Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1883-10-25

Nearly all current histories uf the late rc-
beIlion ignore the story OF the >tormins OF
Rappahannock station, nr dismiss il w.th but
Sigh notice. The only standard history
which gives any extended narrative of that
desperate struggle is that Of Horace Greeley.
Yet it was an exploit that thrilled the who! !e
country at the time, which called forth IN
stinted praise from the press and won from
the commanding officers Of the Army of the
Potomac special commendation and notice IN
general orders.
On the 9Th Of November, 1861. the Army
Of the Potomac lay IN camp in the vicinity
Of W arlenton, fronting the confederate army
commanded by Gen. Lee, which occupied
the line Of the Rappahannock river. \
short time previous, Lee had repeated against
Meade the tactics and stra,eg, which had
been so successful against Hooker and Pope,
and passed around the right flank of the
Army Of the Potomac. lie had compelled
Meade to fall back nearly to the vicinity of
Alexandria in order to avoid a battle at dis
advantage.
Meade selected position in the neighbur
hood Of Centerylle, and Lee. finding his
antagonist had pursued cautious and Judi
cious course, and was ready to confront him
upon ground Of his own choice. fell back to
the line OF the Rappahannock. DESTROYING
the railroad and all other public propert, in
on,.n'ar,,,,yreJ ard a,x;ni,s - d,l;,n, -
,u,,, IJn, ,,lIoua1 Ill, MI, .a.,,L
and oa,, of Warren,nn .,r,t;n,, 49, ,ba a.oon,,'
HAN Nav j, Rr;s,oa S,a,;n, I'll, f,l,I -
lr;n,, In, - h.,,ta M ,.,;...-.,,. i
,,.ar ,ra l;,.o ~ ,h. pa,,n,t,."n,al. Ia,
/ hnII,n,, .ba ,o,d. a,J Il, III, -,
.r
( n, ,l. ,,.,,;,,e. .h, c.b , \..,...,,.,.
1894 ora.rs w.r,. ,.,ad i srI II, Ill
maxim,r, Win ,mn,,r;,ion ~ b,r. ,hr...
/ I,,'., cooL .I r,,inns II H.. h,,.r.,cLs In
1 ~. ,.,d, n ,narcb =, aa,t.r.., AI,e'N
nromrt I'M. bu,Ie >ourrej Al ,h4 h4,ionor,-
r.. : ..I.rcle John" SadgvicL ,h,. ,i~,,,'l
! Ala ca,,,,andar of n. al cor,,s Ill, .ha
/ sky n.,,,n ,o redden in Tho sas, Tau,s
we,. strucL "a ...,;,r,, c,n, ~ .,,n,,.,
a,,,y cntfae d,ank and ~ ,ha a., ra,s !,
| tho sun flashed ahova m. borizor tho coI
INNS fed ;ntn The road and ~wnna on, u;,b
| IN. long steadv marcb;n, .,an son,h.arJ
/ toward the enemy
| The frst division of the 6,h corns l.l ,he
advance tho ,bird b,;yada commardad NJ,
General David Russell and consi.tinr ii
! the 9Th Wisconsin. 9Th Maine. 4gtb and
I 11o,b pennsvlvania reyiments IN fran,
| RI. lo,b PennsyI,ania Id tho ent;,s c,I-
nmn After nassinp m. nicket linz Mani
two miles ont line of skirp,ishers was
thrown ont TO the front and aanks of the
column and in this manner marched MIN.
out opposition until about . O'Clock ,. NJ
when at a distance of two and a half miles
from the river small p,rry Of cavalry wa,
struck
They fell hack without seriously a,temp,-
ms 10 oppose the advance contentinp them.
s.I,.. hr Observing ON, annroacb ~ coon
arrived near the range Of b,lIs bo,darinc the
river and the head Of the column turned ia
The Ief, 90 az 70 mass down the river We
marched down and porallpl with ,be river
nearly 10 the railroad and connected with
,be advance of the Fifth corps. under Gen,
Warren which soon after came nm in fnrce
Tb, second division of the Sixth corps. as
if came up. deployed by the right and sun
nor,ed a couplr Of batteries which took DO
sition on height from which the rebels
could be seen in medium shell range. The
enemy were found to be strongly entrenched
ON the same side of the river on which We