Fairfax-Court House, Sept. 6, 1861.
‘ "But bark!
That heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat,
And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before;
Arm! arm! it is — it is the cannon's opening roar!"
’ These lines of Byron — descriptive of the alarm which fell upon Belgium's ‘"beauty and chivalry,"’ when in the midst of voluptuous revelry the deep sound of the cannon at Waterloo broke upon their ear — are equally applicable to the inhabitants of Washington, when on yesterday morning the booming of cannon, not five miles from their city, was borne from our battery, firing into one of their large encampments at or near the Chain Bridge, and scarcely a mile from Georgetown. The cannonade commenced at early dawn and continued, at short intervals, until about 10 o'clock, A. M. It was heard here with loud distinctness, and gave rise to many excited conjectures. Many declared that Gen. Johnston had crossed the Potomac, had engaged the enemy in heavy force, and during the day it was said that our cannon had battered down the Aqueduct from which Washington and Georgetown are supplied with water. On to-day, however, it was ascertained that the firing was against about 800 of the enemy, encamped between one and two miles above Georgetown, who immediately struck their tents and fell back to a safer distance. Our battery in the meantime had advanced, and from its position across the river poured shot and shells amongst the running Yankees. Many of them are known to have struck and bursted with terrible effect; but the loss is not correctly known. The impression prevails among officers and men, in camp and elsewhere, that our armies can remain idle but a few days longer, and that bloody fighting is ahead. Gen. Beauregard and staff passed through Fairfax Court-House a day or two ago and visited the vicinity of Falls Church before returning to Manassas. The long-range Enfield guns, with which the skirmishing companies of the enemy are supplied, give them a great advantage over our pickets, and yesterday a Tennesseean was shot through the head at the distance of half a mile, and instantly killed. Three Confederate officers passed through Fairfax Court-House this morning en route to Washington, the bearers, it is supposed, of a communication from our Government at Richmond. The advanced position of Gen. Longstreet entails upon his brigade a large amount of picket duty. Many of the farmers and merchants of the neighboring counties have wagons at the various encampments filled with provisions and articles of merchandize, for which they demand the most exorbitant prices. In many instances whiskey has been sold privately to soldiers, and for the most ordinary article only one dollar and a half per pint has been taken from the poor soldier. Col. James L. Kemper, whose bravery and devotion to his men are almost unexampled, has determined to drive from his encampment every tradesman who for any article shall ask his men more than its value, and it is hoped a similar determination will be announced by all our officers, and the heartless vampires driven off. Ithuriel.
