Inelde of the war.
The war correspondent of the Savannah Republican writes an interesting letter from Fairfax Court-House, June 28, in which is related the following:
‘
On our arrival here last night, we heard of one of those daring explicit for which the present campaign is distinguished.
The heroes were two Texans,
Col. B. F. Terry, a large planter, and the brother of the famous
Judge Terry, of
California, and
Capt. T. S. Lubbock, a brother of the
Lieut. Governor of
Texas.
They had just arrived here, and this was the first time they had been out.--They proceeded to within four miles of
Alexandria, where, from the top of a hill, they had a full view of the
Potomac and
Washington city.
They gradually picked their way in between two advanced posts, and descrying a vidette before them, they made a bold dash at him. The
Lincolnite turned his horse's head towards
Alexandria, and putting spurs to him, made all possible haste to escape.
Nothing daunted, the rangers engaged in the pursuit;
Col. Terry, who had the fleetest horse, was evidently gaining upon the ‘"flying Dutchman,"’ and the race was becoming decidedly interesting, when
Capt. Lubbock discovered the picket camp of the vidette, and called to his companion to beware, but it was too late; and besides, the impetuous
Colonel could not control his horse, (a new one, and not well trained, which he had purchased in
Richmond,) and ere he was aware of it, he had dashed into the little camp, and flushed up the enemy, (five in number,) as if they had been a flock of partridges.
They stood aghast at the apparition; but on the frightened
Yankee fled, and on the stalwart
Colonel rushed, their horses at the top of their speed.
At length, getting within one hundred and fifty paces of him, the
Colonel brought his rifle down upon him, but owing to the awkwardness of his horse, the shot did not take effect.
Intent, however, upon bagging his game, and forgetful of himself, he pulled down upon him once more — this time with his navy pistol and at a shorter distance; and, seeing him fall forward upon his horse's neck, he turned his own and went in pursuit of the squad of five whom he had surprised at their camp.
Three of them had fled; the other two, and old United States Dragoon and a Zouave, he and his companion captured, and with them a fine horse and all their arms, all of which they brought into
Fairfax last night.
’
A subsequent letter says:
‘
I had a long interview yesterday with three gentlemen who had just escaped over the
Potomac, one from
Baltimore and two from
Georgetown.
They say that there are not exceeding 50,000 men at
Washington,
Alexandria, and in the vicinity of
Williamsport and
Hagerstown, and that of the whole number in the field, at least 30,000 will return home at the expiration of the three months for which they enlisted — say in July and August.
The troops at
Washington and in the neighborhood are suffering greatly from diseases of the bowels and from small-pox.
These troops, as well as
Gen. Scott, were in daily expectation of an attack; and in order more effectually to repel it, they had erected a number of heavy batteries along all the approaches by which which we could advance upon the capital.
A feeling of uneasiness pervades all classes, including those in authority, and the very mention of the name of
Beauregard seemed to strike terror into the hearts of the
Yankees.
They appear to have a great horror of masked batteries.
A tale is told in
Washington that Old Abe went up with
Professor Lowe in his famous balloon one day last week, to reconnoitre the position of the "rebel" forces.
They had not proceeded very high before Old Abe, tapping his companion on the shoulder, cried out, "Hold,
Professor, I think I see a masked battery just below us here.
Don't you think we had better return ?"
’
