Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-03-25

on Yesterday morning, that an action on the line of
the Rappahannock would Immediately take place, has
been rapidly confirmed by the event. battle was
fought between the Confederate and Federal forces
in Culpcpper, twenty miles above Falmouth, on
Yesterday morning. "A division of the enemy
crossed the river badly beaten, and retreated.
our cavalry pursuing This sentence probably
contains all he authentic information on the subject
vet available The rumors from the scene, which
is many miles distant FROM Fredericksburg, are con-
fused Major General j. A. B. Stuart's dispatch
es, though elhipently cheerful, do not cl.ar the
doubts which may, with reason, he entertained as
to the extent and importance of the action He
speaks of it as great affair; but when he comes
to numbers, he mentions only "three thousand
men in the saddle" on the ;enemy's side Two
views of the matter may be taken at present; lst
That Hooker had commenced his anticipated ma
nceuvre, of throwing large army on the southern
side of the river attack the falkland rear Of Gen.
Lee, while the rest of his forces engaged him on
the old field behind fredericksburg that the troops
who crossed yesterday were the head of great
column, but were so badly cut. up that the whole
movement has been rendered abortive; ID. That
the enemy corps crossing Kelly's ford. were only
a heavy body of cavalry thrown over to make re-
connoisance in force to ascertain the state of the
Confederate dcfences on that part of the line the
number and character of the troops in the nei abor
hood; that they were attacked by the Confederate
horse before they had the opportunity to obtain
much information and compelled into hasty and
disastrous retreat With the lights now before US,
J this last conclusion would seem most agreeable to
the facts. The action Of yesterday was the result
! Of an attempt by the cdeny to reconnoitre the
ground over which they propose to move into de-
cisive battle WITHIN few days Had they not been
splendidly rcpulsed, Averill's division would have
established itself on the south bank and been quick
" supported IN the position by large masses of
other troops. Nor does fQllow, because they were
driven home with loss that the effort of the enemy
will not he speedily made in the same direction.
The next intelligence may be that the real passage
has been made a. Key's ford by $4,000 infantry
and artillery-which could be we'll spared from the
'front.' if what we hear of Hooker's numbers be
| nearly true. .
But whatever the contingencies of the future, it
is quite certain that the Tohfederates were victo
rious in the affair Of yesterday. The stakes are
pitched; the ring is made; time is called, Dixie
has drawn the first blood and and dealt the hulkng
adversary a. stunning knock down. But ne cannot
recoil far The hour of representation has been
exhausted by Hooker. Willing or unwilling, he
must return to tho scratch forthwith, or leave the
| Northern Neck for another base. Upless heavy
I'LL OF rain occurs we shall shortly hear the news
Of certain transactions on'the Rappabannock which
will be men orable in history.
Nor will these.events be all to mark the fdes Of
| March. Now or never must the long prepared as
S .ult Of Charleston ks .made., This is the nine
tcenth day Of the incGth-now are the high spring
tides The eneu.y bave now all tie mca.us and ad.
vantages Tor the attack on Charleston which they
can nave witti1Ihe next half year.. The Kortbe:.,
press is very explicit ia4he declaration-wb;ch we
see no good reason to donbt-that the late affair .,
Fort Moi llEter WAS not intended as serious At
tempt to take Savannah, but was rather I'm e1peri
ais1tuns crpcis to ;iertan the power Of their new
iroaclads 10 resist cannon shot Had they sepposet
it possible t. free ,he chanpel and seize Savannah
they would ha, Ae~:'ca r in full force, where's!
they appeared lar.e Ms-Allister with fourronclads
1t is pretended at the result Of the encounter wa
all that the erea,y had hoped the ironclads being
struck more Ian hundred times without damage
and has sati ;ied the commander Of the expedition
that the alta 81, Charleston may be safely under
hksa-Rss1 eseaN Esaninsr.