Washington telegraph., 1863-12-23

sion. supported by the Sd, became engaged
later, with two Of its brigades Ecan's and
Coils, late Graham's. Wards was SLIGHTLY
engaged; also Elmaker's, Of the 9th Corns
The rest of the 9th Corps was in supporting
distance in the rear. Smiths brigade. OF the
3d Corps, new troops. moved in under a tre-
mendous fire, and broke in considerable con.
fusion. Bsrney advanced Evan into their posi-
ton, who held the ground with the 81 and 5th
Michigan, 10th Indiana, 40th New York and
LIST Berdan sharpshooters. he enemy made
two fierce charges on Keefer, and were repulsed
ooth umes handsomely. The bri ,ade now
acted like veterans. Keefer. of the western
army, now commands brigade composed Of
the 10th Ohio, l22d Ohio, l3Sth Pennsylvania
aud 9th Maryland.
which makes pretty good thing of it-but
for he results. The dispatch contin=es:
Had we followed up the victory. pursuing the
enemy, We would have turned their left aauk:
instead of which, when they retired. they fell
back into formidable position, alreadv in
trenched, on the heights west OF Mine Run,
forming q line, with the right resting on Clark's
Mountain, stretching across plank and turn
pike roads the left resting on the Run north Of
the turnpike.
That was certainly pity For them, but thew
didn't follow up the victory. They behaved in
TACT, very strangely for victorious troap,
After tho delay OF day or two, i which seve-
raj skirmishcs occurred, the despatch goes on:
BY this time the delay had cost us the oppor
tunity for victory. The enemy constantly
receiving :einforcements and strength ening
his position. while we received nothing. AMI
supplies were ru"niug short. No resource was
lett but to fall back.
Everything on wheels, except cannon. was
sent north OF the Rapidan on Tuesday: Also.
the artillery reserve. A. soon a. dark last
night, the troops began falling back. ans were
nearly all across tne river by morning The
enemy discovered the movement AZ daylight,
pursued With cavalry and artillery. anu gave
US few parting shots with no serious results
The retreat was admirably conducted. We lost
nothing and LETT nothing.
Reaching north of the river we Immediately
took up our mare b to our old position, aud. a.
| write, are occupying the camps abardOned
just one week ago.
Having thus come out at the same hole they
went in a. the Northern papers conclude the
| campaign in Virginia ended for the winter.
The whole thing reminds Of the mountain
that labored and brought forth a mouse, or the
King of France who marched ten thousand men
up the hill and down again. The conquest Of
! the South goes on slowly.
DELIGHrs OF MISSISSIPPI NAvIGArIoS.-Ths
enemy spent year of time, thousands Of
lives, and sunk untold amounts of .-onry, TO
reduce Vicksburg and open the Mississippi.
We are gratihed to learn from the Western
papers that this navigation. now hey have it,
does not pay. Success TO our brave partizans
on the river, until the whole North West learns
that the wealth OF Southern trade must bs
opened to thea, if ever, by Feac- and treaties
with the South. All promises OF the Admin
istrltion to the contrary are proving delusive.
/ The following is from the Chicago Tribune.
" What are they going TO do about its
! Cincinnati. Nov. 10 The navigation Of tha
| Mississippi. though virtually opened, Is suit
I
| the numerous bands of guerrillas which nfest
the banks between Memphis aud New O.lelns.
| The passenger his way down is at ractel
every few miles by the weeks of recently
! burned or sunken boats destroy ell by ihes-
ruthless invaders. No one feel 5 saie upon re
firing a. night as to the certainty of awakening
up alive on the following morning, aud many
of the passengers take their rest in the day
| time TO be prepared for any emergency
! that may ar. Sc in the night. Nor is the ,.aLger
! confined entirely - he guerrIllas on shore, as
emmissaries of the so-cnlled COnfederacy may
be found on almost every boat, aud iucendl-
arism is aided 20 murder and rapIne Within
| the last four months seventeen elegant boats
have been totally destroyed by the ,uer1ili,s.
involving the loss .: over sixty lives, and prop
erty to the amount Of ovef 81, ,OOO, 900, aud
! besides over tnirty boats have been fired into
by the rebels, but fortunately escaped wI.h
but a trihing loss"
BY the way, we have remark to drop about
the "birbarism," as they call it, of firing into
boats loaded with passengers. We can never
| learn without regret that innocent passengers,
| especially IN, killed. But they nave
| no business there. fhey know hat we are in
a state of war. They know that they venture
upon tn, waters claimed by hostile and bel
! iIgerent power. Tney know tnat We cannot
permit this trade, and have no other effective
means than to capture .he bats or sink them
If they refuse to surren er. Why 10 they take
! the risk! Do they expect 70 paralyze our
power by appeals to our glilan,ry? Il is ask.
ing too much. Passengers who must travel
! should take safer lines, or III extrOrlinary
cases be furnished the protection OF flags of
truce. Shall they hold gala day parties
their boats, q protect navigation which
| would ruin Us! 1t must not be. We sincerely
nope that every boat wuch ventures South OF
Cairo will be captured sunk. We hope no
innocent passengers will be foolish or arro-
CANT as to venture upon them. For Gods sake
anu Eumanity's let the women aud children
stay at home, unless sent under fig or truce
Ii they will venture, let the captains out Of
humanity surrender their vessels wnen de-
manded py armed force, nd save loss OF life.
Ii not, and the Innocent suffer, it il certainly
one VI the mourntul incidents OF war, aud we
regret 1t deeply, but il cam 4 be helped. Enc
river Is ours, wherever bounded oy the States
| of the Couicderacy, and We cannot permit tue