The Cecil Whig., 1863-12-05
WAR NEW 8,

On Friday week the Army of the Potomac
advanced from the fords at which it crossed
the rapidan, and formed IN line of battle.
At one o clock =. NJ. a contest began on the
road leading toward Orange Court House,
but the enemy did not reply with artillery.
At p. NJ. Hills Corps approached our
centre, and at ~ heavy musketry was heard,
U p to o clock our casualties III the centre
were few. The battle-ground was iu wood,
and it was difficult to ascertain positions.
On Thursday afternoon General Gregg s
cavalry drove the Rebel cavalry back upon
their supports, and then himself retired
His loss is said to be two hundred and fifty,
which is very large. But then our Fitt,
Corps came up and forced the enemy back
In the meantime General French, with the
Third Corps, had conflict with Ewell Ton
our right. lie held his position, though loos
ing severely, and reports the capture of nine
hundred Rabels. On Friday morning it was
found that the Rebels had fallen back two
miles from our centre toward Orange Court
House. On this day skirmishing opend
briskly, with considerable artillery fighting
aloug our whole line up to p. NJ, when it
became very severe on both sides, and so
continued until dark. 1t seems certain that
Meade deceived Lee as to the point of cross,
ing and that Lee abandoned all his strong
earthworks only to let our men take them
On Monday General Meade was in line of
battle cast of Mine River or Run, with the
Rebel army in position on the opposite bank
strongly posted and intrenched. Re connois.
sances which were made on Sunday night
disclosed the fact that Mine Run was from
three to ten feet deep.
This stream has steep, craggy sides, and
is difficult of approach, which facts give the
Rebel army great advantages as defensive
line and natural barrier. 1t was found impos.
sible to cross it with artillery and cavalry in
the face OF all energetic. enemy on the other
side.
Appearances indicate that Lee had been
considerably reinforced, and rumors gained
ground that part Of Longstreet's Corps had
joined him.
Delays, oecasoned by the broken charac
ter of the ground in getting General Meade
various columns into position, enabled the
Rebels to strengthen their naturally strong
position they occupied to such an extent that
ii was thought they would have been able to
hold it against greatly superior attacking
force.
The extent of their camp fires indicate
that heavy force is pehnd their works.
Inducing the belief that they had been largely
reinforced by Longstreet, or from some
other source.
Under these circumstances General Meade
determined to return to his old position on
this side of the Rapidan River
Grants lines now extend and his forces
hold possession of the country as far as
Rnggold, Georgia, which is about twenty
miles south of Chattanooga, and to Cleve.
land, Tenn, thirty-five miles east. The lat
ter point is one Of the termini of the Cleve
land and Dalton Railroad, and the East
Tennessee Railroad also runs through it.
The enemy is said to be below Tunnel Hill,
which is about nino miles from Dalton. -
Our casualties in the late battles will not
exceed 1000, and among the fruits of the
victory are enumerated tho capture of 1000
Rebels, 1000 stand Of small arms, Is pieces
of artillery, besides stores, etc.
The Richmond papers have heard from
General Bragg, and, judging from the frank
confessions made in their columns, respect
ing the news, they are not very iavorably
impressed with the result of the recent bat
ties near Chattanooga. The Whig dolefuly
remarks, ''ws have lost many prisoners,
tiv c thousand and upwards and "all our
dead and seriously wounded are in the
hands of the enemy. 1t also reports the
loss of Washington's and Cobb s batteries.
There has been no fighting in this army
since Hookers attack on Braggs rear at
Rnggold Oh the 18th ult. Bragg was
forced to march on, being badly whipped,
although inhicting considerable loss upon
Hooker. Our loss is about five hundred to
81 X hundred the enemy's much larger.
The heads of our soldiers on the Chicka-
mauga battlefield were found severed from
their bodies and stuck upon stumps and
poles.
A colum is now en- route for Knoxville,
under General Gordon Granger, for the
relief of General Burnside. General Long.
street has left Knoxville, and is making his
way into Virginia. 1t is reported that we
have .aken five thousand prison era from
him, Wheeler entire division.