, 1863-01-24
FROM BuRNSIDE'S ARMY.
& Movement Not Yet
Begun.
WEATHER MATTERS AND
HINDRANCES.
A BATCH OF CoNTRADlC.
TORY RUM0RS.


Senators Latham and Nesmith have returned |
from Bu1nslde's army, disappointed In the cx-
pectation of seeing battle. None looked |
for ut present. The storm and the pontoon
delay being decisive against it.
HEADQUARTERS ARMY o. THE PcTsosaAc,{
The tcmpcstuous weather since Tuesday
last, and the consequent impassible state Of
the roads, has rendered any advance Of the
army, beyond the Rappahannock, q matter Of
utter impo5sibi1ity.
The came causes so delayed the transporta-
ton of the pontoons and the heavy artillery
to the designated points RS to prevent . sur
prise Of the enemy at the points deslgnatedto
crcss. This afternoon the clouds broke away
and the sun came ont.
PHILADELPHIA, Jan. pa Washington dis
patch to the Press, dated yesterday, ays-thc
authorities are painfully reticent as to the
movements Of the army Of the Potomac, but
from arrivals in the city there is no doubt that
movement il being actually made, and that
a fight or foot-rice may bc Immediately cx-
pccicd. Unfortunately, it has been raining
very hard for the last twenty hours, and If the
storm las extended Us fir south as the Kappa
hammock, our troops will have great difficulty
in marching. No one need be afraid that the
river, if it rises, will interfere with the pom
toons. They arc firmly fastened and in no
danger Of being swept away, as they can be
taken up in few hours.
NEW YoRK, Jan. 2S.-A letter to the New
York Times, dated, Headquarters Of the Army
Of the Potomac, Tuesday evening, Jan. Goth,
says: The right and left wings Of the army arc
in motion. We shall cndcavor to cross the
river abont ten miles above Falmouth. All
operations below arc mere feints to deceive
the enemy. One corps Of infantry is to pro-
coed down the river and feign crossing at sew
eral points. A real crossing will be made be-.
low. Should certaIn emergency arise, Maj.
spalding and Maj. Magruder arc to construct
pontoons aboYe. The 18th New York Engi-
ncers and regulars are also to throw over sey-
eral bridges. One train Of pontoons is to be
held in resolve, directly opposite Fredericks-
burg.
On Saturday evening company Of the 18th
New York Engineers were busily employed
in throwing up artillery Entertainments about
ten miles below here.
The great victory Of the West has had IN
exhilarating effect upon the army. The SOL
die.s are hopeful. =
Tic 1Forld's letter Of the Goth, says:
Hooker and Franklin moved to-day at one
O'Clock, marching in heavy order, with tents,
knapsacks, blankets, &c. They took the road
towards HARDWOOD Church, which is directly
northeast Of the United States ford. Sigcl
moved at four o'clock in the afternoon in the
same direction. They are biyouacked about
eight miles out tonight. Sumner will prob.
ably move IN the morning in the ssnc dircc'
ton.
The New York Z, ;bnae's letter confirms the
above and adds:
We arc impaticntly and anSious1y waiting
| for the arrival of the pontoons. It was ths
| original intention that Hooker's grand diviso1
should hare crossed several miles above, n
the United States ford. VIC believe the pla1
| has been changed, and both Hooker ans
| Franklin are to throw their grand division
| across the river at Plank's ford. "A brigade Q
inGantry, in command Of the rebel Gen. VII
COX, is guarding the passage Of the river
Their forces nc shall encounter upon the frs
effort at crossing.
The exciting and hazardous effort Of build
| inc bridges will be assisted by the crossing c
lorrc number Of men in boats, the plan
which proved SO successful at fredericksburg
It Is understood that train Of forty boats file
with armed men and rowed over by brldg
builders, will clear the rebel rife-pits OIL tt
opposite bank, and render rapid constru
tion Of bridges certain.
SINCE writing the above it learned til
the head Of the bridge train las arrived
within half a mile Of the river. Should 70
tune smile flyorah1y upon our unaertasir
tic next twelve hours, We hope to have drive
the enemy before us and have gained the re-
of Fredericksburg. Then it is expected tn
Summers grand division will cross the Ra
nahannock near Falmouth. Then will folio
| the building Of the railroad bridge across t
| Raprahannock. The timbcrs arc all read
every beam and plank, and they will be throw
| together with the greatest raridity, and col
, 1nun;cation be established By rail with O
supplies.
Il a dispatch to the No;7d says: Althou!
5 thc usual rumors hare prevailed here for sc
e etal days, there is no reliable information
show that there has been any engagement
c Rappal.aunock. One Of the seyerest stor1
$ which has visited this section for mont
t would have prevented any general engal
mcnt yesterday, while passengers from
d army, tonight. fully confirm, these inferenc
l. Up to the time they left, the storm daoa1
# but little. In addition to all this, there
&c good assurances that when anything tai
place It will he allowed to be made public
Telegraph. Certainly no battle has been fon'
ret