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Re: Raccoon Ford, Va.
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Richmond Dispatch.
Thursday morning...September 17, 1863.
From Genlee's army — the cavalry fight.
Outposts Army Northern Virginia, North side Rapidan, Sept.15, 1863.

How truthfully has this portion of the Holy Word been verified: "For we know not what a day may bring forth." In my last, dated the 12th inst., I apprised your readers that profound silence reigned along our entire picket lines. Nor could I discern at that time the smallest speck, indicating an advance, on the bright horizon. All, in the language of the New York Herald, was painfully quiet. Since, there has been quite a formidable advance of the enemy. At a very early hour on last Sundaymorning, the 13th inst., your correspondent was informed that the Yankees were crossing at Rixey and Kelly's fords. Soon after intelligence came that they were crossing at all the fordable points on the Rappahannock between the two fords mentioned above.--Gen. Stuart, with his usual vigilance, had not allowed himself to be surprised. Through his scouts and other sources he had been apprised of the enemy's making preparations to cross the river, and sent orders to officers commanding the different brigades to hold themselves in readiness to meet the enemy. Soon bugles of the various regiments were sounded, and the men sprang into their saddles promptly and dashed off to meet him.--A very heavy column of cavalry, accompanied by several batteries, had crossed the river at Kelly's, and was marching cautiously on the road leading from this ford to Brandy. They had met with very little resistance until they reached this point, having no force to contend with save that of pickets. Here the 6th and 12th regiments skirmished with them for some time. They were finally driven back. Gen. Lomax reinforced the above regiments promptly. Another engagement immediately ensued, in which the 9th and 15th participated largely. Both fought splendidly; the 9th has long since won a glorious name for prowess. But with all the valor evinced, the overwhelming column of the enemy could not be checked, our cavalry retiring slowly until it reached Mountain Run. Here a squadron of the 15th made a bold charge and drove the enemy back a short distance.

It was here we lost two pieces of artillery that had been placed in position to hold a ford below the railroad bridge. The regiment that had been placed in supporting distance of this artillery changed its position through a mistake. A portion of the enemy's cavalry swept around, under cover of a hill and out of view, until they got within a very short distance, when they charged and took it. About the same time another gun was captured by a very rapid flank movement on our left. While I regret to record the loss of these guns, I do not believe it could have been avoided. During the engagement at the Court-House Col. Gordon moved up on the Stevensburg road and attacked the enemy vigorously on his left flank; but, fearing he might greatly cripple his command by prolonging the fight, he retired on the Raccoon Ford road, the enemy in hot pursuit of him. The 6th regiment, commanded by Major Flournoy, made a very brilliant charge, and succeeded in repulsing the enemy's sharpshooters. The enemy's cavalry was supported by Gen. Warren's command — the 12th army corps. The fight continued until twilight, having commenced about 9 o'clock in the morning. Our loss in killed and wounded will not reach fifty men.

General Stuart fell back to the Rapidan, where he bivouacked for the night. He was in his saddle early on yesterday morning, and made a spirited attack on the enemy near Rapidan Station. The engagement lasted all day. The Horse Artillery, commanded by Maj. Beckham, did some terrible execution. I witnessed a number of riders unhorsed. There was skirmishing at Raccoon Ford on yesterday between our cavalry and the enemy. I hear of but few casualties on our side. I omitted to mention the wounding of Col. Beale early in the action on Sundaymorning. The wound is not supposed to be dangerous. He was shot through the fleshy part of his leg. Skirmishing is still going on here this evening. But I am inclined to think this a joint, and that the enemy will cross the Rapidan below this point, perhaps at Raccoon or Germana Fords. While I write, three o'clock P. M., I can hear firing down the river. I must close this hasty pencil sketch.

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The Daily Dispatch: September 19, 1863.

From Northern Virginia.
--There was no news of any consequence from the Army of Northern Virginia yesterday. Affairs on the line of the Rappahannock continue quiet. The enemy is reported to have withdrawn from Culpeper Court-House, and the impression is that he designs a return to the north side of the Rappahannock. Thirty prisoners, captured at Raccoon Ford several days ago, were brought down by the Central train last night.

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Richmond Dispatch.
Tuesday morning...September 22, 1863.

The cavalry fighting in Northern Virginia--the position of Meade's army.
A dispatch, dated "Near the Rapidan" on the 17th, says:

Yesterday the rebels crossed the river at Raccoon ford, the force consisting of infantry, their design being to reconnoitre the position and ascertain the strength of our force in that vicinity. In this they were foiled and handsomely repulsed, with heavy loss, by Gen. Kilpatrick, who dismounted his men, who used the double Spencer rifle with deadly effect. The regiments engaged on our side were the 1st Virginia and 2d New York cavalry, who fought with their usual gallantry.

The casualties in Kilpatrick's division in the two days were two killed and forty-six wounded.

Yesterday and to-day the rebels shelled the wood leading to the camps of our troops on the Rapidan, preventing the wagons and troops from passing for an interval. This afternoon the rebels opened fire from a few guns, without, however, inflicting damage.

A squad of thirty men belonging to the 4th New York cavalry were captured by the rebels, and the whole regiment has incurred the displeasure of Gen. Pleasanton, who has issued an order to that effect.

The rebels have fortified the heights on the other side of the Rapidan, the position being naturally a strong one. Over thirty of their guns are counted that are in view, the majority, of course, being screened from sight.

Another dispatch, dated the 17th, says:

The most of the enemy's cavalry has been driven across the Rapidan, but about 2,000 still occupy a position on this side, protected by some powerful batteries, mounting 12 guns. These are further protected by a powerful range of hills overlooking the river on the other side.

After fiercely pursuing their cavalry on Sunday and Monday, a squad of our men dashed after them across the river, but, having got under range of their batteries on the other side, had to retire.

Yesterday a fresh line of their cavalry recrossed the river and charged the First Michigan. The latter were armed with revolving carbines, and, having alighted from their horses, took up a masked position. The enemy dashed up to their very lines, when they were received with a murderous fire, leaving several killed and wounded on the field, and sixty prisoners in our hands. Only for the twelve guns on this side our cavalry could have easily passed over, sweeping the right wing of their line.

As I write this the front of our infantry line is within two miles of the river. The trains are heard running into the Rapidan station, evidently loaded with troops and ammunition from Richmond.

The enemy's cavalry force is estimated at about two thousand--certainly near that. --Their cavalry is well cut up.

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Richmond Dispatch.
Saturday morning...September 26, 1863.
From Northern Virginia.
--The passengers by both the Central and Fredericksburg trains last evening brought an encouraging explanation of the firing heard in the direction of Raccoon Ford on Thursday. They state that the firing resulted from a fight in which we captured some seven hundred of the enemy's cavalry, with their horses and equipments. The report, coming as it does from two distinct sources, would seem to be entitled to some credit, but if such a capture has been made it is a little singular that no official intelligence of it has reached the city. We hardly think that a fight of such proportions, and resulting in such decided success, occurring on Thursday, would have been unannounced officially up to 9 o'clock on Fridaynight. We therefore set the report down as entirely without foundation, or is greatly exaggerated.

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