Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-08-04
Position and strength of Lees
Army. .r-
Correspondence of the cbicsgo Times

Army. --sr-
Correspondence of the Chicago Times.
Washington, July "a.
While the main body of Gen.. Meade's |
army is east OF the Blue Ridge, there is
still q portion of it cavalry near Hancock |
and Williamsport.
On Tuesday last, July 81, this cavalry
force, commanded by Ger. AyerilI, and
supported by the infsntry under Gen. Kel-
ly. 1.-THE latter { ficer being attached to
Meade's army, but commanding a large
number OF troops on the middle part of the
line OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
made Reconnaissance towards Martinsburg.
The affair re'ulted very disastrously. The
enemy were found strongly posted OF that
place, and, alter severe engagement in
which our troops fought with determined
bravery, were compelled to retreat with
heavy lose. doubt whether "the govern
ment" will allow any account OF the affair
to be published. This affair, and the de-
feat OF Gen. Gregg, at SheperdStOwn, on
the 18th removes all doubts as to the lUca
tion OF Lees 0rmy. But at what a heavy
sacrifice has the information been gain
edl
The real facts in regard to the strength
Of Gen. Lees army have nDw been deh-
nitely ascertained. He entered Pennsyl-
vania with 10000 troops. He recrossed
the Potomac on the 18th with IS 900, hav-
ing lost Is 900. His army now consists Of
three corps of Lnngstreet Ewpll, and A. p.
Hill, each 20 .0O0 strong, and Gen Stuart's
cavalry, 5000.
1t " known that two weeks ago there
were 20 900 moro troops at Richmond,
Petersburg and various other points On
the peninsula, under Ger. D. ii. ii II. This
Cthcer has now been sent to the southwest
aud is believed that these 20 900 troops are
now with Lee, and 10 cooperation with his
thTea corps mentioned above, so that bis
whole force is now 95 900 strong, and each
ofths corps is about 10000 or q 900
strong. ...
-lti supposed, also, that 10000 of the
troops recently under Bragg are now on
their way to ininsLee, which will swell bis
numbers to l25 900 troops. When these
facts are believed here, it cnn easily BE
seen that it is necessary for Con. Meade to
act with great cauti'n.
Intelligence from Richmond up to July
Goth has cen received here. 1t IL evident
from the information thus obtained, that
the southern people, as well as the confed-
crate authorities, are greatly depressed by
their revsrses on the Mississippi, but that
they are by no means inclined 70 deapond
or relax their efforts.
The number Of troops which the confed-
crates now have in arms Is Estimated here
Mt Only 100000, namely: IS 600 with Lee,
10000 near Richmond, 30 1000 at Charles.
ton, 10000 at Mobile, Is 600 under Mar
maduke and Price, 20 900 under General
Joseph E. Johnston, $4,000 under Bragg,
and 10000 at various detached points,
Even if this estimate be correct, there is
no reason for believing that the war is any
nearer termination now,ttan it was q year
ago.
That number Of troops can be doubled
II found necessary, for the fighting popu a.
tiOn OF the South is not half exhausted yet
md as yet our armies have not penetrated
the interior Of the South.
The declaration of the Richmond pa
Pers, that The southern people have not ye
eegnn to fight, will be found no idle boast
And 1t looks very much now as if we vii
have to look active foreign intervention
sqaure in the face. X.