Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-11-30
THE ARMY IN VIRGINIA
GEN. MEADE ATTACKS LEE.
The Rebels Obstinate: but are Forced
Back with a Loss of900 Prisoners.



turnpike near Robertson's tavern, the left adj
yanced along the plank road, forming curve
towards Gordonsvile, and the right terminal
ing uear the Rapidan, southwest of Jacobs
ford. As the center advancedit came upon
the enemys pickets and skirmish line. Sub
sequently the enemy's line was strengthened
by the arrival of reintOrcements from Ewell's
corps on the Rapidan front.
About one O'clock slow and irregular can
nonading commenced on the roads leading
towards Orange Court House, and considera-
bic firing between the skrmiShers. The enc
my did not reply with artillery. AT four
O'Clock it was announced that Hills corps,
which had previously rested on the Rapidan
west of the railroad, was approaching on the
center, and halt an hour later heavy musket-
ry was heard on the right, showing that the
third corps, forming that wing, was engaging
the enemy.
Upto o'clock on the evening of Friday,
our casualties were few. On the center the
only officer of rank at that time known to be
killed, is Lieut.. Col Hesser, I'D Penn.
The battle ground is in the wilderness, but
with little open country, consequently an ac~
curate description of our position cannot be
given; but it will be perceived we have the
enemy'S fortified position on the heights skirt.
ing the Rapidan on their right, and compel
them to give battle, if they intend to fight,
upon ground less unfavorabe to us.
jeff Davis owing to the untavorable wealth
er of Wednesday, did not review the rebel
army as he intended, and is said by prisoners
to have returned to Richmond on Thursday.
Gregg's cavalry and batteries had severe
fight with the enemys right wing cavalry on
Thursday afternoon. We drove them back
upon their infantry lines whrn we were COM
nallp1 IN fal huply tIIs j. said ~ hp tNUn
hundred and fifty in killed ana in wounded.
The 9th corps coming up the enemy in turn
was compelled to retreat.
About sixty were killed in the ID corps
five killed and seven MORALLY wounded On
the right Gen. French, with the Sd corps,
when advancing, encountered Ewelrs corps
before he connected with the centre, and al
ter a severe fight he held his position but lost
| heavily. He however captured 900 rebels.
| The 9Th corps was then thrown forward and
| filed the gap between the centre and right
The train of the 9TH corps, advancing on
the plank road was attacked on the flank by
rebel cavalry, who destroyed fifteen or twenty
wagons, killing two men and several mules.
| On Friday evening it was found that the
rebels had fallen back from our centre to two
miles nearer Orange Court House. This in
telligencc was brought to Washington by a
special messenger, who was nearly captured
| by guerrias.
The additional information which has also
come tohand to-nght through another source,
| says the line was formed ON Friday about
noon on the roads leading to Orange Court
House.
Warren's second corps on the turnpike
drove the rebel skirnlshers beyond Robert
sons tavern, and formed the center.
On the right Gen. Princes division, con-
sisting of the Sd corps, met heavy body of
Ewel'S corps, and fought them several
hours, until the remainder OF the corps came
up, and later the 9th corps.
The Sd corps, particularly, Gen. Princess
| lost heavily, which is estimated at 500 killed
@ 8aqa wounded and many prisoners, but Sc,
wounded, and took, as Gen. French reports,
800 prisoners.
Our forces on the center had no severe
| fighting, and consequently our loss there was
small excepting in General Gregg's division.
On Saturday morning it was discovered that
the enemys center had fallen back. Their
| skirmish lines are in the woods some mile and
halt nearer Orange Court House. The
heavy rain, it was thought, would hinder any
heavy offensive opportunities.
On Saturday it was reported that General
kilpatrick'S cavalry division, under General
Custer, endeayOred to cross under the enc
myS batteries at Raccoon ford, on Friday,
but was driven back. Heavy guns were
heard there all the afternoon, tending to con-
firm the truth of the report.
The enemy used no artillery on our front
on Friday, and we but very little, owing to
the densey wooded and nearly level charac-
ter of the ground 1t is known there was
very heavy diminishing on the turnpike at
nine O'Clock Saturday morning, but no partic-
MARS have bpan rppavn1
preliminary to general engagement.
CBy Telegraph SATURDAY. Nightl
NEW YORK, Nov, IS Herald specials.
RAPPAHANNOCK STATION, Nov. 2S, p. NJ
The progress made by Gen Meade is highly
encouraging and successful. A new basis of
supplies will be established in a very few days
from which the army will operate with most
damaging effect to the contederacy. We are
having heavy and disagreeable rain.
RAPPAHANNoCK STATION, Nov. %, 7 P. NJ.
The army Of the Potomac has finally severed
its line Of communication with Washington,
and nothing has come through from it since
yesterday morning. II there had been a gem
erai engagement yesterday the wounded would
have been sent to the rear, and conveyed to
Washington by the railroad from this point.
As no wounded men have been sent here it is
ctain that no battle has been fought.
The heavy cannonadiDg of yesterday was
probably of no greater importance than ar
tillery firing frequently is, which makes a
great deal of noise, but does little execution
This morning cannonading was heard fainter
th,.n that of yesterday, but during the day it
has been perfectly quiet. The rain ceased
before dark, and it is probable that the guam.
tity which fell to-day will not interfere with
the movements Of the army except for a few
hours.
In emancipating itself from Washington, |
the army of the Potomac is in position to |
operate most diSaStrOusly against the rebels.
Should it also emaneipate the Union prison.
ers now enduring ages of misery in single |
month ut Richmond, it will accomplish one of !
the greatest achievements performed by any |
army during the war.
The train this evening will take down nine
guerrias captured between Catett's station
and Fairfax court house last night. Four of |
them were captured in one house, and were
all in one bed One of them had three thou
sand dollars in green-backs in his pocket.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 2S.-No intelli gence re-
speeding the army of the Potomac has been
received to-day at army headquarters up to
two o'clock this afternoon. The Star says
that yesterday morning our cavalry pushed
forward as far as Locust Grove, where they
met the advance of the rebel cavalry, and the
latter were driven across Russell creek or
river, and afterwards across Mill Run. A
body OF rebel infantry was posted between
that point and ORANGE COurt House and tho