The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1863-10-17
BURLINGTON WEEKLY HAWK-EYE.

the time, position with the centre resting
on the Orange IL Alexandria Railroad at
Catlett's Station. Falling back to this
point has been for some time talked about,
ifnot determined at Headquarters.
The recent engagement on the Rapidan,
in which the Sth n. Y. cavalry was so bad
ly cut up, and large portion of the I23d
n. Y. infantry taken prisoners, illustrates
the inexpediency of so heightened front
as the line of the RapidaE obliged the army
to maintain. Catietts Station is some dis
lance this,side of Warrenton Junction, near
which Gen. Meade had his headquarters
previous to the late advance to Culpepper.
Special to Times.
Rumors tonight in Washington are thick.
Among other improbable stories is one that
the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad was cut by
rebels at Martinsburg. The following des-
patch received at this Bureau, this evening,
from w. II. Smith, master of transporta-
fion on the B. & o. r. r, ettectually stran :
giles at least one fthe many absurd reports
now in Observation-Disclosures is no founda-
ton for the report that our line has been
cut nor has there been any reason to be-
lieve it will be. All our trains both passen-
ger and freight are running regular"
There are over 5000 vacant beds IN the
Hospitals here. Three hundred and sew
enty-five wounded, from the front, arrived
here tonight. They were wounded in va
rious skirmishes on our front.
The Confederate War Department has
made two new and independent Depart
ments i'll North Carolina. Wilmington
and region of Cape Fear has been assigned
to the command of Gen. W. 81. c. Whitney,
while the balance is under charge of Maj
Gen. Z. Picket.
Gen, Heintzelman has been relieved and
Gen. Anger temporarily assigned to COM
mand of the defences of Washington.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1.-THE correspond
ent of the New York Commercial says: The
moment the rebels saw that in the retreat
from the Rapidan, of our army on Satur-
day last, it was Gen. Meade's intention to
reach the north bank of the Rappahannock
in safety, they. commenced a rapid march
to turn our right flank, but Gen. Meade
was too soon for them, and had taken up
his position on the north bank of that
| stream. Nothing daunted, however, by
| this failure, the enemy has continued to
advance even to the north bank of the Rap
| pahannock, and yesterday was in General
Meade's front in considerable force. 1t is
reported that skirmishing was kept up all
day, and that our army fell back on the
line of the railroad. It is said, this morn
ing, that Lee appeared in force again, and
| commenced an attack. Washington is
seething with excitement over the rumors.
| 1t is fully believed that a battle has COM
menced, and that Gen. Meade retreated to
obtain the choice of battle field, desiring
to reach Manassas, if possible. Lee will
have to fight with the Rappahannock be-
hind him, and has not, it is believed, supe-
rior numbers-yet, no one would be sur
prised to hear, on the heals of such belief,
| that the rebels had been suddenly reinforce
ed. Of course, all sorts of rumors are
atloat Gen. Meade is much stronger than
is generally supposed.
STEVENSON, Ala, Oct 15.-The Times
special says the situation continues unin-
teresting. Heavy rains haye raised the
Tennessee river. The rebel Wheeler cross
ed the Tennessee at Muscle Shoals, closely
pursued to the river by our troops. He
was driven from Huntsville by brigade
of our cavalry.
Refugees who come into our lines report
Bragg making back, apparently because OF
has been living, though this is not good au-
| thority, there is some reason to believe that
the enemy is on the move.