, 1863-07-27
FROM THE ARMY OF THE
POTOMAC.
Estimated Strength Of Lees
Army.
LEE MOVING TOWARDS cUlpEppER,
An F Engagement with the
Rebel Rear Guard,

Especial Dispatch TO the Chicago Tribnne.l
PHILADELPHIA, July 20, 1903
Tie ststemepts received here as to the army
movements of both Meade and Lee, are very
conflicting. It Is confidently believed that
Meade has Lees communication with Ricll-
Mond at bis mercy. Both armies are making
t2pid movements Southwest, and u great bat
Tie will no doubt be fought north Of the Rap-
rahannock.
Direct communication between the Army
Of tic Potomac und Washington hAs been e.
tablishcd, while but little hope, according 10
the statements Of deserters, nre entertained
by tie ,ebc1s Of helng able to reach Richmuud
in sufety. Their whole nank is seriously all-
noyed ty ort cavalry.
Lies Iurce is estimated as follows: Stu.
arts caralry II ,OOu; Iopgstreet mud Ewells
cvtl1a 18,0cU each, Iflll's cutps l6.W0. These
wilt tB,O0U iuote rebels nj Hftllmohd aid
rttttsbnig, are tepptted tutuhc1ttde the Hitule
tebti fotte. fLu Cunfedefaty ttptef had ST
few tfunt'r ae Mt tstrseht. eiAug thuff tereilt
itstes III putt ttHlsuh nHd ficktafg, nlt tile
ttuurt they cntI titistpf htB esttiiated IA fOt:
iewsi tlp,UtO nt UiAttestuh. iAdtf tjea'lfegtfi| !
lu,ttAI ri Mnbllei lb,tW, uadef ttaffhathks
md l1iuei ee,tttt Under 'IdhfiatUni W,Mh'
Nh,isr ljtAHtt Rh.tks' NJ ShflaAs detH"lIeti
tplll's=in nll oniy p4p tktl, fhea affly ta the
MrgtHl md lsaAt organized 0f Thu hOnlll, and
,ln t4Io III tlu Unnfudufh"y tapanls m ''i'n,
I.ta lus rruelysd or,iurs mi tn t!Hht Mpnia
nnw, hui to ulnnu,lyrs IN s''ul' llla1luur IA to
,tlaw lhe unlnn orlny taNsrtl HlHunlnn mud
ttontousvtlle, hy wl,lel, t|u'o thoY Aolu tu ru'
Inforca l.eu,
II ia rlI,aurcd ln Wasilngton tlIst tl.u Mhjor
tA nrrn's)ip !n tin rrgular army, warrant l,Y
t1Is retirement Of 0cn. Wuol, wIl1 bo to'''lcroi
10 ten. 1rans.
N,uhrr tltu War nor N"vy Departments
l,nYc received my thing IRON Jhatlostot Inter
tIlan The 18th lust.
WARRINGTON, July 70,
Adyieeh from tllu Headquarters Of tho Army
II tho Potomac received to.hiyht, say tllat
during tic rnst week our troops 1aso moi
bcen Idle, but by II eloso scrutiny VI Lca't
| moy, nleiltt, md by snp!d marshes, l!as sue
cectlct In butlllng l!is soyoral attempts to CIT,
.er Enrtcrn Virgln!n, anl foFes.a'lod !4lt At
tempted po'te.eion Of Dtuc Nidgo. It ia gon
ernl,y believed he Ia now uoslng rapidly TO-
wurdk Bta,lnton, by the Shenandoah valley
lle triad smlckor's, Ashny's and Manas'''s
| Guns, but found atropg Union farce already
there, At the two Inst ,a1ncd places ho Wal
driven back with loss. At Chester Gap, OH
cavalry recap.uEed l,lo0 Of the cattlo stolel
by the enemy, and several hundred sheep. /
large lumber Of horses have also been rccoy
cred. Several brisk skirmlahcs have take,
place. With the exception Of cavalry, th
principal fight occurred Thursday evening
between Linden and Front Royal, in which
erignde Of rebel infantry, probably Lees rea
guard, WAS driven through the town.
The cavalry has done excellent service.
Tue several commands have made arduou
marches and 1cconnoiseanccs, and completed
ioiled Stuart in a1l hts attempts to raid Oh on
tanks and rear. Mosby's small but enereetI
band has alone given us trouble, principal
! hy cutting off forging parties aud messer
| gers.
A cavalry private reports on Friday, as
division Of our cavalsy was zeconnoiteriug
the vicinity of Aminsville, alarge column {
rebel infantry was seen advancing in .that d
rection, and our cavalry rms compelled to ii
back. This force Is supposed to be Lon@
streets corps. Upto Saturday night, howe1
CT, this report bad not been confirmed.
It is Impossible to conceive the povezt
of the country through which the arm
passed. With the exception Of Loudo
, county there is nothing to harvest except
few acres Of wheat and corn, and this must
done by manual labor, as the country h:
been entirely stripped Of stock.
The road is now In running order to Wa
rentou. Our supplies, which have been near
exhausted, are flowing into the army, aud Il
! mails, which hare been entirely suspende
since the army crossed the Potomac, are an
!. lously awaited. Though the army has hi
| fatiguing marches and consequent priv
, tons, It rould be a mistake to suppose tn
= It Is to settle down in id1eness.
! The messenger who brought to Washln
ton The ADORE Intelligence, reports that