The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-11-27
FROM THE SOUTH.
BLOW ON GEN. LEE.
SITUATION IN TENNESSEE.
VISIT TO GENERAL LEES ARMY.

VISIT TO GENERAL LEES ARMY.
THE "TERRIBLE BLOW" INFLICTED ON GEN.
LEE.
From the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. 10.
Military movements are again in great
activity. In Northern Virginia, Meade
has already signalized his advance with
wonderful energy, and has inflicted ter
rible blow upon the army of Gen. Lee, in
Western Virginia, the disaster to General
Echol's command shows the enemy active,
bold, and enterprising. The Confederate
General defeated, is retiring, says the
the Lynchburg Republican, on Salem, and
apprehensions are entertained for the
safety of the railroad. In North Carroll
ma the enemy have landed Gin large
force" at Winton, and are threatening
the Southern line of railroad at Weldon or
some other point. On the Peninsula the
enemy have been reported as landing in
large numbers at Newport News. Thus
all around Richmond the enemy are
threatening active operations before the
Winter has blockaded the roads.
Meade has returned from his late re-
treat by no means cowed or evincing any
unwillingness to meet Gen. Lee; indeed,
his activity and boldness. when compared
with the negligence of somebody in the
army of Northern Virginia, shows in
striking contrast. He has captured two
brigades and is reported as still advancing.
Gen. Lees army is said to be ready and
willing to trust the fortunes Of battle, and
we hope it may promptly and etfectually
punish the boldness which has seized and
carried off two of our brigades. Whether
Gen. Lee intends giving battle at the
forks of the Rappahannock or falling back
to the old line on the Rapidan, we have
no means Of knowing but should not be
surprised or disappointed if he declined
battle north of the Rapidan and retires to
the position from which his late advance
was made.
From the Richmond Enquirer 9th.
Sunday, at all times fertile in rumors,
was particularly so on yesterday. But
we fear that the rumors of yesterday are
too true, and, unfortunately, too disgrace
fully true. 1t was reported that General
Echols had been disastrously defeated near
Lewisburgh, Va. But more than defeat
"a shameful, unmitigated disgrace was
permitted to befall our arms in the boosted
army of Northern Virginia. Two whole
brigades of the army of Northern Virginia
were captured on Saturday. We learned
this not as rumor, but as fact, from such
source that we cannot question its accu-
racy. We could not learn whose brigades
they were, not even whether they were
cavalry or infantry. But it matters not
who tue brigades are, not whether their
commands are infantry or cavalry-the
honor of the army, the interest of the
cause, the safety of the country all unite
to demand their dismissal from the army
upon which their negligence has brought
such irreparable disgrace.
From the Richmond Examiner, 9th.
Official information was received by the
War Department yesterday, that two brig
AIDES of Lees army were, on Saturday,
captured by sudden and unexpected ad
vance of Meade The dispatch bringing
this intelligence give none of the particu-
lars of the disaster but it was believed
in official circles that our loss would fall
little short of five thousand. Governor
Letcher and others, however, who arrived
here last night, direct from the army, give
not SO sad an account OF the affair. Their
report is that on Sunday, about noon,
Hokes and Hayes brigades, being on
picket, were attacked by about twenty
five thousand of the enemy, and after one
of the most desperate fights on record,
part of which was hand-to-hand, our men
were surrounded, and all of them, except
some six hundred of Hayes brigade, killed
or taken prisoners.
The number of our men taken prisoners
is variously stated at from fifteen hundred
to three thousand. The latter figure is
probably nearest the truth. We also lost
four pieces of artillery.
The fight is reported to have occurred
at or near Kelly's Ford on the Rappahan-
mock.
Hays brigade is composed of Louisi-
anians, Hoke's of North Carolinians.
1t is believed that Gen. Lee expected
Meade to advance upon him, yet he was
not prepared for so early and vigorous an
attack. He knew Meade had received
peremptory orders to advance and to give
him battle wherever he found him. but
thought it would take the Yankee several
days longer to bring his army to the Rap
pahannOek. It would now appear that
Meade can advance as quickly as be re-
treats.
THE SITUATION IN TENNESSEE.
Our latest dates from Atlanta by mail
include Thursday last, November 9Th.
The InteHigencer thinks the situation in
Tennessee is daily growing more interest
ing. Our forces under Gen. Stephenson
have got possession of Loudon, which
places them within twenty Eight miles of
Knoxville. The enemy, it is said, have
fallen back to that point, leaving all
that portion of East Tennessee from Lou
don to Knoxville open to our army Gen.
Stephenson labors under one great disad
vantage, and that is the want of bridges
across the river at LoudOn. Whether he
is building pontoOns or not the hteligencer
had not learned, but, should he be even
preparing to cross by that means, he could
not get ready for several days.
The Inte4igencer publishes the late spe-
cial kilograms from the front which show
that Notwithstanding the advantage gain,
ed by the enemy in the occupation of Rae
coon Mountain, he is unable to transport
sufficient provisions from the army in
OhattanOOpA and thov o,o 1e