Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-03-24

The intimatiOn given to the readers OF this journal
on yesterday morning, that action on the line of
the Rappahannock would Immediately take place, has
been rapidly confirmed by the event battle was
fought between the Confederate and Federal forces
in Culpcpper, twenty miles above Falmouth, on
Yesterday morning. A division of the enemy
crossed the river badly beaten, and retreated,
our cavalry pursuing This sentence probably
contains all the authentic information on the subject
vet available The rumors from the scene, which
is many miles distant from Fredericksburg, are con-
fused Major General j. A. B. Stuart's dispatch
es, though eminently cheerful, do not clear the
doubts which may, with reason, be entertained as
to the extent and Importance of the action. lie
speaks of it as a great affair; but when he comes
to numbers he mentions only "three thousand
men in the saddle" on the enemy's side Two
views of the matter may be taken at present; 1st
That Hooker had commenced his anticipated ma
noeuvre, of throwing large army on the southern
side of the river to attack the flank and rear of Gen.
Lee, while the rest of his forces engaged him on
the old field behind fredericksburg that the troops
who crossed yesterday were the head of a great
column, but were so badly cut up that the whole
movement has been rendered abortive; I'd, That
the enemys corps crossing kelly's ford were only
a heavy body of cavalry thrown over to make re-
connoisance in force to ascertain the state OF the
Confederate defsnceS on that part OF the line the
number and character of the troops in the glbOr
hood that they were attacked by the Confederate
horse before they had the opportunity to obtain
much information, and compelled into hasty and
disastrous retreat With the lights now before US,
this last conclusion would seem most agreeable to
the facts The action of yesterday was the result
of an attempt by the enemy to reconnoitre the
ground over which they propose to move into de-
cisive battle within a few days Had they not been
splendidy repulsed, Averills division would have
established itself on the south bank and been quick
" supported IN the position by large masses of
other troops. Nor does it follow, because they were
driven home with loss that the effort Of the enemy
will not be speedily made in the same direction.
The next intelligence may be that the real passage
has been made al Kelly's ford by 10000 infantry
and aftillery-whch could be well spared from the
'front.' if what we hear of HoOkers numbers be
nearly true.
But whatever the contingencies of the future, It
is quite certain that the COnfederates were Victo
rious in the affair Of yesterday. The stakes are
pitched; the ring is made; time is called, Dixie
has drawn the first blood and and dealt the hulking
adversary a stunning knock down. But he cannot
recoi far The hour of procrastination las been
exhausted by Hooker. Willing unwilling, he
must return to the scratch forthwith, leave the
Northern Neck for another base Unless heavy
fall Of rain occurs, shall shortly hear the news
of certain transactions the RappfAhannock which
will be meuorable.in history.
Nor will these events be all to mark the ides Of
March. Now or never must the long prepared as
saut of Charleston be ln,de. This is the nine
teenth day of the month--now are the high spring
tides The enemy have now ail the means and sd
vantages for the attack on Charleston which they
can have within the next half year. The Northern
press is very explicit in TIE t1eclsraton-Thich WI
see no good reason to doubt-that the late affair a
| Fort McAllister was not Intended as a serious at
tempt to take SavannahL but was rather an srperi
mentun crucis to acertain the pNyer of their new
ironclads to resist cannon shot. Had they suppose
it possible to free the CHI mel aud seize Savannah
they would have attemp led Il in fol- force wherea
they appearA hiOre Nc JAlster with four irOnelads
1t is pretended that tie result nj the encounter va
all that the enemy lad hope,,, the il -nclads bein
struck more than hu9dred times thout daamaSS
and has satisfied he eqmm 4rdcr OF the expedite
that the attack IN Charleston may X safely undo
tAken'-R'saS ,.oad Eranaiaer,