Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1863-10-31
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
CENTREyiILE, Oct. II,

CENTREvIlLE, Oct. II, TO.
Ed. TELEGRAru--D Dear Sir :-.Thinking
that few items OF news from the Army Of
the Potomac might not be uuiuteres,ing to
your readers at this time, | have taken up
on myself TO give you a short account ol
our late movements as seen by myself. 1t
will not he as graphic, nor embrace SO
much as the reliable correspondents Of the
New York papers, ,0ho arc dlpdyi an the
front uhcn uc adrdncc. and corsr the rear
WAen Ue retreat, 70 that they see more than
a person who is coLfhod with his own com
mand.
Well. cn Saturday. the 10th inst, ii hp i
become known at headquarters, that the
enemy had abandoned our immedia,.e front
on the Rapidan, and had crosstd the liver
higher up with tic apparent intention OF
turning our light wing, and attacking Us in
the rear. This inc ,en.cnt Of The enemy,
Of course compelled u corresponding move.
meut on our pa:., aud lae second and
third corp. were Immediately sent tfI TO
the riP'.t ~ stop TIE rebel advance, and
CIV. US an opportunity TO move our stores
from Culpcrpcr. All day and oil night Of
Saturday, and until j o'clock Sunday,
trains were rafting back aud forth over
the railroad, as fast as steam could carry
them; aud they succeeded in getting ava!
every single thing, even 10 few bales Of
hay. Not thing was left for tie rcbs,
who eulered the town within an bour afer
the last train left. During lbis time the
bsIanee Of the army had Lcen put in motion,
and at daylight Sunday morning. wagon
trains Of every description belonging 10 the
dieerent corps coEld be seen slowly wcndiug
their way towards Brandy Station Tuefe
were Eve columns in all, moving side 10y
side, two Of iDfaulry, one OS ARTILLERY, and
two Of baggage and ammGaiton wagons.
The wagons and sr,ilry marching a,ieSc
the infantry, aud the whole covered in The
rear 10y the cavalry and the Gflh corps
On arriving at Brandy Station, the couu-
try becomes more open and level, and the
different evlnDus came in sight Of each
other, and the whole, viewed from the crest
neur the station. made TIE most maguiG
cent scene that ever bebehd. No pen on
pencil can do justice 10 it. II should be
seen to be appreciated. The long lines Of
canvass covered wagon, inside the long
black columns Of mcu made it appear Ike
| an inland sea covered with Swarms Of sails
all moving in one direction as regular as
clock.work. There was no buslle or con
fusion, every one appeared TO know just
what he was doing. and just where be was
going, and just what wac expected Of him
Every Que knew we were on the Ie'Teat,
yet no one felt at oil alarmed, notwithsand.
ing the rebels were close upon our heels,
and frequent tkirmishes were occurring. but
our rear was well guarded and hand ,oney
covered all the way. and not wagon OF u
guu was lost. We did not move back Us
rppidly as we went out; There was moth.
ing about the army indicating retreat,
save the direction it was marching in.
On arriving at the Rappahaunock, some
Of the columns halted for others to pass,
there being but three bridges for the Eve
columns, one of these was the railroad
bridge. over which the infantry crossed -
II was about dark on Sunday night
when the last Of tho troops aud wagon
trains had crossed. Here the wagons
we're hailed and parked for about six hours
for the horses TO rest aud feed. Meantime
two corps Of infantry had been sent toward
Sulphur Springs aud Wsrrenion, to pre-.
vent au attack from that quarter; three
other corps being stretched along the river
to the left towards kelly's Ford
About two o'clock on Monday morning
We were again put in motion and marched
to Bealton Station. where we rested during
the day OF Monday. One corps of our
army. having in the forenoon recrossed the
river with division Of cavalry and drove
he rebs back through Culpepper again.
They returned during Monday night. and
Tuesday morning we were again started out,
the whole army being again put 10 motion.
THIS Was election day in Ohio, aud the