Later from the North.
We have received Northern papers of the 16th instant. On the night of the 13th inst., the steamer West Point, with 221 convalescent troops from New port News, for Burnside's army, was run into at Aquia Creek by the steamer George Peabody, Capt. Travers, and sank in ten minutes. Seventy-three lives were lost, including the wives of Major Dort, Lieut. Col. Scott and Capt. Cummings, of the 6th N. H. regiment. The negro brigade of General Hunter, at Belton Head. S. C., has been disbanded, as ‘"the negroes could not be made soldiers."’ A large number of Yankees are going over the Canada line and taking the oath of allegiance to the British Government, to avoid being drafted. In Washington, on the 14th Lincoln addressed a delegation of ‘"colored men,"’ who waited on him by invitation, to ‘"talk over"’ the subject of emancipation. His address is reported in two columns of the New York Herald, and includes two verses of poetry! Gen. Pope in his official report of the battle of Cedar Run, says that his loss was 1,500 killed and wounded, and that Monday night the Confederates fled from the field, leaving their dead untitled and wounded lying along the road. The Quincy Herald, says twenty-one Confederate prisoners were shot at Macon, Mo., on the 12th, for breaking their parole, and twelve more are under sentence of death. Robt, A. Dobbin, of the Baltimore American, died on the 14th inst. There is a general dissatisfaction expressed in them at the result of the battle at Cedar Run. The New York World says it is the ‘"old story over again,"’ but consoles itself with the announcement from Washington that the Federal army is going to ‘"try it over again, "’ by advancing on the Confederate forces. The correspondent of that paper gives the following account of the action: Bayard's cavalry brigade is known to have been stationed at Burnett's Ford to guard the bridge of the road from Culpeper to Gordonsville. Buford's (formerly Hatch's) brigade is known to have been posted at Madison Court-House. In the latter place three detachments of Jackson's army descended one on each-flank and one in the centre, and threatened the entire force of six regiments of horse with capture. During the night the wagons were packed and started toward Sperryville, and the cavalry followed in the morning. Retreat to Culpeper was out off, and apprehensions were entertained of being out off also at Woodville. A column of the enemy were advancing in that direction and they have not yet been heard from; but I have no doubt they are safe. Your correspondent was with them, and learning the prospect of a battle near Culpeper, determined to risk the chances of being captured, and started across the country through the woods and corn-fields, swamps and hills, to the scene of action. A train of baggage wagons upon the route were soon discovered, which, appearing to be our own, were soon made for and perched. They proved to be the train of General Claseret, and his brigade was found upon a small cross road and informed, for the first time, of the advance of the enemy enforce. Proceeding forward, nothing of note occurred for several hours. Arriving at a small house, where a farmer and his family were sitting at dinner, I accepted their invitation to dine with them. They assured me that no Southern soldiers had been seen in the vicinity. Presently a little girl came running in with the report that the soldiers were coming. I went to the door and saw that they were Yankees, and returned to my dinner. Presently a score, of them came crowding around the table, clamoring for milk. The farmer and his family, partly through fear, rose up and commenced dealing out to them some milk. But in a shorter time than it has taken me to tell of it, they pounced upon the food like harpies, and the table was cleared of everything except what I had insisted on retaining on my own plate. They informed me that they were part of the escort to the signal corps, and had been driven down by the Confederates from Thoroughfare Mountain, their baggage wagon captured, and several of their number taken prisoners. Proceeding a little further, I descried in the distance a baggage train moving toward Culpeper Court-House. I supposed it to be that of General Cluseret. If so, I fear it has been captured. A considerable force of the enemy were not far from it at the time. As I approached my destination the cannonading had commenced. A line of dust above the woods indicated the road upon which our troops were advancing. Gen. Bayard had been driven back from the Bapidan, and Gen. Crawford's brigade had been sent out to support him. Their forces joined at Cedar Run, and took position. Besides his four well tried regiments, the 28th New York, 46th Pennsylvania, 10th Maine, and 5th Connection, General Crawford had with him three batteries of artillery — Reemer's, Knapp's, and Best's. With this command he had stood and resisted the advance of Jackson during the afternoon of yesterday, successfully deluding him in regard to his actual strength. The Confederates had now advanced all along their lines from beyond the Rapidan. Gen. Banks was this morning ordered to the front. Cannonading commenced at 3 o'clock P. M., and the accuracy of the enemy's aim was unusual. Gen. Angur, who commands the second division of Gen. Banks's army, was upon the Jeff, and suffered much from their shell. He was himself wounded. Gen. Geary was also wounded. The guns bore less heavily upon Gen. Williams's division on the right. For them was reserved the shock of the terrible fire of musketry which commenced at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Crawford's and Gordon's brigades were spread out upon the right under the shelter of a line of woods. A right flank movement was determined upon intended to have been the decisive stroke of the day. Crawford's brigade was ordered to advance. Slowly and steadily they were moving on, and though they knew it not, almost to their entire destruction. Having passed nearly through an opening in the woods beyond which the enemy were supposed to lie concealed, volley on volley of sings and bullets were poured out upon them, causing a most unprecedented slaughter. They against and held the woods, and fought while half a dozen of the enemy's shots were responded to by but one of our own. The destruction was appalling. Col. Donnelly, of the 28th New York, was carried from the field mortally wounded. His Lieutenant- Colonel, Brown, was wounded. Colonel Knipe, of the 46th Pennsylvania, was wounded; and when the brigade of two thousand men retired from the field, it was well nigh annihilated. Three field officers only escaped harm--Colonel Beale, of the 10th Maine; Lieutenant-Colonel Selfridge, of the 46th Pennsylvania, and Major Walker, of the 10th Maine. Captains and Lieutenants were also nearly every one killed, wounded, or captured. General Gordon's brigade, which came up to support them, came out of action almost as badly injured. The General and his staff were unharmed, but his regiments suffered heavily. The remnant of the two brigades will now scarcely make a single regiment. General Crawford remained on the field long after his men had been driven back, and barely escaped being captured. He was so near the enemy as to have overheard the address of Gen. Jackson to his men after the fight. Prisoners, report the enemy to have been no less than 25,000. General Banks's force was only 10,000. The enemy have not pursued us. We hold the ground at night occupied during the day. We have not been defeated, though we have suffered terribly. Sigel and McDowell are coming up; but if we are attacked to-morrow, Gen. Banks corps can scarcely appear in action. The men who came out safety are, many of them, wandering about and straggling toward the town. General Banks made a desperate fight against fearful odds. An officer of the regular army, who was in frequent intercourse with him during the day, tells me be was always as cool and calm as when in the Speaker's chair, while shells or bullets were whizzing around him. Major Pelouze, of his staff, was wounded. The dring continued some time after dark, but has ceased now. It may commence again in the morning.What the Confederate Plan was.
The Associated Press agent informs his Northern papers of the cause of the battle, as follows: ‘ Jackson attempted by a feint upon Madison Court-House and Springville to detain our forces at the latter point, while at the same time he threw the mass of his forces, numbering at least twenty-five thousand men, by way of Orange Court-House, upon us at Culpeper, expecting to find only a portion of our forces there, march on Springville from Culpeper and crush the army corps of General Sigel. His plans were completely fooled by the rapid concentration of our forces at Culpeper, and their advancing to meet him at Cedar Run. The cool and determined temper of General Banks accepted the proffered battle as soon as offered; and the battle of Saturday afternoon was fought between the advance under General Banks and the advance of Jackson; under Ewell and himself. After endeavoring in vain to rout and drive Banks's corps, Jackson found himself compelled at height, by the rapid movements in front of him, to fall back to a stronger defensive position to Color mountain, and finding his lines of retreat becoming insecure, on the succeeding night he retreated altogether, retiring beyond Robertson's river, and again beyond the Rapidan. The result is that Jackson is again fooled and forced to abandon his operations, and his prestige has been seriously impaired. He will be rapidly followed by our army. ’Incidents of the battle, &c.,
Stragglers from the battle field to town have all been arrested by Gen. Pope, and by to-morrow a list of missing can be obtained, with accuracy. Capt. George Tannett, of Prince's staff, was mortally shot in the breast. The 28th Pennsylvania regiment escaped without loss, having been detached to guard signal station eight or ten miles southwest of the battle-field, early in the day. They returned yesterday, escorting safety the signal officers, although compelled to pass near the enemy's pickets. On Sunday night, about 11 o'clock, whilst Gen. Pope and Gen. Banks were in conference in the rear of our advanced batteries, a body of the enemy's cavalry charged in the most daring manner through the woods on our front towards the group. The discharge of musketry and the whizzing of balls near them gave timely notice of the rebels' approach. Horses were speedily mounted and a regiment of infantry fired a volley, checking the charge and probably saving both commanders. The correspondent of the New York Tribune also states that an ‘ "unofficial"’ interview took place subsequently between Gen. Hartmann and the Confederate Gen. Stuart, but the object of the visit has not transpired. The Confederate pickets were still in sight, but the main body of their forces, it was supposed, had fallen back and taken up a new position two miles in the rear. The Washington Star, asserts that Gen. Pope would promptly advance and attack them. Large reinforcements are joining Burnside with a view, if need be, of an advance in aid of General Pope. The enemy are in very strong force on the Rapidan, and their numbers are estimated at from 60,000 to 80,000. The following is Pope's official dispatch: Headq'rs Army of Va., Calar Mountain, Va., 7:30 A. M. Aug. 12th, 1862.
Major General Hald:
T has of the night.
His near is now crossing the Rapidan towards Orange Court-House.
Our cavalry and artillery are in pursuit.
