East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1863-09-09
From the Army of the Potomac.
Correspondence of the New York Times.
ARMY OF TnE PoroMAc, Sept. /,

ARMY OF THE PoToMAc, Sept. l.
The present position Of the rebel
army under Gen. Lee is matter of
more or less uncertainty among all,
except perhaps among those who make
it their especial business to know. l
have been making and comparing
notes for few days, but aside from
what is really contraband, cannot
throw great deal of light upon the
subject. Deserters continue 10 arrive
by squads, but it requires considerable
method to connect their stories SO as
to arrive at anything certain. This
much, however, may be pretty conf
IDENTITY relied upon, viz:
Gen. Lee, at present, is in Rich
mond His army is occupying very
wide region of country, being scatter
ed from the line of the Blue Ridge on
the west, to Port Royal, Rappahan-
mock River, on the oast--and south as
far as the Virginia Central Railroad.
The purpose of thus scattering their
army is undoubtedly to facilitate the
matter of susisting it. 1t thus occu-
pies the heart of Virginia, and at this
season of the year, with what help
the railroads give, it can live very well.
Indeed, the Richmond papers lately
announced that Lees army was "lux-
uriating upon the fruits of the season."
Ewcll has the left of the line, A. u.
Hill the centre, lying more directly on
the railroad from Culpepper to Orange
court house, while Longstreet holds
the extreme right, occupying the line
of the Richmond and fredericksburg
railroad. His three divisions are dis
tributed as follows: Pickett's on the
Culpepper plank road ten miles west
of fredericksburg; Hooks between
Gurney's Station and Fredericksburg,
with one brigade thrown across the
river at Port Royal, to Port Conway,
on this side, for the purpose of cover
ing the conscripting, surveying, and
impressing operations on the Neck,
assisted by one regiment of cavalry,
which pickets up toward Belle Plain.
McLaws' division is between Spottsyl-
vania Court House and Frsderickshall
Station on the Central Railroad, hav-
ing moved TO that point, a few days
ago, from its former position ON Rae
coon Ford, on the Rapidan.
There is one brigade of troops in
neutrality-suspicious., from Rich
mond, belongingto no particular corps,
and never having fought any battles.
They are mostly North Carolina troops.
Fitzhugh Lees cavalry brigade is also
near fredericksburg, and pickets
Banks and United States Fords on the
Rappahannock.
Jones' brigade of cavalry is said to
have gone back into the Shenandoah
Valley; and Robinson's brigade to
Richmond. Stuart is still in chief
command, not yet having been relev-
ed, though he is growing more and
more unpopular. Wade Hampton is
looked upon as his successor, but he
is not yet recovered from the severe
wounds he received in Pennsylvania.
Guerrillas come up i'll our rear, from
I below, and are sometimes rebel sol
diers, simply seeking plumber, some
times rebel descrters, forcing living
in that way, and sometimes citizens
themselves, seeking whom they may
devour. But in no ease are they au-
thorized bodies of the enemy, acting
under any authority, nor are they en-
titled to the least considerations OF hui
mainly or mercy.