Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-10-05

lue rsicnmonu papers contain Gener-
al Lees Official report of his Pennsylvania
campaign From it we learn that his
purpose was to advance upoa Harris
burg, eus on the night of the 29sh of
June he ascertained that the Federal aY.
my bad crossed the Potomac and that
the mead OF the colnmn had reached
south Mountain. As communication
with the Potomac was thus menaced and IL
was resolved TO prevent the further
progress of the enemy in that direction
by concentrating our army on the East
sioe OF the mountains at Gettysburg.
The Federal army i~nterposed between
Stuart's command and our main body,
preventing communication with him n
til bis arrival at Carlisle, and the march
towards Gettysburg was conducted more
slowly than wonld have been had tho
movements of the Federal army been
known. After referring to the FIRST days
hight the report says it had not beea in
tended to fight a general battle at such a
distance from our base, unless attacked
by the enemy, but finding ourselves un-
expectedly confronted by the Federal
army, it became a matter of difficulty to
withdraw through the mountains with
our large trains.
tat the same time the country was un.
favorable for collecting supplies, while in
pfesence-of the enemy S main body, as he
was enabled to restrain our foraginy par
ties by occupying the passes in the noun.
tains. A battle thus became i'm a meas
ure unavoidable, and encouraged by the
successful issue of TIE engagement If tho
first day and in view. of the valuable re-
suits that would ensue from a defeat Of
Meade's army, it was thought advisable
to renew the attack.
The report then gives a general descrip.
ton of the battles Of the second amt
third of July and com,uends the heroic
Syalor of the troops aad explains the caus-.
es of the withdrawal of our army from
Gettysburg, &c.
The latest advices from Gen. Bracg's
army is up to the 3Oth ult. Trains from
~Chickamauga arrived that day at Allan
ia, bringing wounded. Those who can
bear removal have been brought from the
field hospitals, too. severely wounded TO
bear transportation. Astaf officer. who
lett the lines that afternoon. reports
that. R%osencrans sent in a FAC of truce,
and after a considerable correspondence
Bragg consented to exchange wounded
prisoners. They have about six hun
dred Confederates; we, Ave thousand
Yankees. We exchange conditionaily.
No change in the condition of affairs
in front OF Chattanooga. Rosencranz re-.
%ceives supplies by wagon trains from
Stevenson. "A. report reached Dalton
the 18th, that Samuel Jones had occu-
pied Knoxville and that Burnside h,c
.F-vsresAed-touuffs cuTnDeF7aITf Zap. Tn
! reports credited in official circles.
Nothing later from Gen. Lees army
The Yankees are throwing up additiona
works near Culpepsr q. H., at which
point the Yankees are also building larg
hospitals and houses for auartermaste
and cemmissary stores, with the appa
rent design of making that place the fu.
ture base OF operations.
Fhe Yankee cavalry have again occu
pied Madison Court House in force.
Is supposed they contemplate a raid i,
the rear of Lees army to destroy raj
roads.
AT Charleston on the LIST inst. Their
was heavier firing than for several week
past. The enemy has been steadil
pounding at the ruins of Sumter frot
his old batteries On Morris Island, be
You'd Wagner The eneny's Gre wa
chiefly at Sumter but also shellcd For
johnson. Our batteries and Fort MouI
! trie replied with brisk and steady fire
E~vAcUATING EAST TENNEssEE.--Th
enemy burned the railroad bridge at Ca,
t ters station, twenty miles from Bristo
: on tho East Tennessee and Virginia rail
, Dad, on Saturday last, evacuated tn
t 'lace, and are now retreating in the di
: 'ection of Knoxville. Our forces az
!. pursuing Our cavalry occupied Jones
aofo', Tennessee, Sunday night.