General's horses, with those of his aids, stood sad- | soon cleared the path. Passing on, the way dled in the yard, with baskets of provisions slung across the saddles. Regiments were blockading the roads-moving outwards without knapsacks or baggage. Capt. Griffin's West Point battery stopped our carriage for half an hour. All these things, with sundry others which it is not necessary to mention, coupled with hints and wise nods I had received from those whose position forbid them from doing more, satisfied me that the advance of the great army was close at hand. I made up my mind, indeed, that the great body of our troops would encamp for the night at about eight miles from the Potomac-and that in the morning the first thing they would do would be to pay their respects to the rebels at Fairfax Court House. I made all needful preparations, hired a conveyance by the day for an indefinite period, packed it with such edibles as our hosts of the | National and "Leo's " better half could comfortably provide, and at 4 o'clock this morning took my departure for the sacred soil of Virginia. We crossed the Long Bridge in the gray of the morning, and pushed on for some eight miles without meeting any further evidence of an army than a body of New Jerseymen left to guard the railroad and telegraph where they are crossed by the turnpike. Soon after we came to a point where the road puzzled us by dividing; and wo were fain to inquire of a small boy standing at the gate of a neighboring house which of the two would lead us to Fairfax. He told us both-but said the right hand one came first into the main turnpike, but that the troops had taken the other. We took the right, and after driving about a mile saw at our left, half a mile off, glittering among the trees the bright bayonets of our long line of troops,while the artillery was just crossing the road by which we were approaching. We pushed our carriage into the front, and very soon overtook Gen. McDowell and his staff, Major Wadsworth and Major Brown, accompanied by Capt. Whipple of the Topographical Engineers. We learned that this was one of four columns on their march under orders to converge at Fairfax Court House. It consisted of about 6,000 men, and was led by the Second Rhode Island regiment, under Gov. Sprague. The right column, which had taken the upper road, and under Col. Tyler was to enter Fairfax from the direction of Germantown, consisted of about 12,000. To the south of us were Col. Miles with 5,700, and Col. Heintzelman with 10,000 men. We had thus a force of about 35,000 advancing from this point towards Manassas Junction. It is understood also that Gen. Patterson was to commence his advance towards Winchester yesterday, and to push Gen. Johnston, so as to prevent him from augmenting the forces in front of this wing of the army. At half past nine o'clock we came to a point at which the road, bordered with trees on each side, had been obstructed by trees felled across it. The axemen were ordered forward, and led by an open wood, at the end of which rose what appeared to be a high square bank, on top of which we could see two or three horsemen riding backward and forward. A little further onward trees had been again felled across the road. Skirmishers were thrown out on either side, and the column moved on slowly, stopping now and then to feel its way, and being especially on its guard against surprises. Half a mile further we came to another blockade of trees, one of which had been very ingeniously turned exactly bottom upwards, so as to completely block the passage. The axemen soon took away the fence, cut down trees that were in the way, and made a side road through the adjoining field. We soon rose to the top of the hill, which proved to be what, in the distance, we had mistaken for an embankment. The house of Maj. Howard, who had gone with the confederate army, stood there, and the negroes left there told us the secession scouts had been there not half an hour before. The column stopped ten or fifteen minutes and then pushed on, coming, in half an hour, to a long embankment thrown across the road and the adjoining fields, with embrasures for cannon, and the huts of a camp in the rear, which had been abandoned with so much haste by the rebels only two hours before, that they left great quantities of meat, rice, clothes, blankets, &c., as spoils for our troops, who followed so close upon their heels. The works were extensive but not strong, and it was not very clear that any cannon had ever been mounted upon them. The embrasures were lined by sand-bags, each marked "The Confederate States," one of which inscriptions I cut out for a trophy. Our men raised the Star-Spangled Banner on the ramparts, and greeted it with three hearty cheers. Just then we caught sight, at some three miles distant, of the long line of Col. Tyler's column, marching along the upper road, with its whitetopped baggage wagons in the rear, and the glorious Stars and Stripes flying in the van. Our column advanced rapidly, and in twenty minutes, at a quarter before twelve, raised the national flag on the Fairfax Court House, a small brick building on the left of the street. The place was entirely deserted by the rebel troops, and, indeed, by the whole male population. The rebel quartermaster's office had been abandoned in as much haste as the works we had passed, and great quantities of letters, papers, &c., were found strewn over the floor and the adjacent ground. I picked up a letter from a mother to her son, begging him if possi ble, to come and see them before he should be ordered off, and inclosing a lock of her hair, neatly braided and tied with white ribbon. I shall take that as a memento to one who will appreciate and sympathize with the sentiment which prompted the gift. We are told here that the rebels intend to make a stand at Centreville, seven miles further on. This I do not believe. They have unquestionably fallen back to Manassas Junction, and whether they | We mount it, and shout, and then proceed to make fight there or not, I consider a little doubtful, though the chances are that they will. Gen. McDowell intends, I believe, to stop at Centreville to-night, and push on to Manassas in the morning. The whole army will be with him, and it will sweep before it all the forces that may oppose its progress. The onward movement has fairly commenced and it will not stop this side of Richmond. H. J. R. cut the name from the sand-bags, "Confederate States," as a trophy. Soon the glorious old stars wave from it, with a cheer from the tramping columns, that shook the trees. Behind it was the camp of the enemy, apparently just deserted-a very fairly-constructed camp with drains systematically made. Every tent had had a little bower of leaves near it. Our men rushed in with "Hooray! took the Seceshers' camp!" and poked over the rubbish, finding some meat and eggs and other little matters, which showed that the enemy were not starving. One of the Rhode Islanders captured a little raccoon, which he tried to store in his knapsack, but did not find an agreeable prisoner. There seemed to have been some two or three regiments there, and as we learned soon after from the negroes, they had only left about two hours before. We stopped beyond, and had a talk at an old farm-house with the negro women. They said the people had all run, and told them they would be murdered, FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT. FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE, Wednesday-12 o'clock. In company with some friends, we started out at sunrise this morning to accompany the advance of the Grand Army into Virginia. It was understood that Patterson had commenced a forward movement towards Winchester, and that this was to be in combination with his. Our ride in the morning was through a beautiful wooded country, with gentle slopes, and in some places hills of considerable size. We avoided the marching columns and by a cross-but, as one old woman said, she thought she road struck upon the line near the front. Here we left our carriage and marched along by the side of the troops. It was one of the most inspiring sights I ever witnessed: the long line of glittering bayonets marching up hill and down, as far as the eye could see, the cavalry, (a few companies of regulars,) and the rumbling artillery, with here and there a covered artillery wagon. would stay, "for she might see the salvation of the Lord!" In the next house, a white woman stood at the door very pale and weeping, as the column thundered by. She said she had a husband in the secession army. Soon after, we passed a nice house abandoned. Our men had entered it, and were searching every white-nook and corner. I looked over the books. They showed an intelligent family, with interest in scientific and agricultural matters. One man picked up a letter with the following passage: "Give my love to Susey and to Aunt M., and tell John to shoot a Yankee for me!" At precisely 12 o'clock, the advance-guard of the Grand Army entered Fairfax Court House with tremendous cheers, and a kind of a rush that for a moment looked as if they might go to plundering. But there was nothing of the kind, except the searching for papers in the Town Clerk's office, and some little pickings from the deserted workshops. The men were in fine spirits, and marched along in the loose style of a regular march, but with quick step. We had some pleasant words with Col. Hunter, and Gen. McDowell, and then walked quickly to the front. On either side, the skirmishers spread out, the bayonets glisteuing through the corn-fields, the line advancing very carefully, though occasionally nothing could prevent the men stopping for the delicious blackberries that filled the fields. Gen. McDowell informed us that he was concentrating four columns at Fairfax Court House-one on the right, under Gen. Tyler, Soon a man climbs up into the Court House of about 12,000 men, through Falls Village and hauls down the secession flag amid groans and Germantown; one on the left, of about and cheers, and up goes the bright Union ban5.700 under Miles, and the left wing, under ner. I am writing in the office of the tavern Heintzelinan, with about 6,000. Suddenly, as where the secession officers have left some of we were picking berries by the road-side, came their luggage, and the Rhode Island Second are the word "Halt!" An orderly rode up and marching by with wild cries, their battery in said, "General, we are in a trap; trees are cut the van. They sleep and bivouac in the yards down in front of us; there seems to be a masked of the houses. The handsome figure and face battery beyond!" The General took it calmly, of Col. Burnside can be seen everywhere. Col. and ordered the skirmishers to advance, while Hunter, with his quiet, gentlemanly manner, we poor civilians were expecting every instant is directing the lines, and Gen. McDowell, with to hear the whistling of the balls over our heads. Maj. Brown and Maj. Wadsworth, are sitting As we approached the long line of earthwork, their horses, and watching with their glasses we could see our skirmishers slowly approach the very dark lines on the hills about a mile it, while our pioneers were clearing out the to the south, which show that Gen. Tyler is trees cut down in the road. At length the approaching. Now the Rhode Island First goes bayonets can be seen shining on the mounds, by, and the New Hampshire Second, (a New and we breathe freer, and hurry on. It is a Hampshire pioneer comes in and boasts that line perhaps 50 rods long, with embrasures, he was the first New Hampshire man on Virline with sand-bags, very poorly built, all say.ginia soil.) A lady comes out of a house near, VOL. II.-Doc. 27 and swings a Union flag, "the first," she says, I started a second messenger arrived, saying that she has dared to for months." Our landlady comes in and deplores, with tears, that all her forks and spoons have been carried off! The regiments now march by so quickly that we do not catch their names. They will all concentrate at Centreville. All are in fine spirits, and only fear that the seceshers will run too fast to be caught. Gen. McDowell seems to manage every thing excellently. He is evidently a thorough gentleman and soldier. We are very sorry to hear that, through some mistake, the Garibaldians at the left have only five rounds of ammunition. All is quiet now, and the men are eating their luncli. A CIVILIAN. -N. Y. Times. Doc. 99. BATTLE OF SCARYTOWN, VA. FOUGHT JULY 17. the enemy had broken, and was flying before our bayonets. This information was false. The order to "break ranks" was then given, after which Col. Woodruff, Col. De Villiers, Lieutenant-Colonel Neff, and Captains Sloan and Hurd left the camp to see the retreat. They rode three miles beyond the camp, being one mile beyond our pickets, and mistaking the enemy, who, it would seem, had been pursuing the retreating regiments, for our troops, they trotted directly into the rebel lines and were made prisoners. Our loss is variously stated, but appears to be about a dozen killed and thirty or forty wounded. Dr. Thompson, an ex-member of Congress, at present claiming to stand neutral, was taken before Gen. Cox on the 18th, when he admitted the rebel loss to be 65 killed and 150 wounded. On the day after the battle, a flag of truce brought Gen. Cox a letter from Col. Norton, of the Twenty-first regiment, who was wounded in the fight and afterwards made a prisoner, saying that his wound was in the thigh; that he was doing well, and expected to be out of bed in a couple of weeks. He also stated that the captured party were respectfully treated by their captors. The dead had been buried before the Silver Lake started, and the wounded brought in. There is a discrepancy between two of the accounts. The one is that Capt. Sloan is a prisoner, and the other that he is wounded in the stomach and refuses to allow the surgeons to extract the ball. There is also a difference in regard to the First Kentucky, Colonel Guthrie's command, which is divided A CORRESPONDENT of the Cincinnati Commercial gives the following account of this action: From various sources of intelligence we glean the following particulars of those army operations in the Kanawha region, which eventuated in the capture of several Kentucky officers on Wednesday last. It would seem that the various detachments of Gen. Cox's brigade, which have been " cleaning out" the country, had concentrated at the mouth of the Pocotaligo River, a small stream into which enters the Kanawha about twenty miles below Charleston. The brigade is divided into three parts, one of which occupies the south or right bank of the river, the other the left bank, while the remain-into two sections: the one, commanded by Col. ing portion is on three boats, prepared to sup- Guthrie, was to march by the way of Ripley; port either side. On the 17th, Gen. Cox or- the other, under Major Leiper, was with the dered the Twelfth Ohio, two companies of the main army-one account saying that it joined Twenty-first Ohio, together with the Cleveland Col. Cox on the evening of the 16th, the other Artillery and Capt. Rogers' cavalry company, saying that it was on Friday. As the enemy is from Ironton, Ohio, about 1,500 men, to cap-in force on the road Col. Guthrie was to have ture a rebel camp which was planted on a hill marched, some fears are expressed as to the about five miles above. Early in the morning safety of his regiment. But with all the inof that day, they marched out to do this work. formation we can gather, we are at present They found the rebels-report says numbering unable to form an opinion as to his probable 4,000 men-strongly intrenched with two rifled safety. At the last accounts, the troops had not cannon, on a hill, having a deep valley at its removed from the mouth of the Pocatallico, base, in which was a wheat field. Outside of but were awaiting ammunition and cannon. their fortifications were a number of log-houses, in which loop-holes had been cut; these were occupied by riflemen, supposed to number about 300. As our troops were crossing the wheat field, they were raked with grape shot. The Cleveland artillery immediately got their pieces in position, and in half an hour silenced the enemy's battery. The rifled cannon were then brought so as to rake the log-houses, and continued to deal death and slaughter among their tenants, until the want of ammunition compelledsented as bearing them with the fortitude of an our forces to retreat. About half-past 2 o'clock a messenger brought the word to camp that the troops had exhausted their ammunition, when Gen. Cox ordered out a reënforcement; but before it It is worthy of remark that the balls received by the wounded generally entered the upper part of the body, and passed downward. This was caused by the elevated position of the enemy. Among the wounded is one for whom we can learn no other name, although he is frequently spoken of in the letters that we have seen, than the endearing one of the Artillery Pet Boy. Although his wounds are exceedingly painful, and necessarily mortal, he is repre old-time hero. His loss appears to cause a great deal of sorrow among his companions. Quarterinaster Gibbs occupied a prominent position in the fight, though we are unable to learn exactly what part he took in it. -Cincinnati Commercial, July 22 CINCINNATI "GAZETTE" ACCOUNT. CAMP "Poco," KANAWHA RIVER, Thurs- Cotton had no sooner taken position than two balls whistled over his head, cutting the twigs from the topmost branches of the trees. His men quickly unlimbered their pieces and went to work, while he posted himself to their right to watch the effect of his shot on the enemy's works. The first few rounds, like those of the rebels, were too high, but the captain kept on crying out, "a little lower, boys," till the proper elevation was attained, when he played upon them rapidly, and in fifteen minutes silenced their guns with the loss of only one man, prisix-vate John Haven of Scholersville, Putnam County, a handsome, intelligent young man, as brave as a lion, and the pet of the company. Poor fellow! his right hip was shot away just as he was passing a ball to his gun. When his captain saw him fall, he ran and picked him up, and conveyed him in his own arms to a place of safety. "Never mind me, captain," he cried, "but don't let that flag go down!" He still lingers, but can hardly survive the night. I embrace the earliest opportunity to give you the particulars of this ill-starred affair. Information having been received at headquarters that the rebels were preparing to make a stand at Scaryville, eight or ten miles above this point, where Scary Creek empties into the Kanawha, Gen. Cox ordered the Twelfth Ohio regiment, Col. Lowe, a portion of two companies of the Twenty-First, the Cleveland Light Artillery, Capt. Cotton, with two rifled pounders, and a small cavalry company from Ironton, in all about one thousand men, under the command of Col. Lowe, to proceed up the river by land on a reconnoitring expedition. The instructions to the commanding officer were, that if he found the rebels in a position from which they could be easily dislodged, to drive them out; if not, to take a position and hold it till the main body of the army could advance. Col. Norton, of the Twenty-First, who had explored the ground the day previous, accompanied the party, but was only permitted to take with him a fragment of his command. The infantry was now ordered to advance, and rapid volleys of musketry followed from each side, which could be distinctly heard at the The army is encamped near the mouth of Po- camp. The ten or twelve log huts composing cotaligo Creek, or Poco," as it is generally the village of Scaryville were filled with rebel called, the advance thus far having been made infantry, the chinking having been removed so mainly by steamboats, four of which have been that the cracks could serve as loopholes. From chartered by the Government for the transpor- these, every few moments, were seen to issue tation of troops and stores up and down the livid sheets of flame, followed by the rattle of Kanawha. On one of these the reconnoitring their rifles, and whistling of their Minié balls. party, supplied with forty rounds of ammuni- As soon as Capt. Cotton observed to what use tion, embarked about 9 o'clock in the morning, the buildings had been put, he turned his artiland were landed on the opposite bank of the|lery upon them, hitting one at almost every river, at a point a few hundred yards lower down, where there is a road leading across the country to Scaryville. The distance from the camp to the village is eight or ten miles by river, but not more than four or five by land. The column moved cautiously, the scouts thoroughly scouring the country on both sides of the road as they advanced. About 3 o'clock, the party reached the vicinity of Scaryville, when the fragment of the Ironton cavalry company, which had somehow fallen to the rear, was ordered to advance. They had no sooner rounded the brow of the hill, which gradually slopes off to the creek, but runs a bolder spur in the direction of the river, than they were met by a discharge from a battery on the opposite shore of the smaller stream, which killed one of their men, and caused the company to retreat in great disorder. Capt. Cotton's company of artillery, which fought like so many tigers, was at once ordered to advance, and took position near the top of the hill, under a clump of trees. The principal fortification of the enemy, a huge breastwork of earth, was distinctly visible about half-way up the opposite slope, and seemed to have been prepared with considerable skill. The distance from our battery was about five hundred yards. The rebels had but two pieces of artillery, both rifled six-pounders, the same as our own. Capt. shot. The manner in which the logs, guns, and limbs of men were scattered about, as his percussion shell would strike, must have been anything but encouraging to the rebels. The position which the rebels had chosen for their stand was a very good one, but no better, perhaps, than a hundred others that might have been selected lower down. The hill was high and precipitous, and the country to their left densely wooded, while that on their right, except for a few rods at the mouth of the creek, was open, thus giving them the advantage of cover, while our troops, in case they attempted to advance their right wing, would be fully exposed to the enemy's fire. As the ammunition of our boys was now getting low, an order was given to charge bayonets. The left wing, composed of the fragment of the Twenty-first and one or two companies of the Twelfth, led by Lieut.-Col. White, promptly obeyed, and, rushing down the hill, forded the stream, which was more than knee deep, and rushed upon the enemy's intrenchments. Had the movement on the right been equally prompt, the rebels would have been utterly routed; but, owing partly to the incompetency of their officers, and partly to the fact that they were badly disciplined, they faltered, and soon after fled. The left could not hold their position alone, although they did all that could have been ex pected of veterans, and as they only had a few rounds of ammunition, they fell back on the right bank of the stream. the troops under his command. Hardly had we arrived at this place, when, to the horror of every right-minded person, several houses were About this time, the rebels were reënforced broken open, and others were in flames, by the by a regiment, (said by a captured prisoner to act of some of those, who, it has been the boast have been Georgians,) who came up with a of the loyal, came here to protect the oppressed fresh piece of artillery and Minié muskets. and free the country from the domination of a Capt. Cotton again opened with his pieces, giv-hated party. The property of this people is at ing them as good as they sent. He only had six or eight rounds of ammunition, however, which he disposed of in his happiest style, and then retired behind the hill. Prior to this, a courier had been despatched to the General for assistance, who at once or-ed by some that their particular corps were not dered out the Twenty-first. The boys respond- | ed promptly, but after crossing the river and marching a mile, they met the party returning. They were not pursued by the rebels. All the dead and a few of the wounded were left on the field, as they could not be gathered under the enemy's fire. Among the latter was Col. Norton, who is said to have behaved with great | bravery. He sustained a severe, though not dangerous flesh wound, and is now in the rebel camp, where, we learn, he is doing well. About thirty of our wounded were brought in by their comrades. The wounds are generally slight. Lieut. Pomeroy and private Mercer, both of the Twenty-first, and private Haven of the Cleveland Artillery, are the only ones, I think, who cannot recover. An official list of the killed, wounded, and missing has been rendered, which places our loss at 57, as follows: killed, 9; wounded, 38; missing, 9. The loss of the enemy must have been fully equal to our own. The greatest misfortune of the day, however, was the loss of Col. Woodruff, Col. De Villiers, Lieut.-Col. Neff, and Captains Austin and Hurd. The Second Kentucky regiment, especially, is disconsolate at the loss of their gallant leader, whom they loved as a father. They would storm Gibraltar now to be with him. These officers, as I advised you by telegraph, the mercy of the troops who, we rightly say. JAS. B. FRY, Assistant Adjutant-General. Doc. 101. JULY 18, 1861. passed our pickets to get a view of the fight, BROOME COUNTY (N. Y.) RESOLUTIONS. and have, doubtless, all been captured. They have been out twenty-four hours. The army will probably remain at this point some days. Weather very warm. FRIDAY MORNING, July 19. We have just learned that Cols. Woodruff, De Villiers, and the other missing officers, are all in the rebel camp, where they are comfortably cared for. Doc. 100. GEN. MCDOWELL'S GENERAL ORDER HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF VA., It is with the deepest mortification the General commanding finds it necessary to reiterate his orders for the preservation of the property of the inhabitants of the district occupied by Resolved, That the existing war is the attack of rebels upon the peerless Constitution and the liberties of the common country, and that they are to be regarded as the assassins of libertyenemies in war, in peace friends. Resolved, That the only method of settling the present controversy is by maintaining the integ rity of the Government against the machinations of demagogues, or the insidious traps of oily politicians. Resolved, That, in the present state of American affairs, compromise is treason to the Government of both God and man; and the least to demand at the hands of rebels is unconditional obedience to the Constitution and the laws, as expounded by the legally-constituted tribunals of the country; that upon this platform we stand, and, by the grace of God, will abide the issue. |