ARMY OPERATIONS IN VIRGINIA: Probable Evacuation of Culpepper by the Rebels; Contradictory Reports About Jackson (11/15/1862)

A rebel brigade, which has for several days been reconnoitering our positions on the Rappahannock, left Jefferson this morning for Culpepper. Gen. PLEASANTON's Cavalry drove their rear guard from Jefferson.

JACKSON is said to be still hovering about Chester Gap, with not over 40,000 men under his command. We have a force on his front which prevents his coming down on this side.

A special correspondent to the American, dated. Harper's Ferry, to-day, says it is believed there that JACKSON is between Winchester and Harper's Ferry. Parties from Winchester and our scoute report that JACKSON passed through Winchester on Monday, and that Gen. HILL followed him on Tuesday. Skirmishing between our pickets and those of the rebels has been renewed during the past few days, and three of the First Maryland Cavalry have been captured.

Gen. SLOCUM, who commands at the Ferry, is fully awake to the position of affairs, and has a sufficient force.

The rebel cavalry scouts are still said to be on this side of the Blue Ridge, but beyond picking up stragglers and capturing a few sutlers' wagons, have accomplished nothing.

Lieut. ROGERS, of the Staff of the rebel Gen. A.P. HILL, was captured to-day by Col. PRICE's Cavalry while visiting his family near Leesburgh. He says JACKSON will be in Cumberland within twenty-four hours. Similar rumors of JACKSON's movements are received from Harper's Ferry.

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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Army Operations in Virginia: Probable Evacuation of Culpepper by the Rebels – 2-3
News from Washington: Our Special Washington Dispatches – 3-4
Important Arrests: Two of Gen. McClellan’s Staff Officers Taken to Washington – 4
Our Nashville Correspondence: The Attack Upon the City by Morgan – 4-5
From New-Mexico: Interesting Treason Case – 5-6
The Indian War: Letter from Gen. Pope to Gov. Ramsey – 6
Editorial: The Change in Command – 6-7
Editorial: The Rebellion Completely Overthrown in the West – 7
Editorial: The Cause of the Rebellion – 7-8

"Editorial: The Cause of the Rebellion – 7-8"

Excellent editorial expresses my opinions word for word, highly recommended to read.
A condensed sample:

"...We do not believe that the rebellion had its origin in any apprehension that Slavery would be abolished by the Administration of President Lincoln.
In ouir judgment it was the culmination of a conspiracy, -- started many years ago, and carefully nursed until it was ripe, and until the political condition of the country was favorable to its execution.
Immediately after nullification was quieted in 1833, by the compromise, Gen. Jackson, in a letter to a friend, stated that the project of Disunion, though defeated for the time, was not abandoned, -- and that it would still be pursued by those who enlisted in it, but that Slavery would be used as the pretext for it in the next attempt, as the Tariff had been in the first.
This, we think, assigns to Slavery its true position and influence in this movement.
It has been the pretext and not the cause of the rebellion.
The real cause was the ambition of leading Southern men, with CALHOUN at their head.
If CALHOUN could have been President of the Unitedc States, we should never have heard of secession..."

Our editors say that Slavery was the pretext, concocted for Southern public consumption, but the real reason was the ambitions of Southern politicians.
However true that is, or is not, the fact remains that the vast majority of voting Southerners believed Republican threats against slavery were among the "real reasons" for their declaring secession.

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