From Gen. Lee's Army.
[from our own Correspondent.] Army of Northern Virginia, Near Orange C. H., Dec. 1, 1863.
My last was brought up to 1 P. M. Sunday, from Gordonsville, at which point I wrote of Mosby's brilliant feat in falling upon the rear of Meade's wagon train and capturing the mules.
Since then nothing of especial interest has occurred.
On Friday evening the fight occurred with Johnson's division.
During Friday night a rain storm began, which lasted until late in the day Saturday, and of course prevented any active operations during that day. On Sunday it was clear and cold, and the enemy spent the day in deploying in line of battle in our front, and there was some slight infantry skirmishing, but it did not amount to much.
Yesterday morning our artillery opened with considerable spirit upon the enemy, who replied briskly, and in this way a spirited cannonading was kept up during the day, inflicting, however, but slight damage on our side.
There was also some infantry skirmishing, but it resulted in nothing of consequence.
Last night the enemy built heavy fires in our front and centre, and began to shift their troops more to our right, as if intending a flank movement.
This was readily discovered by Gen. Lee, and preparations at once were made to thwart it. The enemy now have possession of all the roads leading to Fredericksburg, to wit: the turnpike, which runs nearest the river, and very nearly parallel with it; the plank road, and the Catharpin road.
The Yankee army faces up these roads, and our army faces down them.
Their line of battle being formed on the east side of Mine Run, which is fourteen miles below Orange C. H., two miles below Verdiersville, sixteen above Chancellorsville, and twenty-six above Fredericksburg, or west of that place.
The enemy has been busy since morning throwing up entrenchments which looks very little like fighting.
My own fear is that the enemy will decline to offer battle, but will wait to be attacked until their supplies give out, and then, falling an attack on the part of Gen. Lee.
they will fall down to Fredericksburg and attempt to winter on the south side of the river.--And for this reason they have seized all the roads between our army and Fredericksburg.
Mosby's scouts report that Meade has abandoned the line of the Orange railway; but from what I have since heard I think he has only abandoned the road south of the river, and that he still hauls his supplies from Bealeton, the first station north of the river.
But in doing this he has to cross two streams with his wagon trains, and has to bring his supplies from the railway to his present position, fully thirty-five miles. It is clear that he cannot stay where he is. He has therefore to choose one of three things — to fight, to go back to Culpeper, or to fall down to Fredericksburg — and one of these he must do before Sunday next.
The weather has been bitter cold since Monday, and the men have had as much as they could do in keeping comfortable.
Now is the time for contributions of blankets to warm and make comfortable our noble defenders.
What say the mothers, fathers sweethearts, sisters, and brothers of our brave boys who have now been lying in line of battle through all this cold weather since Friday last, and out of camp since Thursday last?
During the shelling on Monday, Capt. Raine, of the Lynchburg artillery, (Lee battery,) was killed and his body was carried to Orange C. H., yesterday, to be sent home.
He was a brave man and a good officer.
We have captured thus far about three hundred and fifty prisoners, some three hundred horses and mules, and captured and destroyed one hundred wagons.
Our losses in killed and wounded in the fight of Friday last will be, I am told, six hundred.
I am still without any facilities for obtaining an account of the Yankee loss.
Permit me in closing to allude to the fidelity with which Messrs. Jos.
and Geo. McGovern, telegraph operators, have discharged their duties since I have been in attendance upon their office, and for facilities shown me in writing up my letters, and for other kindnesses. 