The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1863-12-03
TIE ARMY CT The PJT0MAe
Still Marching on Lee.
A hard Battle Reported Fought
ON SUNDAY OR MONDAY
Meade is Pashing tIle,s, Clos.
Especial Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune

AT daylight this morning, Gen Meade's
army began forcing the passage Of the Rap;
! idan at Germania Ford and two other points
A hard fight occurred at Ger,nania Ford,
where the rebels had massed their forces.
Tha fighting lasted along the line for about
three hours -t.i gsr, .-Ess7 sssp a
The whole army is now on the south bank
,ofthe Rapdan. The line of the Orang and
Alexandria Railroad. has been abandoned
and supplies for the nrmv will hereafter
reach it by way of Aqua Greek. Falmouth
and Fredercksburgh, and workmen are M.
ready there with materials for repairing the
railroad. The fact that the passage of the
Rapdan was so easily forcad. IS considered
asconc!usively showing that Lees army has
been greatly weakened. II.
! Deserters taken yesterday estimate the
rebel army at42.00o infantry, 5000 cavalry,
and l45 pieces Of artillery, but the proba.
6llities are thought to be that this IS rather
under than over the figures ~ asl
Intelligence from the front from private
source brings the news Gown to halfpast
! nine o'clock this forenoon At that tine all
the army trains and transportation had fol.
lowed the army across the Raplan, and
We're pushing rapidly forward without Sc
rious opposition. One column was advance.
4 ing in tho direction of Ghancellorvi.e. The;
main body is in two columns, moving IN, the
direction of Orange Court House, between
which point and Gordonsvle the rebel army
is supposed to be entrenched eaR Tln
We only have railroad connection as far
as Rappahanock Station
A cavalry reconnoi>ance TO day reports
the enemy six miles south Of that point.
drawn up in line of battle, but Lee is seeking
TO make the Lest of Lis way to Richmond
The Philadelphia Enquirer of to day
/ publishes report of Gen. Meade's advance
furnished by one of its correspondents. at
Verdirsviie in Orange county, Va. twelve
miles from Orange Courtsllouse. The dis
patches furnishing the information is dated
Saturday noon, when our Cavalry were.
N'''''o N'S iSpNio op"u tIic tuIHDh c tO-
ward Orange Court House, aud were within
eight miles of that place. Nothing but
skirnishing had taken place since on:
army has crossed the Rapidan, and our
losses were slight and confined to the Cav
airy. Our lett wing was extended ont to
the Wilderness and Spraltsvile Court
House. The rebels made but flint re-
sistance, falling back wherever thew were
pushed 1t is reported that the ,eb, force
at Frederick burgh has rctrcated toward
Richmond, thus we hold the roads that
run directly from Frelericksburgh to Lou.
I dersTilc. We have succeeded in cutting
the rebels left from the main army F.; il Is
supposed that many are already taken
prisoners. Rains have ANNOYED the army
TO great extent, but will delay them bu.
few hours.
i WASHINGTON, Nov. 3o-A messenger
from the army thinks general engl gemen,
between Lees and Meals forces could not
be delayed much beyond Saturday evening
while he is quite sure that the rapid firing
which he heard till nightfal on his wav up
was the result Of general engagement
1t was too heavy and continuous for skir-
miShng. r a. -ta
The rebel lines stretch just in front Of
Orange c. H., but the disposition of cur
various corpse is spoken Of as excellent, and
4 calculated to make the enemy fight yestei-
day or retreat beyond Orange C. IL.
i RAPPAHASNocK STATEN, Nov. %. Q: Is
! p. Mt is understood that Meade, IN his
i present movements, is left to exercise his
own discretion, and he has declared it to be
his purpose to strike at the most vital poin,
in the Southern Confederacy, wherever, in
his rjndgment. that may be. His supply of
ratrons and forage will not b. exhausted un
I'll after the 10th of December, and before
that period can make heavy raconno issanccs
most damaging in their, on.eancnees to the
enemy. Since Gen. Meade hae supplies for
his army with his command. there il no APP
prehension of danger from flank move
ment to cut off the usual base of supplies
l Six months Imprisonment and fine
of $4,000 are the reward for cheat :
ing Uncle Samuel in horse trades.
The engine of a tirst-rate iron-clad
frigate will preform ms much work in
| a day as forty-two thousand horses.
/
The brothers Goddard are about to
make balloon that will contain A.
600 cubic mater Of gas. Nadar'
"Giant only containee 6,O00.
A Russian Count at New York is
under arrest for stealing diamond
ring worth 81 900.