The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1863-08-20

srryr TERM or NON-ACTION AT
AN END.
The Rebels Moving in . Southeastcrly
Direction-Gcncral Meade on
the Qui vive.
New York, Aug. IS.

The New York Tribune's special from
Washington says:
.Deseriers report movement ola por-
ton of Lees army in the direction of
Dumfries, for the purpose of fanking
Gen. Meade on the left. Scouts report,
however, all quiet as to any movement.
The rebels are engaged in throwing up
earthworks. Part OF Longstreets corps
is at United States Ford. A proper dis
position of our forces has been made to
prevent any advance Of the enemy. Eve
rything continues quiet.
The rumor that Lee has crossed a por.
ton Of his forces over the Rsppahannock
has been proved untrue by our cavalry
The army holds itself in readiness to move
at moments notice, 80 thatapy attempt
of Lee to advance will be most promptly
met"
The Herald has the following;
Headquarters Army Potomac,
Aug. l6.
"a contraband deserted from Lees ar
my yesterday forenoon, and came within
our lines. He reports that, on Wednes.
day morning, the whole Of Lees army,
with the exception of A. Z. Hills corps,
moved from Culpepper Court House by
the fredericksburg road. He also con
firms the stories of the decentralization of
the North Carolina, Tennessee and Ala
bama troops. Those from North Carroll.
IA in Hills corps have openly reyoIted,
and swear they will fight no longer. The
Mississippi troops are clamorous TO be sent
home.
The contraband deserter's story of the
movements Of the rebel troops is further
confirmed by reports from our scouts.
"On Saturday large force ofrebel in
fantry and cavalry, with some artillery,
made its appearance on the south bank of
the Rappahannock, above Falmouth. An
other story is that they crossed al Fred
erieksburg on Friday night, but consid
er the report of their crossing highly i'm
probable.
The news from the front this morning
is cheering, inasmuch rs 1t points to ter.
mination of our term of nou-action. We
are all momen,arily expecting orders te
pull up stakes.
Heavy firing has been distinctly hearc
since 3 o'clock this morning, in south
easterly direction, apparently in the
neighborhood OF Banks or u. S. ford, or,
possibly, as far away as Fredericksburg.
The firing is rapid and constant. A bat
tls is evidently going on. Large bodies
OF troops were moving yesterday, march
ing by rail, and that our advance has come
up with he enemy may safely be inferred
from the noise this morning
The Washington special to the Heralp
says:
"This morning the enemy made dem
.onsration Oh the left OF our army, and
heavy cannonAding ensued for some time.
No intelligence concerning results has
reached Washington to day, but it is be-
lieved the movement was nothing more
than reconnaissance in force for the pur-
pose of feeling our position Lees army
Is reported to be moving in southeast
erly course, and there can be no doubt
that The region about Cupepper and Cor
louisville will soon be entirely evacuated
by The enemy"
The New York Times special says:
Marks, the deserter from Lees army,
came down the valley by way Of Staunton,
Harrisonburg and Strssburg. He saw but
few troops on the way. Imboden was at
strasburg He had two brigades of cay
airy and two batteries of artillery. The
fight at SnickersvilIe was between detach.
ed portions of different regiments. YAe
Georgians and North Carolinisns desert
ed. bringing with them their arms. They
attacked Stuart's cavalry at Soicker's fer
ry, routed them and succeeded in getting
TO Northerner's. Marks saw about 100
soldiers, Georgians, North Carolina ms,
Aiabamians and Texans, on their way
home, having openly deserted. The Blue
Ridge Mountains are alive with stragglers
and deserters, who have their arms With
them, so numerous are tn ey, that in
travelling along the mountain side. thew
have actually made paths. Tie Provost
uaards stationed along the route are afraid
TO interfere with them on account of their
numbers, save whes travelling alone.
Auvices received tonight from the Ar.
my OF tie Potomac state that artillery fir.
ing was heard early this morning. in the
direction of Damfrees-supposed TO have
been occasloned by our cavalry enospino
Stuart, who has small force OF his cayai
ry In that neig hborhood