Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-09
The Latest News.

The Latest News.
The Examiner Of Wednesday contains dispatch
from Gen. Lee, dated December lst addressed to
the war department, in which he says "the enemy
opened their batteries on urlines yesterday. Some
skirmishing tpok place, but no astack " fhs r.
Nfhis il the latest authentic intelligence from the
army but all reports concur in representing that
no battle took place yesterday. No firing has been
heard at Hamilton's Crossing or Gordonsville at
eleven o'clock, A. NJ, yesterday, when the trains
for Richmond left those points An impression is
becoming general that Meade does not intend to
fight if he can help it, and that he crossed the
Rapid Ann for the two fold purpose Of occupying
Lees attention and preventing him from lending
help to Bragg, and Of falling back upon Fredericks-
designs L
The Dispatch of Wednesday says:
Passengers by the Fredericksburg train yssser:
day afternoon report that hesvy cannonading was
heard at Hamiltons crossing when the train icft,
but we have nothing to confirm the belief thae any
serious engagement took place. -.
The Central train yesterday afternoon oroognt
ono hundred and ten prisoners captured IN the en-
a.gament Of Er.asy 1sst The more intelligent OF
visoners express the oelief that 1t is the inten-
ton of Meade to wiutor in The vicinity of Freler-
icksburg. They say that his army numbers about
$4,000 effective men,"
We arc still without particulars from Confederate
sources of the battles near Chattanooga. A dis
patch from Atlanta, dated November 2S.h, states
that "the train this evening came from Dalton,
bringing The sick ard wounded. Our forces are still
falling back, sternly followed by the enemy, and
firing was going on all day yesterday" The fed
erals were at Iuggold fifteen miles south of Chat
tanooga, fortfying.
The pursuing column of the enemy consisted Of
ten thousand mounted infantry. The people along
the road were returning with the Confederate army.
Nearly every inhabi,ant had left Ringgold. The
Confederate army was in position at Dalton on the
90th Dalton is about 25 miles below Chattanooga.
The rains were heavy, and the roads were very bsd
TWAS very cold, and the soldiers were suffering for
shoes and blankets.
There seems to be no doubt that Gen. Bragg has
been disastrously defeated :
Fears are enverrzrnen Tor Gen. Longstreees s~fs-
ty Three thousand of the enemy were advancing
towards Knoxville from Cleveland.
1t is reported that Gen. Bragg has been relieved
Of his conmand.> The Richmond Examiner says
"A report was circulated yesterday which gave
universal satisfaction, to the effect that General
Bragg had been relieved and General Joseph E
Johnston put in command of the late army of Ten
nessee. We regre: to say that We believe this re
port was only partially correct.
The facts on the subject VIC believe are these
General Bragg vas, at his own request relieved from
command on Monday morning, and the command
rendered to Lieutenant General IIardee. Genera
Hardee, with modesty which does him infinite
credit declined the responsible position, but remains
ncommandluntil another appointment shall be made
Who will be appointed to the responsible and peri
lous position Is net yet known but it is general,
believed that Johnston, Polk or Beauregard will b
the man." -. es