Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-03
MOVEMENT OF THE POTOMAC ARMY.

S'uhSiSoo"S'
which the tuboned extracts from letters Of army GORE.
spondns record the incidents up to Sunday morning last
Subsequently to that time there was no fighting of conse-
quence, and the object of the movement being it may
be presumed, been accomplished the army retraced its
steps and yesterday recrosssd the Rapid Ann former
position.
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
All day Wednesday the weather was lowering and the
prospects for advance appeared very slim At night
the clouds scattered and the aud stars bright
~ The air grew cold aud last night instructions came to
be ready to move the morrow at seven o'clock All
was hustle and preparation.
Thursday morning dawaed bright and clear aud cold
The advance moved early and the cavalry the
Rapid Ann, but the rebels had left their works and re-
tired whittier it became the duty of the cavalry to
ascertain The rebel pckets were withdrawn little
after midnight Wednesday night
The programme. carried out was for the Second
Corps Gen. Warren to at Germana Ford aud take
the road to Orange CourtHouse via Robertons Tavern
The Third Corps, Gen French was to cross at Jacobs
Mills Ford aud take position at night the right of the
Second Corps The Fifth Corps Gen sykes cross
at Cupepsr Ford On toward the Frederic ksburp
Pankroad and form uncto with the Second Corps on
its right al the forks Of the road at Roberson's Tavern
The Sixth Corps, Gen Sedgwick, 70 follow the Third
Corps at Jacobs Mills Ford, and the Frat Corps Gen
Newton, with the reserve artillery and wagon trains to
follow the Fifth Corps Culpeper Ford the wagons
to be parked at Richardsyle about fifteen miles south
from RappahannOck Station
This programme was fully carried out, the crossings
being made without opposiuon. The water was about
waist and the men foIded the river. While the
march the columns halted, the kilograms an
nouacirg the victory at Chattanooga read the men
The news received with the widest enthusiasm The
darkeDed with caps thrown up BY officers and men,
ard resonant with the cheers of the mighty host This
announcement only increased the spirits Of the men,
their desires to meet the enemy loudly exp essed
but alas no enemy could be found.
CONTINUED ADVANCE ON FRIDAY
AT eight O'Clock on Friday morning Gen Meade and
staff left the north side Of the TO establish his next
headquarters Robertsons Tavern, on the macada
mzed road leading to Orange Court House, fifteen miles
distant.
Gen Warrens corps reached Robertsons Tavern at IL
O'clock A. M, meeting the enemy's skirmshers several
miles east Of that place and driving them forward half
mile beyond the Tavern where troops formed 10
line of battle, and brisk skirmishDg commenced vista
Of road for two mil toward Orange Court House opened
to view IN which groups of rebels gathered watching
our movements On the right and left their skmishers
were concealed and occasionally sent shot into our line
Col Hesser of the 72d Pennsylvania formerly Bakers
Zouaves, Yves killed after the formation of Skin
mish line. HIS regiment immediately charged and re-
covered his body.
During the skirmshing in the centre, at Robertsons
Tavern heavy cannonading heard the right and
leltthe Fifth Corps being the left in the vicinity If
Hope Church, and the Third supported by the Sixth
the right Greggs cavalry division the left had come
up with the enemys skrmisher several miles to the east
Of Hope Church. and drove them Handsomely to that poi
where portion of Hills Corps stationed Here three
regiments of Gegg's division dismouned and calamity
held the enemy IN check until the arrival Of the Filth
Corps when our troops after sharp skirmsh drove the
enemy from his line and succeeded in forming junction
with our centre at Robetson's Tavern the night OF
Friday, November 9Th Our loss the left has not
been fully asce7taned up to this time Saturday morning
25th) but it is supposed to be light.
On the right Gen French, supported by Gen Russel's
old brigade of the Sixth Corps the enemy four miles
to the right Of the Orange Cou house roai, and sharp
engagement ensed which lasted till dark when our troops
overpoWered by greatly superior numbers gradually fell
back short distance The troops opposed 70 the Third
Corps those OF Ewe of Early whose strength
is estimated at 81 900 Our loss in the Third Corps is
varuusy given from 500 to 900 in killed and wounded
Gen Custer commanding the cavalry division of Kill
patrick crossed the rvr yesterday at Raccoon and Nor
toms Ford, aud had several unmportant skrmshes with
the euemy No reports have yet been received at Gen
Pleasoutons headquarters.
Some Of Stusrt's made dash on the rear of the
Fifth Corps trains destroying about twenty wagons
FIGHT OF TIE THIRD CORPS ON FRIDAY.
Rumors were rife on Friday night that Gen, French
had met with disaster th4t he had been driven with
the loss If ore thousand men killed and wounded had
lost several hundred prisoners and finally that he
off by the enemy and was unable to form junction at
Locust Grove, Ee had received orders to do, al
which, happily, proved materially incorrect
In obedience 10 orders the Third Corps followed by the
Sixth Corps the afternoon of Thursday the 26b ed
the RapidAnn at Jacobs Mill with no opposition except
shot or two from few rebel videttes stationed the
pursued the road leading to Mortons ford few miles
above when they took road to the left in order strike
the contribution Of the road from Culpepsr kObertons
Tavern
On Thursday night they rested Joness House. and
yesterday morning continued their march effect june
ton with Gen Warrens corps. Gen Princes division Of
The Sd IN the advance aud the head of the column
reached email clearing it greeted with yoley from
line of rebel krmishers
The first brigade Of the second division was thrown for
ward into ne with the First Massachusetts, deployad as
skrmshers supported by the first third divisions of
the corps. The First Massachusetts advanced through
dense ihcket, fighting and pushing the rebels back
mile and half e. the vicinity Of Mile Run when the enc
my, strengthening bis line gradually forced back line
SkfmshlOg continued until haf-past three p. NJ when
the enemy, with shouts and yes, charged our first line
consisting OF Princes DIVISION the right If which first fe
back in confusion but rallied, and, with the
aid Of section Of Randolphs First Rhode Island Bat
terry and Battery X Of the Fourth United States viii,
poured yoeys of grape and canister into The advancing
columns OF the enemy consisting oi Johnsons and part
Of Rhodes's divisions of Ewells CORPS twice ia
sion CALAMITY repused the enemy, who were in each In
stance driven back in perfect rout.
he fight ceased at dark The Third bivouacked the
e at the junction of the roads above mentioned six
miles from Locust Grove Cur oss in killed and wounded
probably amounts 10 not less than $50.
With such haste did the rebels retreat that they left
behind all Of their dead the ground being literally covered
with them Our proportion Of killed ia the fight YVES very
small and inspection OF the battlefield leads to the
cuson that their casualties far exceeded But
brigade Of the Sixth Corps engaged that Of Gen.
RUSSELL famous for the brilliant charge at Rappahannock
Station
On learning trustworthy details Of this engagement Of
The Third Corps the whole aspect OF the affair." instead Of
beng disastrous exhibits part in repus
twice he att If the with