Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1863-06-18
rur RETROGRADE MARCH.

correspondent OF the New IoIk neiaio
;tos from the headquarters Of the Array OF
W.. n,.on,ac. under date Of the 18th inst, as
e9low5; 7, 1ono o~noctad retrosrada
1n7 E,<'f eron3 Fredericksburg is accomplish
no''T11ho W. h;|s and valleys where, for eight
60, ~ - arnlv Of the Potomac had encaTnp
H:''a' Josso3te. and mud walls, tattered tents
FL a., n,;o alone remain Of the pagentry that has
auS i,,|a i;ncoyed on the Rappahannock: For
- '! nas we have looked for this and though
Sha or3er came upon us suddenly, 1t WAS not at
The moving OF cavalry sc Cnpeper was the
80 - oc,#<i0o uneasiness. Then Lee moved
49, 9TH an immense body OF infantry, and ev-
arv nnorcv was taxed TO check ms progress,
by Tr;raout avail. The fifth corps was hurried
~ 70 fhe lords. and brigades deta tched from
10 other commands to aid IN protecting the
nro<sjnrsof the Rappahannocs, Stuart caval~
~ were fought near Culpeper, his plans Tor
fie time thwarted, (although with q sacrifice
& nearly thousand men, and our hopes Of
r-nlisturhel duetude frightened. But Lee
had not given up bis plans Tor the anmhllauon
&C our army, and every day brought more con
~ipcing proofs that be would not stop snort OF
The CAPTURE Of Washington unless q vastly si-
nernr farce confronted hiln in the Qualifications
Of the Federal capital,
Suddenly the Federal corps were hurried
Ut towards Warrenton, and the REMAINDER
waited anxionslv FOR orders, while the Sixth
Corps worked in the trenches on the south
bank Of the Rapnahannock, and sklrmished
With the sharpshooters Of the Contederates.--
Thus matters stood or the night Of the 18th
lust. Saturday morning we received orders TO
be in readiness TO move At moments notice,
but about noon the members Of the staff were
directed TO prepare for an early start next
morning,
The offices Of the Adjutant General and
the Chief Quartermaster were packed and
loaded into the wagons, tents were struck,
lanterns trimmed and everything arranged for
h2sty move. The stations at Falmouth anu
Stoneman smitey were broken up, and every
Thing that could be moved was hurried OF to
AQUA creek
At daylight Sunday morning we vere OF. -
The Sixth Corps (which had recrossed the rIv-
er with ut molestz ton followed, swung round
gnd took up the line Of march by a different
route for the plains Of Manassas, having re.
leyed the infantry On the river bank, and
while the Confederates waited on the heights,
30 doubt wo ldering at the not unusual specta-
ole, the Federal army tolled on III the dust
over the hills toward the first grand battle
ground Of the war.
The river at Aqua svarmed with vessels,
snd trains Of heavily loaded cars one after an
otheg rushed down TO the landing, while for
age aud conmissary stores, tents, baggage and
equipments that could not be saved were con-
signed to the flames At dark on Sunday
night the region south Of Stafford Court
House was des, rted, save by handful Of cav
airy left TO protect the rear.
The march was rapid, at times dIsorderEy,
and most unpleasant. Bridges broke down
beneath the teams, destroying mules, horses
and the wagons; droves Of horses became
Irightaned and rnshed thrnuch the column