Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1863-10-23
he may be moving into position to await
reinforcements for such a purpose.

Inc frcsluent mas Issued prOcialnatioh
calling for 300, 900 more volunteers for three
years, the number raised by each State to be
credited on its quota for subsequent draft.
Lees army has disappeared where it has
gone to nobody knows. On Saturday there
was artillery firing for a few minutes, on the
right, and a report reached headquarters that
the enemy were in force at and around Man
assas junction. Some of our troops Immedi-
ately prepared to advance, probably to re-
connoiter, but the heavy rain prevented any
active operations Our cavalry scouts fail
ed to find any considerable bsdy of the enc
my, and our signal men, owing to the fog
and haze, saw indications of only one large
camp at Bristow Station. 1t is believed the
enemy having during the previous day recon-
noitered our position and finding our lines
lmpregnable, retired rearward, and fearing a
rise in the Rappahannock would interfere
with their base of supplies have expedited
their movements toward that line. Our
troops are equally well posted for an advance
or defence. The enemy's forced marches and
the scarcity of supplies render it impossible
to actually advance or retreat If they at
tack us their defeat is considerable beyond
| doubt.
On Sunday rumors were very plenty that
| the rebel army had crossed the Potomac and
was marching upon Washington. The fire.
quency of such rumOrs has caused them to
be disbelieyed, but there is every reason TO
believe that Lee with an augmented force is
moving in that direction and will cross the
river to attack Washington on the north side,
if not prevented. Gen. Meade is mass
| ing his forces in that direction, and battle
may be expected within twenty-four hours,
| but no apprehensions are entertained as TO
| the result.
The sudden movement of our army has
shut in number of guerrillas between it
and the defenses. Steps are being taken 10
insure their capture.
A special dispatch to the Evening Post
says: The enemy has disappeared from our
front, and his cavalry is upon the Upper Po-
tomac. Rumors prevail that the rebels are
crossing into Maryland, but they are specula-
tons merely. No facts are known which
warrant the belief that Gen. Lee proposes an
invasion Maryland, as some have supposed.
Information from the Army of the Poto-
mac was received Sunday night to the effect
that reports came in from our cavalry Satur-
day evening that the enemy had masseI a
force at Manassas. There were vague re-
ports that the enemy was Strengthened for
supplies, and having signally failed to secure
them from Gen. Meade, has again turned his
attention and face towards the Lower She
nandoah valley, and to our posts on the Bal
timore and Ohio railroad. Rebel infantry
pickets made their appearance Saturday
in the vicinity of Chantilly, which indicates
the presence of a heavy rebel force IN that
vicinity, but Gen. Sedgwick drove them back
to Frying Pan from his front.
Later information up to noon Sunday says
our cavalry reconnaissance went out as far
as one mile from Bristow and found nothing
but few rebel cavalry scouts.
Rumors continue to multiply to the effect
that a rebel column was moving towards
Point of Rocks or Harper's Ferry. But
after careful inquiry by private parties no
information has been obtained to confirm
those reports.
Gen. Sullivan reports that his cavalry
scout from Martnsburg, Friday, encountered
a detachment Of Gillmore's rebef cavalry and
captured the whole force, thirty-nine in num-
Der, with horses, equipments, &c.
1t would seem that general engagement
is considered probable, from the tact that
army surgeons have received orders 10 hold
themselves in readiness to proceed to the
Army of the Potomac.
Report says Gen. Meades army is within
the defences of Washington. There has been
no battle. The position of Lees army is IN
ascertained, OF at least not known at Wash
ington. 1t appears certain, however, that
Lee has not crossed the Potomac.
4 letter from Martinsburg to the Balti-
more American states that whole company
surprised and captured on the 18th by Col.
Pierce. The guerrillas were en- route to cut
the Baltimore 4 Ohio Railroad by burning
bridges, &c.
John NJ. Bolts, it is already known has
been taken a second time to Richmond by
the rebels. He was arrested Immediately on
our falling back to this side OF the Rappahan-
mock, on the charge of having violated his
parole and having invited federal officers to
lis house, the proof resting on certain indIs
Greet newspaper letters soon after our arrival
at Culpepper, and also the finding on bic
premises Of musket and equipments aban-
doned by one of our soldiers. Two of his
daughters voluntarily accompanied him to
Richmond.
A Leayenworth letter to the n. Y. Times
contains details of the late attack on Gen.
Blunt's escort. 1t appears the escort disgrace
fully fed and the rufhans murdered the prison
ers they took after they were captured, burn
ing some of their bodies with the captured
wagons. Among those thus murdered was 1t.
Farr, formerly law partner with Gen. But
Ter.
Three men, formerly of the Memphis pc
lice, were engaged in the n,cent burning o
steamboats, on the Mississippi river. They
had a list of all the boats on the river, with
price to be paid for the destruction of each
They are now in irons in Irving prison, and
will be tried by military commission.
Four companies of the ID Iowa Cavalry
were surrounded in the town of fernando,
Miss, on Saturday night, and captured.
Accounts from the army of the Potomac
say there are no tidings of Lees where
abouts, as he has recently materially changed
his position. Such dispositions have been
made of our own army as will meet all con-
tingencies. There is no truth in the report
that Gen. Meade's army is within the de-
lenses of Washington.
Heavy firing of artillery was heard for an
hour or two yesterday 4 NJ. in the direction /
of Manassas.
A suffers train was attacked yesterday, /
this side of Fairfax Court House, by guerril- 1
las, who were driven off by the cavalry es-
cort. The latter had an officer captured and /
one man killed.
Gen. Rosecrans sends dispatch dated
Chattanooga Friday, giving Brig Gen. Geo.
Cooks account of operations in Alabama, as
follows, dated Rogersville, Ala, Oct 10th
81 have the honor to inform you that | have
had three fights with the enemy since | left
the SequatchIe Valley, whipping him very
badly each time. The. last battle ended at
Pennington, Tenn, when fought Wheeler's
entire command with only two brigades. |
cut his force in two, scattering large por-
ton of it, capturing four pieces of artillery,
one thousand stand of cavalry arms and two
hundred and fifty prisoners including those
wounded.
As pushed on after the enemy inmedi-
ately, have been unable to ascertain the