Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-12-04
The War News.
THE POTOMAC AKMY MARCHES BACK - NO
FIGHTING.

THE POTOMAC AKMY MARCHES BACK - NO
FIGHTING.
The Tribune correspondent, writing Dec.
2, says the army of the Potomac is again safe.
1t is again back to the borders of civilization.
To night 1t encamps on the grounds it SO gai-
ly left on the morn Of Thanksgiving. The
reasons for this sudden change Of programme
without forcing Lee to a general battle are
these AT the council of war held on Monday
night, the facts were demonstrated that the
enemy was entrenched behind very formida-
bic eartlworks which they were every moment
strengthening. The fearful loss it would en-
tail on us, and the impossibiIity of succoring
our wounded before they would perish with
the cold, in case We attempted to carry the
rebel works by assault, were some Of the con-
SIderations which induced the subsequent ac-
ton Our ,rationS and forage had nearly run
out and the roads were too bad to allow fur
ther transportation from our distant base of
supplies. These weighty considerations, it is
claimed, induced the commander to issue the
order to fall back. Tonight the army Of the
Potomac rests on its old base on the line of
the Orange and Alexandria railroad. Our to-
tai losses in missing and wounded are $40, and
GO killed.
The rebel works on the opposite bank of
the Mine river, a stream ten feet in width,
very shallow and muddy, were not over $50
yards from our line, and were Of ii formidable
nature. They were very deep and construct
ed of logs and earth. A second line similar
to the first was seen 200 yards to the rear Of
them. a thick abattis was placed in front.
Gen. Warren on the left was to have as
saulted the enemy's right on Sunday after
noon. But he heStated to make the attempt.
Sunday night was the coolest yet experienced.
Ice formed on the streams an inch in thick
ness, and several of our men fr0ze their limbs,
and one or two their lives out, while doing
duty as pickets.
Monday morning the artillery opened heayi-
| " for an hour and half when it was silenccd
and strategy studied by the generals. And
it was concluded that the wisest plan to adj
vance would he to go back to the line of the
RappahannOck and take fresh start. Ac-
| cordingly, Tuesday morning they commenced
moving back toward the river, and at night
the army recr0ssed in safety, having succeed
ed in losing about a thousand men in killed,
wounded and missing, and generating very
unkinj feeling in tine breasts Of the rank and
file towards those in position who had prom
ised them so much and yielded them so little
AFFAIRS AT KNOXVILLE.
Cumberland Gap dates to the LIST 10 not con-
firm the capture of 5000 rebel cavalry by Gen.
Burnside at Knoxville.
The rebels succeeded in throwing pontoon
across the river at Knoxville, on Sunday, but
were prevented from crossing by our batteries
commanding that point. This brought on
general engagement, resulting in the rout of
the enemy. There is no doubt that Longstreet
is in tight place, and may be headed off by
Foster. General Granger must have reached
Knoxville by this time. Longstreet must
march one hundred and thirty miles before he
can be supplied by rail.
All our available forces left Cumberland
Gap Nov. 80, under the direction OF Maj. Gen.
Foster, with view to intercept Longstreet in
his retreat to Virginia. Burnside is closely
pushing the enemy's rear.
TWO OF MoRGAN's OFFICERS RE-CAPTURED.
Major J. T. Ferris, OF the detective police
captured, Dec. I'd, two of John II. Morgan's
captains, r.. Sheldon and S. B. Taylor, who
. escaped with him from Columbus. They