The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1863-09-26
BY TELEGRAPH
From the Army of the Pofontac-BriHiaat
Cavnfrv EiVIf.

from the Army OF the Potomac Brilliant
Cavalry Fight.
New YORK, Sept %.
The Tribune's Headquarters Army of the
Potomac dispatch, dated yesterday, says up to
the evening of the 22d Gen. Fitzpatrick had
occupied Madison Court House, after having
driven the advanced pickets OF the enemy
three miles. The charge through the streets
OF Madison Court House was brilliant and
dashing. The rebel pickets and sharpshooters
were driven from every hiding place. After
having driven the enemy from every road
leading from Madison Court House in the
direction OF the Rapidan for two miles, Gen.
Fitzpatrick posted his guards and rested his
command bring the night Gen. Bulord came
OH with his division. From the prisoners talk
en- the day before it was ascertained that two
brigades Of rebel cavalry were on this side of
the Rapidan along the main road leading from
Madison Court House to Gordonsville Gen.
Buford disposed his forces so as to surround
the enemy and capture him without severe
engagement t..r
To accomplish this object he sent Gen. Kill
patrick to the right of the Gordonsvle road,
Gen. Devens, commanding the second brigade
OF his own division, to the left, and the first
brigade, Col. Chapman, down the Gordonsville
road to make the attack in front and centre.
General Fitzpatrick reached the river without
meeting the enemy, but in order to find him
ed, and probably will not until exchanged as
prisoners OF war. With the main portion of
his division he moved down the north bank of
the Rapldan until hearing rapid firing on the
Gordonsville road he galloped to the aid of
Col. Chapman, who seemed to be hotly engao-
ed. Col. Chapman, whose command consisted
of the sth Illinois, Sd Indiana and Sth New
York, moved down the Gordonsville road and
when within four miles Of the Rapidan sud
denly in with fba nj br;o -
Gems. Jones and Hampton.
Col. Chapman on discovering that the reb-
els outnumbered him by one brigade, deter
mined to risk an engagement, trusting to Gen.
Buiord to come to his aid. A series of bril-
liant charges was then made, which lasted
from ten O'Clock until sunset. Col Chapman
whipped these old rebel brigades, killed be-
tween forty and fifty, and captured seventy
five prisoners, among them several captains,
and sent the rest flying at the highest speed of
their blooded horses to the south bank OF the
Rapidan. Gen. Fitzpatrick, who came in the
rear OF this flying force, is said to have cap
tured about fifty men before theyreached the
river.
On the left, Gen. Devens was equally sue
cessfnl. He met the old brigade OF Gen. Lee,
fought them for two hours killed and wound
ed between thirty and forty, and brought
away sixty prisoners. In all these severe
fights our own loss was comparatively insignif-
icant. The object for which the reconnois-
sance was made, having been successfully ac-
complished, Gen. Buford returned with his
command TO the place of departure. ,e ,-g
The point where Gen. Devens engaged the
enemy was near Barnett's ford, on the Rap-
dan. Besides capturing one hundred and fifty
prisoners, Gen. Buford destroyed a large
amount of property valuable to the rebel
army, and brought away with him long
train of army wagons filled with rebel stores.
The Worlds Washington dispatch, says tits
not true that any of our forces, except caval-
ry, have crossed the Rapidan, though it has
been anticipated for several days that the ar
my would be in motion; the announcement is
premature according to direct adyices from
the front tonight. -'1a-'7 ~ : EN-s4. 5,