The Rappahannock lines.
The Central train from the
West arrived yesterday afternoon as its usual hour.
Passengers on the train report nothing new from the lines near
Gordonsville.
As the train passed Frederick's Hall a rumor prevailed that the enemy were between that station and Waller's Tavern, on the road leading to
Fredericksburg.
On reaching Verdon station, they learned that a severe fight was in progress, between the enemy and the forces of
Gen. Stuart, at a point some five miles form the station, in
Caroline county, and the position of the two forces was such as to warrant the hope that the
Federal troops engaged would be captured.
At
Hanover Junction, an absurd report was in calculation that
Stuart had been repulsed with the loss of two regiments and three pieces of artillery.
As his force consisted solely of cavalry and artillery, those who understood the position of affairs gave no credit to this rumor.
Some seven or eight prisoners were brought down from the
Junction by the train, who were captured in a skirmish on Tuesday afternoon.--They say that the
Federal force in the neighborhood consisted of three regiments of infantry, ten pieces of artillery, and 600 cavalry, and state, also, that
Burnside is landing at
Fredericksburg with 40,000 men. It is well known, however, that this latter statement, if not wholly untrue, is greatly exaggerated.
It is pretty well understood that
Burnside sailed from
Hampton Roads on Monday, with about 10,000 and that he intended to reinforce
Pope.