Affairs on the Rappahannock — depredations of the enemy — the approaching conflict.
A gentleman direct from Madison county, Va., gives us come interesting information respecting the situation of affairs in the country immediately east of the Blue Ridge. The enemy's force in Madison, Culpeper, and the territory adjacent, is believed to number full 40,000 men, and the idea prevails that reinforcements are arriving from McClellan's army. Pope has established his headquarters at Sperryville, Rappahannock county on Saturday week a large body of Federal cavalry made their appearance below Madison Court House. when they were met by a citizen who told them that if they didn't look sharp Jackson would bag the whole party, as he was over the mountains with a hundred thousand men. This caused a hasty stampede, and the army shortly afterward fell back to the neighborhood of the Rappahannock. The Yankees are treating the inhabitants of Madison and Culpeper outrageously, and much consternation prevails in consequence. They steal horses, cattle, and sheep, induce the negroes to run away, and commit all sorts of depredations upon private property. R. S. Thomas and James Eddias have been arrested and taken to Sperryville; and Dr. Lindsay was captured while on his way to visit a patient, but subsequently released, with orders to show himself in that neighborhood no more Mr. editor of the Blue Hiden Republican, has also been arrested and carried off. On a recent occasion the Yankees rode up to Mr. Bowler's house, in Madison, and demanded his two sons, who were known to belong to a Confederate regiment, and then at home on furlough; but they kept out of the way, and after several narrow escapes, succeeded in reaching Richmond on Wednesday last. One of these, Mr. B. F. Bowler, informs us that the Federals are scouring the country for the purpose of catching those who have volunteered or have substitutes in our army; that they discovered a Mr. May, who was at home, sick, and unable to leave his bed, and took his name, proposing to arrest him hereafter. The young men are, therefore, leaving the neighborhood by every opportunity.A painful incident occurred at Madison Court House a few days ago, which should be prominently remembered among the atrocities of the war.--A party of Yankees visited the residence of Gen. Banks, in his absence, and proceeded to demolish his furniture and table ware. Mrs. Banks endeavored to resist their destructive purposes, when one of the brutal soldiers drew a sword to intimidate her, and the unhappy lady suddenly dropped dead upon the floor! This circumstance alone is sufficient to arouse the indignation of the inhabitants, who hope the day of vengeance will not belong deferred.
The enemy are well aware of the vast amount of supplies in the counties they are now invading and acting in pursuance of Pope's orders, they will secure or destroy the whole unless a check is placed upon their operations. Owing to the want of wagons, the rich products of the country have been retained in the hands of the farms and millers, and there is now a superabundance of flour, corn, rye, oats, hay, bacon, and everything necessary for the sustenance of a large army. The Yankees have no forage wagons, but subsist on the country as they proceed. Fine crops of wheat, stacked in the fields, have been seized for the purpose of feeding their horses. From Mr. Crigler, of Madison, they stole 250 barrels of flour, and on his showing some resistance, fired two shots at him, but he escaped without personal injury. The fine estate of Joshua Miller has been completely devastated. Mrs. M. shed tears at the spectacle presented, when a Yankee remarked, with an oath, that there was time enough to cry when the house was burnt over her head. On Sunday last a party of one hundred stopped near Madison Court-House, dismounted, and scaling the garden fences, stole all the growing vegetables they could find. These marauding parties are generally preceded by two or three Yankee soldiers disguised in Confederate uniforms, who impose themselves upon unsuspecting persons, and gather what information they can, and are thus enabled to direct the villainous operations of their comrades when they come up. A few regiments of cavalry might easily capture or disperse the numerous small squads who range through the mountains, daily becoming bolder as they encounter no resistance. They seem, however, to have a whole some dread of ‘"bushwhackers, "’ apprehending that a tree may sometimes conceal an unerring rifleman, with a bullet ready to send through an invader's heart.
A gentleman from Orange county Court-House arrived by the Central train yesterday afternoon. He confirms all that is stated above with reference to the depredations of the enemy in Culpeper and Madison and along the borders of Orange. There had been no forward movement of the enemy. There was slight skirmishing between the pickets of the contending forces nearly every day, and a general conflict was early looked for.
The force which left Fredericksburg on Friday arrived at Rhodes's, in Orange county, on Saturday, and encamped on the farm of Dr. Serrell. On Sunday morning they took a road leading in a southerly direction, it is supposed with the intention of reaching the Central road. Finding themselves frustrated in this movement, they fell back to their main army in Culpeper.
