pause, but proceed at once 10 I'M
mediate, absolute and eternal separatlon-so
am candidate for the first halter
Wise says accounts from Philadelpnla are
cheering for old Buck in Pennsylvania. lhope
kIA ~ IA A>y~~ f.