New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-26

thew had used as winter quarters, while our ,rCop'
,ysrs sb;ror;n IN Tho ragged tents in front OF Ma
nossas S;y niles of the railroad, Oil the oricges
the lone yybarves and warehouses, all the water
tanks and engine houses. ana everything hecessa,y
IN the snccepsu running OF the road wouid nave 10 D
IA aS,,snced from Manassas, skirmshed with the
RehsIs sxty miles, and beaten them in every encoun
~. ca taken ND bis position on this side OF The
Ra,,nahanuock At that time II was dangerous u
ride by the old county road alone to Frederic ksburg
The inhabitants had not then left their dwellings and
were bitterly hostile. Guerrilla parties still lurked
in the woods and kept coming up from the lower
counties of the northern neck to shoot capture al
they could find. Accompanied by strong guard
from the Sd Pennsylvania cavalry, started from
Acquia Creek for Falmouth, opposite Fredercks
burg. All day long parties had been coming back
with reports that 1t was impossible 10 reach the kap
paliannoek; that the Potomac Creek, the Accakeek,
aud all the smaller sroams had risen 10 such hight
by the rains that they could not be crossed
by man or beast.
Notwithstanding all these reports our little party
determined TO re Ach the river before dark, aud we
did reach il u.t as darkness closed in upon Us, but
not until we had nearly ruined every horse upol
les streams almost every mile, every one OF which
had to be swum, and big old oaks cut down across
the road, all OF which had to be jumped, lyms
thiokly oil tue way.
To-day have again passed over this road, snd
encountered almost the same difficulties. True,
have had no guard Of cavalry, did i need one
No guerrilla parties iurked in the woods, nor wer'
there any trees 10 intercept my progress. But The
streams seemed determined 10 keep me from reach
ing the front, aud the mud seemed TO reach to the
center OF The earth.
bad not gone half mile before consoled my
self with the reflection that the Army of the POto
mac could not get very far IN advance OF me with
out the special aid OF Divine Providence IN the per
torrance OF miracle. II the big pontoors, th'
siege-gGns. and even the light artillery can NOV,
over such roads then the days of the Apostles VIII
all their wonderful deeds have returned. And
was not mistaken. Upon reaching headquarters
and asking what was the news, was told that th'
pontoons, The artillery, and the aulmuniton-waRon
were ali fast Ill the mud and the Onward Il
Richmond movement by the way OF the Kappa
hammock for the present, would again have to u
abandoned. And what pity few days ng'
the roads in splendid condition, and the artll
lery, and even the pontoons, could nave beer
wheeled upon the galop 10 their appointed positions
but to-day they eau scarcely be moved mile.
Having been away from the army several weeks
l can say nothing respecting the present movement
otter than that " has proved failure through, ~
far "a atle to say, the oct OF God alone. Othe
correspondents VINO have Been upon the ground, o
rather in the mud may have praise or blame 10 be
SOW upon mortal man, bat for once have no'hinl
! 70 say for or against any one. Gen. Lee 10 un
dou0tedly enjoying our discontinue hugely, an'
wondering how far Treasury notes will fall III Wal
street when the telegraph announces the return 0
Hooker aud franklin TO their old camping grounds
/ From knowledge, however, OF the country alont
the Rappahannock, from its source TO its mouth,
/ believe the movement was euiinen:ly vice one
and would have been successful If the elements haC
not iDterposed sn insurn0uniable obssaie. Gen
Lee too, from what's can learn this evening, wa
not fully prepared to oppose the crossing Of th'
river indeed, could not possibly have opposed ]
successfully without having weakened his position
at fredericksburg, and given Gen. Sumner al Up
portuniiy to cross at the Lacy House.