Army of the Potomac.
[our own correspondent.] Manassas Nov. 1st.
One of the heaviest storms of the season began last high, and has continued up to this time without cessation.
Throughout the high the wind blow fiercely, and the rain fell in torrents.
Our soldiers have suffered severely.
Many of the tents were blown over and their inmates left out in the wet and cold all day long the rain has fallen, and the storm raged furiously.
Every shelter the place affords that will give protection from the rain, is occupied with soldiers as wet as a droned A more disconsolate looking community would be hard to find.
One cheerful thought connected with the storm is, that there is a probability of a partial destruction of the armada now going town the Southern coast.
As unpleasant as the storm is, it may be providential that it occurred.
Speaking of the Federal fleet, which sailed from Hampton Roads with such a flourish of trumpets and sound of Chinese gongs, and which was so extensively landed and advertised by the Yankees, I may say hat it has been found that it is very much overrated.
It is generally supposed that not less than 25,000 men sailed in the ships, and that there were hundreds of field, siege and sea-coast guns.
This is not so. The force consists of only fifteen regiments of infantry one light battery of six guns, and 1,000 negroes from Fortress Monroe.
The regiments are by no means full, and a sea voyage will be liable to reduce their effective strength.--The negroes are probably intended to throw up fortifications on the shore after the infantry have effected a landing.
The above estimate may be regarded as authentic, and it is important that the people of the Gulf States know exactly the number of men they have to encounter, and be prepared to meet them.
Wilmington seems the most probably point of attack.
If this storm does not scatter the ships, or drive some of them ashore, a will put the men in better condition to fill the hospitals than to do good fighting.
Thursday last was quite an interesting day in Centreville, and I regret that circumstances that prevented my being there.
I am told that Gov. Letcher presented flag to all the Virginia regiments near, or at least to many of them.
The men were drawn up by the village to receive the flags.
Short and patient presentation speeches were made by he Governor, and were responded to by the different Colonels as the banners were received.
The flags are deep blue, within white medallion in containing the Virginia coat of arms and State motto.
Friday there was a grand review by he Governor of all the Virginia troops.
The cavalry was out in the morning, and the infantry in the evening — The Governor, the Generals and their Staff, and hundreds of spectators witnessed the scene, which was reported as very grand. --The regiments never appeared better, and attracted general admiration for their fine appearance, and for their proficiency in military drill.
The first Virginia was the observed of all observers.
I notice with pleasure that Col. P. T. Moore has returned to the Regiment, and has again taken command.
He is still suffering from his wound, received on the 18th of July, but his health is gradually improving, and he has gained some motion in his arm. It will gratify his many friends to learn that he is looking in fine health and spirits.
Yesterday, the first day of the month, was appointed for the inspection of the camps I called on the Washington Artillery at their encampment near Gen. Beauregard's headquarters, and spent a few hours as pleasantly as one could wish.
When I came up the suede was sounding the assembly, and the companies were preparing to march out to the parade ground.
Three companies only were present, the second being on ticket udar Fair-fax.
A few words about this corps may not be uninteresting.
The Washington Artillery, of New Orleans, was founded in 1838, a company being organized under that name.
Between 1838 and 1842, it assumed the name of North American Artillery.
In the latter year it was re-organized as ‘"Washington Artillery,"’ under which name it has since continued.
In the Mexican war it was company A of the regiment; raised and commanded by Col. Persiter Smith, with J. B. Walton, the present commander of the battalion, as Lieutenant-Colonel.
Soon after arriving in Mexico, Col. Smith was made a Brigadier General, and Col. Walton was promoted to the command of the regiment.
After their term of enlistment expired the company returned to New Orleans since which time it has been increasing in size and in reputation.
After a time a battalion was formed, composed, I believe, of six companies, four of which are now in Virginia.
At the beginning of the war this corps was among the first to offer its services to the Confederate, States, and being composed of well organized companies, and well drilled an officiant artillerists, it was gladly accepted The four companies formed themselves into a battalion, and are under the following officers;
Staff--Major J. B. Walton; Adjutant, Wm. M. Owen; Surgeon, E. S. Brow.
First Company--Captain C. W. Squires; 1st Lieut, John B Richardson; 2d Lieut., Ed. Owen, (promoted from a sergeancy.
for meritorious conduct during the battle of the 21st July)
Second Company--Captain Rosser; 1st Lieut, C. H. Slocumb; 2nd Lieut.,-- --
Third Company--Captain M. B. Miller; 1st Lieut., J. J. Garnett, 2nd Lieut., James Dearing.
Fourth Company--Captain Eshlemen, (wounded on the 18th of July;) 1st Lieut., Joe Norcum (in command;) 2nd Lieut., H. M. Battles.
These are all men of marked characters, and gentlemen in every sense of the word.
Major Walton is a man of powerful frame, straight and soldierly, and looks very much like the portraits of Napoleon III.
He has a handsome face, regular features, blue eyes, heavy moustache, and barb d'arique, now tinged with grey.
His dress, like that of all the officers of his corps, is always near and becoming, giving the wearer an appearance of elegance seldom seen among army officers in the field.
He is said to be a fine artillery officer.
Justly proud of his command, and of its growing reputation, and connected, as he has been.
with nearly every fight and skirmish, Major Walton has attracted general notice, and is destined to figure largely in the history of the war.
The privates in the corps are drawn from the best families of New Orleans and are all gentlemen.
Their dress and manner indicate them men of refined fastes, of education, and of position in society.
They are affectable courteous, intelligent, and very hospitable.
No person who visits them can fall to admire their style of entertainment, or the whole-souled generosity observable in every individual, whether private or officer They may well be the pride of New Orleans, for such a gallant, generous, noble band of young men would do honor to any city.
A few days since a new set of fine walled tents were sent the battalion from home, and they were just pitched in the place of the old ones as I arrived.
The encampment looked elegant.
After the inspection of the arms and clothing the quarters were reviewed.
Passing along the line of tents one saw an hundred evidences of the character of the men.--Everything was in perfect order and as neat as a parlor.
Many of the tents had been flooded; others were filled with straw, over which oil-cloths were spread.
Knapsacks and blankets were carefully rolled up and arrange along the back wall, in the centre of which stood a rack containing the sabres and small arms.
Every tent looked very comfortable, and some had astonishing arrangements for convenience, showing the ingenuity of its occupants.
I do not remember when I have been more pleased than in the half hour spent in looking into the miniature houses of the men, and noticing the novel and curious disposition of the few comforts camp life affords.
It was near the hour for dinner and busy preparations for the important meal were going on. Some were preparing turkeys and chickens, others apple fritters, pies, oils, omelets, and so on, through a list half as long as Miss Leslie's cook-acok.
Each table was well supplied, and contained every luxury the region afforded.
As nice and comfortable as everything appeared, I have seen the same men fully as happy and as contented when they had not tasted food for twenty-four hours, and had spent a night without shelter beneath a trenching rain.
They never complain of hardships or growl at any neglect or short coming of Quartermaster or Commissary, which often times drive volunteers to mutiny.
Thy are all philosophers-- and very good fellows.
There are many facts of interest connected with the corps that I intended to mention, but which, on account of the length of my letter, I must defer until another time.
As this has been thus far a war in which artillery has played a prominent part, public attention is naturally drawn to the many fine batteries now in the service.
There are others near Centreville and not far from headquarters that I shall visit as soon as time allows, in the hope of picking up many an interesting from for public contemplation.
It is said here that the enemy has fallen back from the line of Munson's Hill and Fall's Church, and has either gone into the fortifications by Arlington, or turned in force in another direction, This movement has been gradual, and for sometime nothing but a few pickets have been near Fairfax.
Except on the turnpike by Annandale, the Federals have fallen back within their old lines.
Three persons came from Alexandria this morning.
They say there appears to be no intention to advance upon Bull Run again, and that all eyes are turned towards the fleet now gone South.
The force in Washington has been over-estimated, they do not believe there are over hishay thousand men in the ‘"Army of the Potomac."’ All the stores in Alexandria belonging to secessionists have been closed; but two occupied by prominent Southern men being allowed to remain open.
The fight at Leesburg had cause great excitement in the North.
I must correct an error which appeared in my last letter, swing probably to bad calligraphy In p r daughter, who is buried near the 