Daily national Republican., 1863-10-23
THE WAR IN VIRGINIA.
rn.,,,ob IN the N. v. r,,bu,s. "a, o, ,

On Monday morning Buford went through
ThoroughfsreGsp with two brigades OF cavalry:
The rebel infantry got behind m him, and he hsd
through the Gap to New Baltimore, where he
camped on Monday night. On Tuesday morn.
ing he moved In again through Thoroughfarc
Gap, this time successfully.
On Monday there was diminishing all day.
In the afternoon Stuart made . dash on our
lines, and captured the Tth Maryland infantry,
Third division, First corps, Just at the right Of
Thoroughfare Gap. On Monday night the
Second and Third corps camped at bristow,
and Marched to Bealton on Tuesday.
On Tuesday affairs were generally more quiet.
All heavy baggage was sent to the rear, and
the army stripped for the fight which we sup.
posed likely to ensue on the morrow.
On the retreat of our forces they blew up the
railroad bridges. The rebels have since blown
up the stone abutments.
In the skirmish on Monday night, Major
Clark and ffty men Of tho 9Th Michigan cav.
airy, dlsmounted as skirmishers, were captured
by body of infantry, at Bucklaud Mills. The
rebels then dashed on to within two miles OF
Gainesville, and skirmished there.
On Tuesday, neither 6regg's nor kilpatrck's
division had any skirmishng-the first day OF
rest enjoyed by them since September Q. Kill
patrick is reported to have made raid beyond
Warrenton, near Water Mountain, on Tuesday,
but was driven back with heavy loss.
| Our headquarters on Tuesday night was at
Gainesville, the whole army steadily moving
forward.
On Thursday last Captain Sam R. Urquhart,
, Third brigade, Third division, Sixth corps
Commissary, was captured by rebels between
Fairfax and Chantilly, while on his way to the
front. Capt. Wheeler, Brigade Quartermastcr
Third brigade, First division, Sixth corps, and
Lieut.. Bradford, were captured the day before.
Two suffers are reported to have been killed
on Monday morning, between Fairfax and
Alexandria, while trying to get back.
The general opinion is that the rebels are all
Of q day In advance, but leave sutflcieit force
to prevent rapid movement forward. There Is
no probability of a battle.
| LEES ARMY FALLING BACK--ouR ARMY IN PrR-
SUIT.
In TaE FIELD, Oct 20, 1S63.-Lee's army,
after making threatening demonstrations IN
our front on Friday and Saturday, suddenly fell
back. Our army started In pursuit on Monday
morning. We found the bridge broken and
railway tracks torn up along the line; in fact,
the enemy have destroyed everything that might
aid us in pursuit.
THE SCENE OF THE LATE BATTLE At BR STOW
This morning we passed over the scene Of
our late fight at Bristow. They must have
suffered a heavy defeat, as We found . lsrgs
number of broken muskets, knapsscks, &C.,
strewn over the ground. One patch on the
side Of the hill, ueat the woods, Is red with
S,avcs. They were chiefly North Carolina
troops, so the slabs 1t tho head of the graves
| indicated.
| was told by q man who lives on the place,
and at whose house some of the eflicers stopped
after the fight, that they had about three hun
dred killed, anl that they looked upon 1t as q
regular defeat. He saw two generals badly
wounded one had his leg taken oil, the other
did not know their names. Gen. Heth had his
horse shot under him. They complained that
the conscripts did not fght. We have found
several letters giving a most fearful descrip-
tion ofthe state of destitution and repugnance
to the war prevailing in the South. Lee bad
his headquarters near, but was not able to
bring up the main body Of his troops il time.
THE REPORTED POSITION or THE REBRLs-
STRENGTH OF THE ENEMY.
IL Ia the prevalent opinion, founded on good
authority, that the enemy has ia len back be-
| hind the Rappahannock. All our informants
state that Lees and Stuart's forces numbered
over seventy thousand strong. With this force
1t sounds strange to have them falling back.
1t is said that a want OF supplies is the cause;
but when they get within reach of transporta-
ton they will make a stand. II is ruluored
that they are defending the ford at Auburn,
and will make II stand. do not credit this.
Anderson moved along that way for Warren.
ton with about thirty thousand men, falling
back; yet | think we will have no fight there.
| am now within 1--WE miles OF II, and If there
was to be fight should hear firing from our
outposts.
HEAVY CAVALRY FIGHT.
There was heavy cavalry fight yesterday.
have not learned the particulars. As Fitzhugh
Lee was ut Gaines Mil on Sunday, 1t is likely
that he was engaged with our cavalry. The
| fight commenced near Gainesville and con-
| tiuu' Il oil day
CAMP RrupRs.
! Among the camp rumOrs bearing the semb-
| lance of truth are these: that General Lees
headquarters are now at Culpeper; that Ewell's
and Hill's corps of rebel infantry are between
Culpcler and and Warrenton that Lee is
greatly disappointed at the failure of his plan
to occupy Cenlreville and the Bull Run field be.
fore General Meade could march his troops and
send his supplies back to that point; that Lee
intended not only to force Meade to fight him
at Ccntrevile, but proposed to take up his
winter quarters there; that Lees army Is dis
couraged and disheartened, and that the Blue
Ridge is full of rebels, vi ho are awaiting an OBJ
portunity to desert and come into our lines.
CAVALRY sKIRMIsu.
This morning, quite early, there was artillery
firing and cavalry skirmish in the vicinity OF
, sulphur Springs; but the particulars are no,
yet known.
ACTIVITY OF THE REBEL MARACDERs.
The rebels are taking advantage of the ad
vance of our troops beyond Centreville to oper
ate quite extensively between Manassas ant
Fairfax Court House, rendering the roads aboul
there unsafe.