Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-10-24
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
scyc.c Fighting Nenr Mnnnss's
junction und rsuti Kun.
General Lees Army Falling Back.
.uccsss or onxsnAL nKADR's STRATEGY.
tcorrcspcadonoe Of tho New York Hcrid.

succEsa OF oRSERAL EEADEs STRATEGY.
tCorrcspcndcnce Of the New York Hcra1d.l
HEApou ARTERs ARMY OF THE PoToMAc,
October 10, 1868.
Again the tables are turned. By the
strategic skill he has shown in all his
movements, General Meade has batlled all
the designs of the skllful rebel chieftain,
and succeeded in placing the Union army in
position where it would be madness for
any foe to attack it, and now the discomht-
ed rebel army beats hasty retreat, attempt
ing 10y rapid movements and shrewd devices
to get back to his fortified position on the
Rapidan before the eXutant forces of the
Union shall fall upon aud utterly destroy
him. 4 rout without battle, victory
without IN engagement utter and total de-
| feat of II powerful army purely by strategic
mOvements--such are the results of the
campaign just closing. The enemy has
gone, and Meade is pursuing. In the far
distance, away off in the vicinity of Thor
ougllfare Gap, the booming OF cannon an
n0unces that our advance is engaged with
the rear guard Of the flying rebels, spreading
CONSERVATION and terror throughout their
already disorganized and dcmoraized ranks.
AS We retired from the Rappahannock to
|
my exulted and shouted victory. Every
step that they advanced seemed to them'an
assurance that Washington was within their
grasp. Succeeding in getting possession Of
the shortest lines from the Rappahannock to
Centrevile, they thought to possess these
heights in advance of our little army, then
wheeling, destroy us. leaving Washington
as the easy and sure fruit of their success
1t was II plausible scheme and adroitiy
managed but the able commander of the
Union forces was more adroit than they lie
understood their plan. BY ceascless and
untiring vigilance he kept himself possessed
of all their movements and designs. and by
marches of unparalleled rapidity, in which
his noble troops suffered without murmuring
the loss of rest for successive nights, march
ing on, both through daylight and darkness,
in storm and cold, through hunger and tati-
que, and all manner of privation and endu-
rance, such as has never characterized the
march of any army since lhe terrible retreat
of the French from Moscow, he overcame
the two days start the enemy had gained,
and his advance was already in possession
of the heights when the rear guard - the
noble 2d Corps---engag the encmy's adj
vance full ten miles distant, on Broad run.
Full and detailed accounts have been given
you of the brilliant rcpulse Of the enemy at
Broad run hy the gallant warren. Asi was
no part of General Mcade's plans to give the
enemy battle on any other than ground Of
his own choosing, Warren was not allowed
to remain al Broad run after repulsing the
enemy, but was Immediately Withdrawn to
the cast of Bull run. Our line of defence
was then taken up on the semiCircular
heights east of that stream, Ccntrcville
forming the apex of the curve. The line
extended from the vicinity of Chantilly on
the right to Union Mills on the left, with
advanced points covered by cavalry and
small hodics of infantry beyond either flank
TO provide against flank movements. Bir-
ney, with the lst Division of the 3D. Corps,
WAS stationed in front Of Fairfax Station,
, which WAS made the temporary depot OF
supplies, and, hy the disposition of his troops
and the cavalry of Buord and Gregg, pro-
vided against any attempts of the enemy to
gain our rear via the Uccoquan, which they
al one time threatened The left of our line
proper rested at Union Mills, and was form
cd hy tue remaining two divisions of the
sd Corps, under the immediate command of
General French, the temporary commander
of that corps. General 5, dywick. with the
9th Corps, was posted in the vicinity OF
Chantilly, forming the right of the line,
= with the cavalry division of General Kilpat-
rick To protect his flank. The lst Corps oc-
cupicd the immediate heights of Ccntrcvillc
The 2d and 9th were held in readiness to be
thrown wherever most needed.
Information received at headquarters after
our line was formed tended to show that
Hills rebel corps-the force that had enga
ged Warren at CentrevilIe--was moving up
on the south side of the Orange and Alex
andria Railroad, us if to assail or turn our
left flank, while Ewell and the single divi.
son OF LongStrect's corps that accompanied
the movement WAS working to the right
His information seemed to disclose plan
70 turn the heights OF Ccntrevilc by both
Hanks simultaneously, with the intention o,
uniting again somewhere in the vicinity OF
Fairfax Court House. prcsuming on thus
getting between us and Washington, and
lighting us away from our base The dis
coyery of this design by General Meade wa,
of itself sufficient to Illustrate it. The
scheme was too daring to be attempted after
discovery, and WAS therefore, abandoned Sc
soon us the enemy discovered. 10y the dispo
sition OF our cavalry on the left, that it haC
been discovered by us.
The rebel column was pressing on in al
haste 10y the roads south of the railrOat
leading through Wolf Run Shoals. on Thurs
day morning when they were intcrcepte,
by Buford's cavalry, and spirited skirnish
ing commenced. While General Butort
threw himself in their front, the forces o
General Gregg came upon their flank Will
such carnestncss that for while the rehc
column seemed in imminent danger of bcin.
Stampedcd between the two attacks Bu
their general showed no little skill, and IL,
the perils thickcncd about him ncryed him
self To OvereOae them. lie seemed to have
become speedily convinced of the impracti
cability of the plan he had undertaken, anC
wheeled his column to the left, with II view
oi moving across our front to rcjon ia,
rebel force ON our right. In doing this, h,
perceived that he MAS liable to attack at
every step, unless 10y "A very wide detouI
away from our lines he should make I'll,
distance too great for us to asSui him. or ID,
some TENT he should attract our attention Il
points removed from his line of march
lie stems To have accepted the latter al
tentative, and accordingly made IL strong
demonstration at McLean's Ford on Bui
Run
Information obtained since this affair es
tahllshcr the fact that Hill, on withdrlwina
from Mclcan's Ford, abandoned the uttcmp,
to cross our front, and Frd.y morning
retired uown the railroad, leaving a yrfS
thin picket line of cavalry in our inlmediai,