Northern war Matters.
notes of the war — Facts and Incidents — extracts from Northern papers, &c., &c.We make up the following summary from late papers received at this office. All Northern accounts of skirmishes must be read with due allowance for the proneness to falsehood existing in the enemy's country:
Tuesday's skirmish in Fairfax.
The following is from the Washington correspondence of the New York Herald, dated August 27: ‘ Yesterday a picket guard of fifty of the Thirty-eighth New York Volunteers, under Captain Dennett, were sent out from their camp, near the Fairfax Theological Seminary, to Bailey's Cross Roads, about five miles distant. Captain Dencett placed his main picket at the Cross Roads, and stationed detachments at important points in advance. One of these detachments, numbering ten men, occupied a position on the Leesburg Turnpike, one and a half miles from the Cross Roads, on a prominent hill commanding a view of the surrounding country. This detachment remained in undisturbed possession of the position until ten o'clock this morning, when it was attacked by a force of seven hundred of the enemy, composed of cavalry and infantry, with one piece of artillery. The attack was made so suddenly that five of the party were made prisoners. The other five managed to reach the main picket at the cross roads in safety. The assaulting party crept upon the guard, under cover of thick woods on one side and a cornfield on the other, by which they were completely concealed until the moment they precipitated themselves upon the picket. As soon as intelligence of the attack reached Captain Dennett, he started with the main guard to the relief of his men, but was very soon overtaken by Captain Allison, of the same regiment, the brigade officer of the day, who was on his way with another company of the Thirty-eighth New York Volunteers to relieve Captain Dennett's Guard. Upon consultation as to the expediency of attempting to dislodge the enemy from the hill, it was concluded to be unadvisable, on account of the great disparity in number. The Union force, being not more than one-seventh that of the enemy, who were also provided with cavalry and one piece of artillery, was withdrawn, and the rebels left in possession of the hill. The men of the Thirty-eighth New York Regiment, made prisoners in this affair, are Augustus Gantz of Company C; Samuel Van Duzen of Company I; and Sergeant C. W. Fairfield, Lorenzo Crook and John Tyler of Company D. ’Captain Pish captured by the rebels.
The officer of the Thirty-first New York Regiment who was captured by the enemy on Sunday last, near Bailey's Cross Roads, was not a Lieutenant, as reported, but Captain Fish. The company to which he was attached were on picket duty in that vicinity, and while he and his two lieutenants and eight or ten men were searching for some of the men who had straggled off, they strayed about an eighth of a mile beyond our line of picket, when they were fired upon by a large body of rebels. Several of the men were wounded, among whom was Captain Fish, who was shot in the breast. At this juncture his horse stumbled, falling upon him, and before he could extricate himself, the enemy were upon him and made him a prisoner. Captain F. was from New Orleans. The others of his party escaped.More skirmishing.
The following is from the Washington Star: ‘ Alexandria County, Va., (near Bailey's Cross Roads,) August 28.--Yesterday, shortly afternoon, our picket guard, 12 men strong, at Munson's red hill, a mile above Bailey's Cross Roads, was surrounded suddenly by a force of about 300 Secessionists, who opened fire upon them, killing one man. Another was killed by being shot in the back by one of his own comrades. Six of the twelve were captured by the enemy, and the other four escaped back to our guard (of a company) at Bailey's Cross Roads. Mr. Daniel Munson, hearing the fire so near his residence, mounted his horse to ride towards our lines. As he emerged from his gate on the turnpike, a volley was fired from the hill, two hundred yards up the road, one shot bringing his horse to the ground. The horse tell, and he extricated himself and ran across Bailey's field in the direction of B.'s house.--Nothing of his whereabouts has since been heard here. He probably got off safely, however. The Secessionists pursued the four retreating men to a point near Bailey's Cross Roads, when the appearance of a company of regular cavalry coming to the reinforcement of the guard there, caused the enemy to face about and make again for Munson's hill. Heretofore that guard has been but a single company. I do not believe that it will soon again be set upon in any such fashion, unless a general attack be designed by the enemy. ’Skirmish over the river.
Arlington Heights. Aug. 28
--Col. Hoffman, of the 23d New York (Elmtra) regiment, with Capt. Dingree's company and one other, started yesterday afternoon to the vicinity of Ball's Cross Roads, for the protection of our pickets in that locality.
Near Ball's Cross Roads they encountered about 600 Secessionists, when a volley was exchanged.
The two Federal companies retired, in presence of the superior force, in excellent order.
About thirty rounds were exchanged, and --Carroll, of Elmira, was killed by a shot from the enemy.
He was a young man and was very popular with his regiment.
Another of our men was wounded in the neck and had a finger shot off. Whether the Confederates suffered any loss is not known.
Our companies and the pickets fell back to the camp about half a mile beyond Arlington.
Col. Hoffman and the Quartermaster of the Regiment, hearing that a large force of Confederates were in the vicinity of Falls Church, took a circuitous route, and got on the top of a house, about a mile from the church, to reconnoitre.
They had a good glass, but were unable to detect the presence of troops in any force in that vicinity.
The correspondent of the associated press adds, same date:
It is now believed that several of our soldiers were killed and a few others wounded in the skirmishes on the Virginia side yesterday between the pickets.
The Washington Star, of Wednesday evening, says: ‘
Washington is full of rumors of the near approach of a battle on the other side of the river.
The circumstances on which they are based amount to little more than the gradual advance of the scouting outposts of Beauregard's army to points almost within range of the guns of the fortifications of the United States, which, however, have not attempted to be hold (by the enemy) so far, for more than sufficient time in which to make reconnaissances
It is by no means improbable that if the enemy persevere is making such reconnaissances, a considerable affair of outposts may come off within, possibly, twenty-four hours, somewhere not more than four or five miles distant in a direct line from the Capital, as such collisions almost invariably grow out of such advances.
We state the fact that our follow citizens may at once know, if hearing the boom of artillery over the river, just what it amounts to.
General McClellan, who is constantly in the saddle, is well informed as to all the movements and plans of the enemy, and certainly prepared for them at all points — from Harper's Ferry to Point Lookout.
We may add that it is utterly impossible that Beauregard contemplates a serious movement against the fortifications on the other side of the river. ’
From Gen. Banks' column.
Hyattstown, August 26.
--Information has reached our encampment that there has been much firing across the river by the Confederates at our pickets, at various points between Conrad's and Harper's Ferries, since Saturday last, and it is reported that an attack was threatened on Saturday at Point of Rock.--The Confederate encampments above Leesburg have been moved back some distance from the river.
Yesterday, two supposed Confederate spies were arrested by Captain Morrison's picket of the 12th Indiana regiment.
They claimed to be a wagon master and his assistant belonging to Gen. Stone's brigade, but on being closely questioned apart by Captain M., the replies gave the lie to their professions, and they were turned over to General Banks for a further examination.
This forenoon continued reports of heavy ordnance were heard, apparently in the vicinity of Washington.
The cause has not transpired yet in camp.
Point of Rocks, Md., Aug. 27. --We have just received important information here, stating that an attack was made on the Tammany regiment of Col. Stone's brigade, ten miles below this point, at Edward's Ferry, early on Saturday morning.
We have not received full particulars up to this time.
We distinctly heard and counted eighty- four reports of shot and shell.
On Sunday morning we heard the report of about twenty shots, which came from the same, place, and yesterday morning the firing was still going on; apparently two miles nearer this way.
Company A, of Col. Geary's 28th regiment, under the command of Lieut. Col. De Korponay, had a skirmish last evening.
It commenced by firing across the river, between the Confederate and Federal pickets.
The defeat of Tyler.
The New York Times, on the strength of intelligence received by way of Cincinnati, accepts as highly probable the report already given of the surprise and defeat of the Federal forces under Col. Tyler in the Kanawha valley. The Times fears that important district of Western Virginia will shortly revert to the Confederates. ‘"Salt,"’ says the Times, ‘"is selling in Richmond and Petersburg at $6 a sack. The Confederates must have this necessary article, and it seems that they know where and how to get what they want — lead in Missouri and salt in the Kanawha."’ The Times regards the destruction of Tyler's command as possibly but the beginning of an onset that shall sweep every vestige of the Union army from that part of Virginia. Cincinnati, Aug. 25.--We learn from the Kanawha valley that Col. Tyler's forces at Summersville, Va., were surrounded and badly defeated by the Confederates, under Floyd, early yesterday morning. No particulars have yet been received.Interesting letter from Connecticut.
The following letter was dropped from an ambulance by a sick soldier belonging to Gen. Banks' column, and the finder sent it to the Baltimore Exchange for publication: Newington, Conn., August 23, 1861.
Dear H.
--I have been looking every day for a letter from you, but none has come since your No. 3.
People are every day asking ‘"have you heard from H.,"’ especially Democrats.
You cannot imagine the advance that the Democratic party is making in their opposition to the Government.
They grow more and more bold in their denunciation of the war, and under the guise of peace are advocating the most damnable schemes of secession, compromise, or reconstruction.
The leaders seem not to have united upon any plan, whether of separation or reconstruction, but they join in the most bitter denunciation of the war, and are now using all their influence to hinder enlistments.
I was down to the post-office last eve, and C. said that he ‘"hoped that every one who had gone down South would get flogged out,"’ and the sentiment seemed to meet with no opposition among the bystanders, except from me. I gave them a piece of my mind.
I told I told them that I thought C. was the most honest and frank of the whole lot, for he avowed the doctrine to which all their talk and influence tended.
Tom A. and J. S. K., the trash, &c., were there, and I thought H. J. would have been better suited if the trash had been a little more prudent and had not injured their respectability by such an open avowal of the secret hopes and designs of the Democracy.
If anybody preaches secession to me, why, he will get hallelujah, and that's all.
G. said he had received no letter from you. I told him that it must be that they, your bosses, were detaining your letters, so that information might not leak out respecting military movements.
Well, we don't know what you are up to, for we have received nothing in two weeks. What is the matter?--are you shot?--got the dysentery?--taken prisoner among the F. F. V's ? Please report yourself.
The mail comes, but no letters from the seat of war. I thought I would commence this letter, and when I received one from you it shall go instanter.
If the ‘"officers" ’ won't let you send letters just drop us a line telling us so, then we will know the wherefore.
Dear H.
