Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1863-10-29


rebel forces are falling back towards the Rap
idan, and that our army offers them battle nv
advancing
construction trains have run as far as Bris
LOW station, to-day, and tomorrow a supply
It"il wiz run TO or beyond that point The
lrestie bridge at Bristow was burned bv the
Ieoels- The track between Manassas and CAT
ie''s station was almost wholly torn I'D by
them. H ny =!
WASHINGTON, Oct. 20.
Special to Irib,ae-Your correspondent
Beta reports the army of the Potomac in f1ll
pursuit Oh the retreating rebel force Trains
run out to Bristow to-day and large Quantities
OF railroad material was transported for nut.
ting the track in repair and rebuilding the
bridges. The rebels destroyed the track for
miles, burning ties and digging down the grad
ing PRISONERS assert it is entirely DESTROYED
ior a miles beyond Catletts, and that Lees OBJ
Ject was to capture the supplies and so disa
BILE the road that we could not disturb him till
another corps of his army could be sent to
Bragg and return
Our forces in the meantime are nushinr on
out thus Tar without opposition or any indica
1ons OF being able to halt Lee and force a
general engagement this side of the Rapidan.
Large numbers of our cavalry are being
rehtted with fresh horses and condiments
ana everything put in preparation for vigor-
Gus work
Special to the 7mes.-Tha mystery of Lees
movements last week are uncovered. Part
OF his army was at Culpepper this morning
being vigorously embarked ON trains of cars
for the southwest.
An officer just from the front brings intel
ligence that Lees whole infantry force is
| across the Rappahannock. Some of his cav
airy are still on this side and part on the
other. Our reserve cavalry under Gen, Mer-
| rlll, yesterday, advanced as far as Warren
ton junction, meeting but few rebel cavalry,
i who retired as we advanced.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 81.
AdVces from the Army of the Potomac
| say that the right column advanced to with
| IN three miles of Warrenton Yesterday, and
| the lett column as far as Greenwich village.
Our advance entered Warrenton without Sc
rlous opposition, contrary to the general ex-
| pectatlons. The conclusion is that the rebels
| are really retreating before our advance
! The railroad is i'll order to Manassas Junction
| and gainesville on the Manassas road and the
| telegraph is working to the latter place.
| Special to the 7inaes-Our army is following
| the enemy to-day rapidly. No rebels were
discovered this side Of the Rappnhannock by
reconnaissance to-day.
Inc lhcSSaSe Wulcn the president sent to
| Gen. Meade last Saturday, deserves to he re-
corded as part of the history of the cam
| paign now drawing to close Mr.. Lincoln
| told Gen. Meade that he must find and fight
the enemy at once that if he won victo-
~ he should have all the glory; that if he
were defeated, he himself would, as comman-
der-ln-chlef, assume the responsibility.
HEADERS ARMY OF POToMAC, Oct. 90,
Thn vol, Of
| ision in front Of the army moved forward
| yesterday to near Warrenton driving the rear
guard of the enemy The whole army ad-
| vanced to within supporting distance during
| the day. The railroad to Ganesyi lie was re-
paired.
HEADERS ARMY OF PoToMAC, Oct 81
Among the camp rumors bearing SEM
blance of truth are those that Lees headnuar-
| tiers are at Culpepper; Ewelps and Hills
forces are between Culpepper and Warren
ton. Lee is greatly disappointed at the fail
ure OF his plans to occupy Centervile and
| Bull Run field, before 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 Centerville, but pro
| posed to take up his winter quarters there :
that Lees army is discouraged aud disbeart
| ened, and that Blue Ridge is full of rebels
awaiting an opportunity to desert and come
into our lines.
This morning quite early there was active
firing and cavalry skirmishing in the vicinity
of Sulphur Springs. No particulars given.
New York, Oct %.
The Potomac army correspondent of the
Herald, of the goth, says the prevailing opin-
ion, founded upon good authority, is that the
enemy has fallen back behind the Rappahan-
mock. All our information is that Lees and
Stuart's forces number over 10000 men,
With this force, it seems strange to have
them falling back. 1t is said want of SUD-
pliesis the cause, but that when they get within
reach of transportation they will make a
| stand.
WASHINGTON Oct 22
| 1t is calculated that the damage done to
| the Orange Alexandria Railroad by the
| rebels, will be repaired in ten days
| Accounts from the Army of the Potomac
received tonight, say it has been ascertained
that none Of the rebel infantry were en&=red
| with Gen. Kilpatrick's cavalry at Buckands
Mills on Monday last. A brigade of rebel
sharpshooters dismounted, partially deluded
our cavalry and led them into the belief that
they were attacked by the infantry of Gen.
| Lees army.
Gen. Stuart's cavalry crossed the Rappa-
hammock yesterday at Rappahannock Station,
having fallen back on the river without stop
ping in Warrenton through which he passed,
although he admitted that he had not enioyed
a meal for twenty-four hours
The officers of Gen. Lees army stated that
their rapid retreat was caused by destitu-
ton of provisions and supplies.
The bridge On the Rapidan had been car
ried away by the rise in the river caused by
the storm of Thursday night, and when Lee
laid pontoon bridge, over which he crossed
| his army to the south side of the river, car
ried away that.
There is no considerable rebel force now
north of the Rapidan, unless it be a portion
of Gen. Stuart's cavalry with his artillery.
| 1t was currently rumored by rebel officers
that Gen. Lee, having driven Meade towards
| Washington, and destroyed portion of the
Orange & Alexandria Railroad, either Gen
Hills or Gen. EwelPs corps would now be i'm
mediately dispatched to the assistance of Gen.
Bragg This is strengthened by previous ru-
mors that one Of these corps was about to
start thither before the late engagement be-
gan.
| The Richmond newspapers say that Gen.
| Lee captured 10000 Of our troops, a full bat
| terry, and large number of wagons, during
| his late campaign. 1t is sufficient to remark
! in answer, that the official reports contradict
| this statement.
| The Warrenton railroad has not been dis
turbed by the enemy.
! We now hold the country east of the Ran
pahannock. There are no signs of battle
Gen. Meade came to Washington to-day
| and after interview with the President
and Gen. Halleck returned late this evening
to headquarters.