The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-29 00:00:00

The Confederates before Washington,

The following narrative of the appearance of the
Confederates before Washington, and their subse-

quent retreat, is dated the 14th instant, and was
written in the city itself :

,6 The investment of the northern defences of
Washington by the enemy, for the first tirr e in the
progress of this war, commenced early last Monday
morning. That brief time, however, has been filled
with so much hope and fear, and anxiety and ex-
citement, that its sudden end is haiied all the more
gratefully. On Sunday last, after defeating the
forces of General Wallace at Monocacy-bridge, the
enemy sent a column of troops down the Washing-
ton and Frederick turnpike. It entered Rockville
on Sunday morning, and appropriated all surplies
that it could lay its hands on, and then moved on
towards Washington. Five miles from George-
town, and two miles beyond the fortificAtions, it

drove in our pickets one mile on Sunday night.
At daybreak on Monday morning skirmishing com-
menced within rifle shot off Fort Pennsylvania,three
miles from Georgetown. The fort startled the citi-

tens of Georgetown by opening its heavy guns.
Skirmishing lasted all day and into the night, the
enemy not seeming in large enough force to advance
their line. Simultaneously with the appearance of
this force another division of troops appeared on the
Seventh-street road four miles from the city directly
north, and immediately in front of Forts Stevens
and De Russey. Here they seemed in larger force,
and in skirmishing with invalid regiments and mi.
litia our troops got the worst of it. At times the
rebels were within 200 yards of the forts, and their
sharpshooters picked off a good many who stuck
their heads above the parapets. •
"By Monday noon the enemy had a strong skir-
mish line, and some 60 were killed and wounded ;
but at dusk the veteran troops came up and advanced
to the front, when fighting became severe for skir-
mishing. The rebels began to use artillery, and
Forts Slocum and De Russey opened in reply with
their heavy guns.

"The fight, which was seen by hundreds of spec-
tators on the Seventh-street-road, was very excit-
ing to novices. The country was well situate to see
all the firing of infantry and heavy fort artillery,
while burning residences, barns, and other builslinge,
which had been fired by both parties to get better
range of each other, lighted up the fields and woods
that skirt just outside the outer line of fortifications.
" At noon intelligence of the cutting of all tele-
graphic and railroad lines between Baltimore and
Washington came to hand, and added, it was thought
then, something as to the enemy's full design.
Washington became isolated, and so remained 36
hours. Tuesday afternoon Pennsylvania-avenue
was crowded with troops marching in all
directions, while an incessant flood of extras
from newspaper offices announcing that Fort
Lincoln, situate on the Baltimore turnpike,
ten miles north-east of the capital, had boon at-
tacked, wrought up the excitement to the highest
pitch yet reached during the invasion, in the
meanwhile skirmishing continued all Tuesday after-
noon all along the lines, without anything new
being developed in the enemy lines; and so Tuesday
wore into night, and, notwithstanding published
rumours of the advance of the rebel force on the
south side of the Potomac, a perfect feeling of secu-
rity prevailed, for it was then doubted if the rebels
intended an assault, and if they did our forces
would prove too much for them.
"During the early part of the night their line
was strong as usual, stretching from the railroad
this side of Bladensburg to Fort Pennsylvania, two
miles from the Potomac. The city now being per-
fectly isolated, many of the places of business were
closed, and provisions reached ' panic' prices.
"Flour rose in price 10 dole. per barrel, and
citizens found great difficulty in providing for their
families when suddenly ordered into the ranks.
Tuesday afternoon no one was allowed to go to the
front without a pass, and rumour was glib enough.
There was but little excitement except among the

militia. It was well understood all was in readiness
by onr forces to attack on Wednesday morning.
"But daybreak came, and behold the skirmish
line and pickets had vanished, and the enemy was
gone. _ _ _

" Ruined fields, smouldering houses.. and his dead
and wounded were all left behind ; a most sickening
memento of his visit.
" Cavalry followed in pursuit, and the enemy
were found to be retreating towards Frederick. A

small battery had remaintd near Bh.densburg,
firing at the railroad train long after the main line
had retreated. Thud commenced and thus ended

the rebel invasion of the district of Columbia and
investment of Washington.
" The enemy's troops came nearer the city than
they ever hair° before. At several p( tints in 1141 r