Army of the Potomac
[from our correspondent.]About 12 o'clock to-day a large number of the enemy came up to Mason's hill and made preparations for an easy time. They could be seen smoking, chatting, playing cards, and amusing themselves generally.--Just as a portion of them sat down to dinner, Col. Tom Taylor, of the 1st Kentucky Regiment, came up to the foot of the hill and prepared to drive them from it. The gallant Kentuckians were elated at the prospect of a brush with the enemy, and moved promptly up to the grove in which many of them had been seen. For six months this regiment has been in the service, and for the first time they were given an opportunity to show themselves. They have endured many hard and wearisome marches; have been days without their tents or provisions; have bivouacked in every place they have yet been stationed, and have done their full share of garrison, police, and picket duty. But through it all what they most wanted, the opportunity of a fight, was never granted them. What was the use of drilling six long months and then not have a chance to show their proficiency, was beyond their reckoning.--They could bark a squirrel at a hundred yards and drive a nail at fifty, and though it a useless piece of folly to drill six months to shoot at a mark as large as a Yankee. After a time they felt themselves imposed on, and began to think that the fight they had entered was not a free fight after all. Col. Taylor kept them at it, however, and has them as well drilled, probably, as any men of their naturally dating dispositions and skill in woodmanscraft generally get to be. Col. Tom Taylor, the commander of the 1st Kentucky regiment is as fine a specimen of a man as one would wish to find. He was the bearer of dispatches from our Government to Washington some time ago, and there attracted considerable notice by his military air and powerful frame. Dr. Russell gave a good pen-and-ink description of him in his correspondence with the London Times, mentioning particularly his fine barb d' Afringe, which has now grown until it nearly covers his face. He is about thirty years of age, of very large stature, fond of social life, kind and affable to all, and much admired by his men. Added to his other qualifications, Col. Taylor has a voice that a lion might be proud of, and powerful enough to life a small man out of his boots.
The regiment was formed in line of battle at the foot of the hill, and two companies, one on either side, deployed as skirmishers.--It was the work of a moment, and the column was ordered forward at double-quick.--Up the hill they tumbled with tremendous yells, and down the hill went the Yankees as fast as their legs would carry them. Several of the enemy's horsemen started also, and, leaping over fences of a break-neck height, made hasty tracks for the distant fortifications. But few shots were fired either side; one one company of the Kentuckians discharged their rifles at long range, and three of the Federals were killed. After giving them a big scare, and seeing them some distance on their journey home, Col. Taylor withdrew from the hill. Later in the evening a party of ten went back to recover some property, and accomplished their errand without being molested.
A short time after, while riding down the road to--, a party of officers were stopped by an old gray-headed farmer, who inquired what force they had?
‘"Why do you ask?"’ said the doctor.
‘"A whole brigade passed my house in the night, and I expect they've been making a blind battery for you."’
‘"Who has been making a masked battery for us?"’ asked the doctor.
‘"The rebels"’ was the reply.
Just at the moment Col. Taylor came up, and one of the party said:‘"Colonel, here is a friend who says the rebels have set a trap for us."’
‘"Put him under arrest,"’ said the Colonel. And another disloyal citizen of Virginia was put where he will do no further harm to the State that has protected and enriched him. His name is Newcombe, and he is now in the guard-house in this town.
About the late affair at Lewinsville, I have nothing further to say. Although the Yankees ran at the first intimation of the approach of our troops, there was such a ‘"bosh"’ made of the whole affair, that it did not redound much to our credit. The fight was a flash in the pan — a complete ‘"fizzle,"’ to use a common but not very elegant expression.
Among the incidents of the first fight at Lewinsville, was one I have hither to failed to notice, but which will bear reading even at this late date. When the Federals were driven from the village, a letter was found on the ground, addressed to ‘"J. E. B. Stuart, Esq., commanding cavalry, in care of whoever finds this."’ It was delivered to Colonel Stuart, who found the following letter. I may presume that ‘"Beauty"’ was the name Col. Stuart went by among his comrades while a Cadet at West Point. Poe and Griffin were both classmates:
Lewinsville, Sept. 11th, 1861.
My Dear "Beauty"
--I am sorry that circumstances are such that I can't have the pleasure of seeing you, although so near you. Griffin says he would like to have you dine with him at Willard's, at 5 o'clock on Saturday next.
Keep your ‘"Black Horse"’ off me, if you please.
My Dear "Beauty"
P. S.--Please answer both the note and Griffin's invitation.
When Col. Stuart sent in his report of the skirmish, this letter was sent to headquarters also, with the following endorsement upon it:"I have the honor to report that circumstances were such" that they could have seen me if they had stopped to look behind, and I answered both at the cannon's mouth. Judging from his speed, Griffin surely left for Washington to hurry up the dinner.
‘"J. E. B. Stuart."’
This evening a sad sight met my eye as I was riding on the turnpike towards Annandale. Two or three men, true and loyal Virginians, had their families and a few things they could hurriedly take with them in wagons, on their way to Fairfax. Their houses had been burned by the vandal enemy, and heartsick and homeless, with the savings of years destroyed in a moment, these poor victims were seeking shelter in our lines to protect their persons from outrage. It would have made the blood of any Virginian boil with rage to have seen the sight and to have felt the mortification of being powerless to aid or revenge them. Their houses have been burned and their farms or plantations — I like the old word very much better — have been pillaged and devastated. It is rumored that several buildings in Falls Church have also been destroyed within the past twenty-four hours.
As I write, it is reported that the Federals, twenty-five hundred strong, have taken possession of Falls Church. The fact, or the report, has caused quite a stampede among the ladies who have been boarding here.--There is also considerable excitement among the residents, who know well that if the town falls into Federal hands again, that not a building will be left. Falls Church is about six miles from the Court-House.
Bohemian.
