New-York daily tribune., 1863-07-16

sword when blows the blast Of war;" slight
form Of medium height, tawny face, small and
sharp clear, swapping, restless, black eye sach
the exterior Of this born warrior, whose persoual
gsllantry that OF Kearney, or Hooker, and whose
first glance at the pivotal time and place on field
Of battle is worth ten thousand men to the gen.
eral commanding, to whom, after gallop like TEN.
pest he shall give his OPTION OF the situation, ana
suggest the movement that snatches victory from tne
jaws Of disaster.
Ii is with no deeign Of "making generals" that
have thus spoken of these two offcers,-t have
already made themselves with this army, which will
be greatly indebted to them for the next victory, az
it is for the last.
The Two Armies - Their Losses and
etrcngth-A Severe Battle yet 10 be
Fought-The Position OF Lees Army
Mende,s Caution and Energy--The Re.
bells Corpered.
From an Occasional Correspondent
HKApQuAkTKRs ARnY OF THE PoTonAC.}
Monday, g. m, July Is
Since the great struggle nt Gettysburg, the Army
of the Potomac has been resting its legs. As soon
as it was ascertsped that Lee reteating, Meade
ordered a pursuit. At Gettysburg, the contending
forces were nearly equal. The battle was terrible,
and several times the scale equiposed, and VIC
tory uncertain. The advantage OF position favored
the National Army, but the momentum of attack was
with the Rebels. The contest, therefore, was an
equal one. Both armies suffered severe loss the
enemy, it is believed suffered most severely. There
can be DO doubt but his casualties in killed and
wounded far exceeded those Of the National Army.
His dead were nearly double the number Of Meade's
killed. Tie wounded, doubtless, have q similar
proportion In prisoners, up to Saturday, the armies
nave about equal after Sunday and during the week
lust ended. Pleasanton's cavalry has picked up
stragglers and captured in skirmishers about 1000
Rebels.
The enemy has had his army diminished therefore
to the number of about 20 GOO hgaling men. lie Is,
perhaps still co 600 strong.
In the fasipues of battle and march the National
Army has suffered equally with the enemy. In men
placed hors du combat, Meades army has doubtless
suffered to le,s exteut by perhaps 10000 though,
including straggers, there can be but little differ
epce in the diminuiion of the two armies.
Lee was defeated but bis army has not been
routed This remains still to be accomplished. The
foe ie able still to resist terrible onsaughts and
even to repegt his furious charges IL would not be
wise, therefore, iu Il commander to push forward
Lis corps 90 as to endanger their safety in case OF
an attack The whole army Of the Potomac must
be kept well together and hence the investment Of
the enemy must be accomplished with extreme
caution. This is the work now engag Dg the most
earnest efforts of our new commander. Yesterday
entire armv moved into pOx1tiOD ana pfeteeu
enemy's lines. Hitherto it would have been mad
ness In commanding general TO have pushed for
ward the advance gnasd Of his army, not knowing
tbs postion and disposition Of the enemy whose
strength was nearly or quite equal to that of his
own army.
No information has yet been received at head
quarters that the enemy is crossing The latest ac-
Count from WiliiamspOrt is that tue enemy 10 with
ont means OF crossing. Timbers are being prepared
and bolts made TO construct bridge. A ponoon ls
also expecied from Winchester, but up 10 yester-
day morning bad hot arrived.
As long as Gen. Meade il certain that Lee Is not
able 10 cross the river, he is justified in awaiting he
arrival of re-enforceBents constantly coming up,
aud the recuperation of bis own troops from the ex-
baustion IN battle and march.
II must be remembered by the country, that this
army has marched rapidly from the Rsppahannock
to Gettysburg, fought funously for three days. and
since then has daily marched from fifteen TO thirty
miles and is now again III the face OF an enemy de-
feated and dispriIed, 1t is true, but not yet con-
quered.
Ii is necessary to the fate Of his army and the
country that Gen. Meade sbonld DO cautiously per-
sisient Not to rush hesdlong into battle, yet not
to allow the enemy the river without fearful
sacrifice. This, it is believed, will be done.
On Friday there was sharp skirmish in which
the enemy was driven back two miles all along his
lines On Saturday morning he abandoned the line
of the Anlietan, and fell back TO Hagerstown and
WiIliamsport road, though still occupied, Funks-
town on the Aptetam, this side Of Hagerstown.
Light Iecou noissauces we're made along the line TO
feel the enemy's position. The forces were not
pushed forward as vigorously as the Commanding
General had desired they should have been. AT
daylight on Sunday morning, Gen. kilpatricks
cavalry force supported by the let Division of the
llth CORPS, commanded by Gen. Ames, pushed re-
connoibsance through " Hagerstown and beyond.
The enemy was formed in small force north Of the
town. Gen. Kilpalrcks troops, in their usual fine
STYLE dashed into the enemy and forced him TO aban-
don bis position.
Capt. Whitaker Of Michigan, with fifty troopers,
charged Oh q Rebel regiment and captured hfty-slx
prisoners. The infantry hurried through the town
and interrupted two Rebel regiments, which scat
tered through the woods and made their escape
Tho skirrnishing continued for an bOur, and be-
fore clock the National forces occupied Hagers-
town aud all was quiet. The enemy made feint
demon traion at shelng the town. Half dozen
damage
In . skrmsh on Tbursdsy, Col. Agier. 5th Mich
isan was wounded in the leg. To-day, Lieut.-Col.
Golldof same regiment was wounded In the ankle.
Capt. Jones, with Gen. Kilpatnck's body-guard,
especially distinguished himself III most gallant
charge Oh the enemy. One hundred and thirty prs-
opers were captured and several wounds Inflicted.
The casualties in Kilpetrick's command were very
slight.
Slocum moved forward yesterday and occnpies
the bights south OF st. Jamess College. Sykes has
pushed forward column in the center, aud the en.
tire line is now quite near the enemy.
Lee has placed bis army in position In the form OF
wedge having blunt point. The right wing
rests on the Potomac near St. James, College, and
port aud Hagerstown pike, TWO miles from tae lat
ter place; the line then crosses the pike at right
angle, and the left wing defects north westward,
aud rests on the Conococuigue. In this position, 1t 10