Washington telegraph., 1863-12-02

FROM THE PoToNAc.-For some time mast
we have had little of interest to present our
| readers from this great theatre of action
| After Meade had been driven to his lines
around Washington last month"; Lees army wa 9
recalled, it is understood, by order of Presi-
Gent Davis, and retired back towards the old
lines of defence on the Rapidan and Potomac
1t seems that Meade received imperative or
ders thereupon, from President Lincoln to adj
vance again and bring on an action was
supposed that Lees advance upon W sshin gton
was mere feint to cover the dminution of
bis forces for the purpose of reinfc rcng Gen.
Bragg, and that his weakened army might offer
an easy victory. What will be the faal result
OF this remains to be seen.
we have Northern accounts as late as the
9Th inst, which We condense for our readers
Ihey seem unfavorable to US somewhat; but
taken at the worst, amount to nothing of vital
Importance, an' must be received as almost
certainly exaggerated in favor of the enemy
they are as follows:-A Washington despatch
OF the th represented the news to be that the
whole army of Lee had Withdrawn from be-
tween the Rappahannock and the Rapidan,
ana that no engagement seemed probab able
Later dispatches however state, that on the
morning of the 7th inst the right wing of their
army, under command of Gen. Sedgwick.
moved upon Rappahannock station At this
point the heights were occupied on the north
side by Early's division aud Ewelps corps of
lees army, fortified in redCubts Their ac-
counts represent that they attacked vita ar
tillery, and kept up the shelling until nearly
sunset, at which time Gen. Russell, at tle
head Of his brigade, charged the earthworks
With fixed bayonets. A short hand to hand
light occurred, when our men turned to fy to
the pontoons, lying directly in their rear.
These, however, reported to have been
seized by the cutfinp off all
cept to those who swan the river. The same
account states that at that time Lee was sup
posed to be at Cul Iepper, Ewell at Brandy
station, and Hill between Culpepper and Ce-
dar Mountain. Next day the felerals crossed
the Htpplhannock. Gen. kirkpatrick, they
say, followed cur retreating army and cap
tured 50J additional prisoners The sane
day (7th) division of the 81 army CO ps un-
der Gen Prince, crossed at Kelly's Ford, wai-
ing it waist deep, and captured %, prisoners
of the 2d anu 3sth North Ca'oina regiments
Another account says that the force captured
at R1ppahannock Station was a Louisiana
brigade un er Brighten. Hays, sent over
from Ewe'rs division to guard the ford. Tney
were taken by surprise, and forced to surrcn-
der. The whole number of prisoners they
claim Is TIVE thousand, 1900 of whom were
. taken at the station.
These atfIirs, manifestly trivial according
to their own accounts, are heralded through
the \ Northern papers in capitals as victory
on the Potomac We feel confident that when
our accounts come in they will dwinde into
still greater insignfcance Lees army they
represent as being la the vicinity of Culpepper
and II general engagement does not seem prob
able. Meade does not seem to have advanced
4 beyond the Rappahannock, although they
claim to hold Fredericksburg We prefer to
have them good deal elated before Lee
catches them on his own ground.
Since writing the above, We have received
| through the courtesy of Gen. Marmaduke, a
| he OF papers from beyond the river, of dates
as late as the llth. We do not find the first
account Of the affiir the Rlppthannock,
but a Richmond dispatch of the 10th says our
loss at the late battle of Kelly's Ford (no doubt
allujing to the same described as the battie at
Rappahannock station) in which two brigides
were engaged with $1,000 Yankees, has been
greatly exaggerated. The killed aud wounded
will not exceed 800 The loss prisoners is
from six to eight hundred. including Colonel
Penn of the Louisiana regiment The Yankee
loss is heavy. including several prominent Off
GERS.
It will be seen in another place that we have
about got even in East Tennessee.