The Sun.
London, England, 1862-09-22 00:00:00

A Washington telegram of the 9th, 11.45 p.m.,

nays
4, The news from the front to-day is altogether
of a negative character. The reconnoissances made
have failed to find the enemy in such force on the
Maryland side as has been represented. They are
occupying the principal points from the mouth of
Seneca Creek to Frederick, and westward Hagers-
town, and eastward as far as the vicinity of Elli-
cott's Mills, within 12 miles of Baltimore. Within
this range they have possession of three fords across
the Potomac, and they appear to be industriously
obtaining and sending into Virginia all the supplies
they can find ; large quantities of horses, cattle,
forage, and breadstuffs, have been procared in the
fertile counties of Mcntgomery, Frederick, Wash-
ington, Howard, and Baltimore. All these things
are sent rapidly across the Potomac into Virginia.
" The whole rebel force that has passed north-
ward, through Frederick, does not exceed 15,000.
They represent that they are only the advanced
guard of 150,000, who have crossed into Mary-
land, but they have not yet been found. It
is definitely ascertained, however, that as many as
150,000 have come to the banks of the Potomac ;
and the impression prevails that they are trying a
piece of strategy, foraging expeditiously in Mary-
land, while their forces are massed in the vicinity
of the fords, ready to come down either side of the
river when they can draw the army of General
M'Clellan far enough away from the capital to leave
a clear roadway to Washington.
"The rebel reconnoissances have induced the belief
that the rebel visit to Maryland is only a bold dash
for foraging, with the hope of arousing the seces-
sionists there, and of decoying General M'Clellan's
army away from Washington. In all respects,
except obtaining forage, the movement is a failure.
The Maryland secessionists outside of the rebel
lines manifest less disposition to rise than ever;
and General M'Clellan is too wary to be entrapped
by the enemy."
The New York Times of the 10th says :
"The accounts of the position and numbers of the
rebels in Maryland are still conflicting, so much so
that the contradictions can hardly be reconciled,
except under the supposition that the several divi-
sions of the rebels have gone in different directions.
We are assured on the one hand that Jackson is on
his way with a heavy force to Gettysburgh, Penn-
sylvania, so as to be within striking distance of
Chambersburgh and York, while on the other hand
it is asserted that he has marched to Westminster,
and will move on Baltimore in that direction.
" The Washington National Intelligeneer of
yesterday morning states that the rebels in great
force occupied the western bank of Seneca Creek,
from its mouth at the Potomac, 22 miles above
Washington, to Middlebrook Mills—a line some
ten miles in extent. With regard to the position
of our own troops who, under General M'Clellan,
are following up the rebels, we have no information,
except that they are moving rapidly forward in
large force and confident spirits. A short time will
probably develop the whereabouts of both armies,
and enable us better to understand the position of
affairs.

"A fight of some moment took place at Poolesville,
on Monday afternoon, between a rebel regiment of
cavalry and the 3d Indiana and a portion of the Bth
Illinois cavalry, in which the rebel forces were
defeated and put to rout, leaving several dead on
the field. The enemy were supported by one piece
of artillery, while our forces had two.
"In view of the invasion of Maryland Governor
Bradford has issued a proclamation calling upon
the citizens to enrol themselves at once in military
organisations.
" An important announcement will be found in
our letter from Port Royal this morning. Simul-
taneously with the return of General Hunter from
the department we receive the assurance that his
policy with regard to the negroes has been adopted
by the President, that five negro regiments are to
be raised, armed, and uniformed for the service of
the United States, and that 50,000 in addition are
to be enrolled, to be employed in the quartermas-
ter's department, nominally as labourers, but
organised into companies, and uniformed. The
exact time of commencing the work of enlisting the
coloured recruits our correspondent is not able to
state, but it is expected to be soon. General Sastor
is to visit Washington by the next steamer for con-
sultation with the President on the subject.
" We learn by way of Louisville that on Thurs-
day last a foraging party of our troops from Cum-
berland Gap encountered a party of rebels, 7 miles
distant, and defeated them after a sharp skirmish,
in which we lost one killed and three wounded.
The rebels suffered considerable loss, as they were
exposed to a raking fire from a 32-pounder. We
have also a rumour from Louisville that General
T. S. Crittenden has encountered and vanquished a
portion of General Bragg's force, near Gallatin,
Tennessee. Another rumour says that Bragg's
entire forces are crossing the Cumberland River
with a view to the invasion of Northern Kentucky.
" A report ccmes to us from Helena, Arkansas,
that General Roseneranz had made an attack upon
the rebels at Tupello, on the Mobile and Ohio Rail-
road below Corinth, and had been decisively re-
pul ied. The report probably comes from the rebels.
" The correspondent of the Chicago 7 imes at Cairo
still insist& upon the truth of the report that Gen.
Buell has fought and won a great,battle. The story,
he says, was brought to General Ross's headquar-
ters at Jackson, by a special messenger from Tus-
cumbia. The messenger had seen the dispatches
himself. Since then information has been re-
ceived at General Grant's headquarters at Corinth,
as I learn from parties direct from there, that
General Buell has had heavy skirmishing with
the enemy for some days; that he has been gene-
rally successful, and that he and his entire army
were in excellent spirits, and apprehended no dan-
ger from the enemy. These circumstances would in-
dicate that Gen. Buell had had some opportunity of
feeling the enemy.' "
The New York Herald of the 9th (evening) says :
" The rebel force now in Maryland is estimated
es follows :—lnfantry and artillery, 80,000 ; cavalry
8,000 ; artillery pieces, 150.
" A statement is also made that the younger Gen.
IEII was on his way to Harper's Ferry from Lees-
burg, with an additional force of 30,000. The rebel
armies combined in Maryland would thus make a
force of nearly 120,000
strong.
s; The rebels, finding the canal bridge at Nolan's
Ferry destroyed, opened a crevasse in the bank and
let the water out of the canal.
More than two-thirds of the rebel soldiery in
Ver few
Maryland arc bare foot. y of the cavalry
have shoes.
"Point of Rocks has been evacuated, and the
Union troops, with all the Government stores and
guns, have been removed to Harper's Ferry.
" Harper's Ferry is considered safe, and is said to
be able to withstand any force that can be brought
• against it.
" The rebels were reported to have entered the
State of Pennsylvania near Hanover on the Bth, and
Gen. Andrew Porter had offered his services to Go-
vernor Curtin to protect the State at that point,
The intention of the enemy was said to be to cut off
the Western Central Pennsylvania Railroad, and
then to move on Baltimore and Washington. The
rapid action of our forces, however, may spoil their
pians. Later accounts place the rebel cavalry scouts
at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and rumour says they
under the stars and stripes
are ad van ci n g proclaim-
ing that they aro fighting to restore the Union as it
was, &e. The utmost vigilance is exercised, and
prompt arrangements are being manifested at Balti-
more to repel any attack of the rebels upon that
city. From Fortress Monroe it is reported that the
Merrimac No. 2 has been seen below Fort Darling
making towards Newport News. Rumours were
prevalent that she had reached the vicinity New-
port News, and had an encounter vrith two of our
gun boats, driving them before her. Ali the ship-

ping, however, had been removed to a place of

safety, and every arrangement had been made to

give the rebel ram a quietus when she approached

be fortress.

" The preparations for the defence o' Cineinnati
were being continued ; 25,000 fresh taups arrived
there on the sth and 6th. The reports as to the

location of the Confederates were quite conflicting.

It was stated that they were at Falmouth, within
15 miles of Covington, on the 7th, and now it was
also said that only a scouting party of them had
appeared at Crittenden, twenty-five miles from
Covington. Another rumour says that they had
marched from Falmouth on Maysville, and that the
latter town had surrendered. Whatever may be
the truth of these rumours, it is certain that all fear
and anxiety are abating in Cincinnati. Business
was again resumed and everywhere looked cheerful.
Reports from Hagerstown of the evening of the Bth
state that the enemy were in force near that place."
The correspondent of the New York Herald,
under date Westminster, Md., Sept. 8, says

,4 The latest intelligence fom Frederick is to the
effect that the enemy,,believed to be about 50,000
strong, was in the vicinity of Frederick, and
marching towards the Pennsylvania border. Scouts
who penetrated the rebel lines in that vicinity on
Sunday state that the rebels were encamped for a
considerable distance about the city, and the direc-
tion the moving portion of the forces was taking
was towards Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. It is
represented that a large force of cavalry—some
6,000, it was thought, had proceeded to Chambers-
burg- When the rebel invaders entered Frederick
the vanguard was led by Colonel Bradly Tyler
Johnson, with a force of 6,000 men. He was im-
mediately followed by Stonewall' Jackson, at
the head of 25,000 and an additional force followed
in his rear. On the approach of the enemy many
of the influential citizens and prominent Union men
left the city. The rebels commenced the invasion
of the state by the assumption of supreme authority
over it. Ex-governor Enoch Louis Lowe was ap-
pointed rebel military governor of Maryland, and
Bradley Tyler Johnson provost-marshal of Frederick
City. It is said that Stonewall Jackson made his
headquarters at the residence of General Cooper, in
Frederick City. On Sunday the rebel pickets were
stationed on the turnpike at Newmarket, about eight
miles east of Frederick City. A sufficient number
of Union troops has been sent to contend success-
fully with the enemy. If they have crossed in the
force that has been represented a fight must soon

take place. The battle ground will probably be
somewhere between Monrovia and Frederick."

The Baltimore correspondent of the same journal
writes, on Sept. 9 :
" Military matters in Maryland remain in about

the same state as yesterday. The rebel army still
holds undisturbed possession of the capital of the
state, and, thus far, no steps have been taken for
their dislodgment. Citizens of Frederick City are
permitted to pass freely and unquestioned in and out
of that city. Two gentlemen residents of that place
left there yesterday, and from them I derive the
following particulars :

" General Hill and General Jackson are both at
Frederick. The movement of rebel troops from the
Potomac to that city has continued without inter-
ruption since Saturday, and is still in progress. It
is supposed that there are now fully 150,000 rebel
troops in Maryland. Comparatively few, however,
are at Frederick ; but bodies of troops are continu-
ally arriving and departing. The utmost degree of
quiet and order prevails at Frederick. Gen. Jackson
and Gen. Hill have both publicly declared that the
rebel army has come into Maryland as friends and
not as enemies; that all persons pursuing their ordi-
nary avocations shall not be in any way molested
or disturbed, and that all supplies of any kind
whatever taken for the use of the army will be
paid for. These declarations have been scrupu-
lously observed. The rebel soldiers are well
supplied with gold and silver and United States
Treasury notes, with which they pay for what they
buy.
"The bodies of rebel troops which leave Frede-
rick take different routes, as if striking towards
different points, and give out that they are actually
marching on different destinations. But it is sup-
posed that these columns will all concentrate at a
given point and march towards one object. _

" The excitement in Baltimore has increased in
intensity, and there is every indication that we are

on the eve of a popular outbreak. It is a singular

fact that the character of this excitement is different
from that which has ever prevailed here before. It
is now the Unionists who manifest alarm and un-
easiness. The Secessionists are confident and
calm. The Unionists complain bitterly that the
Government has provided ample means for the de-
struction of the city, but none for its defence. The
appearance in the basin (in the heart of the city) of
five of the vessels of Commodore Porter's mortar
fleet has greatly increased this feeling. The Balti-
more American gives expression to this feeling by
saying that the rebels in strong force are marching
on Baltimore, and asking ' What are our chances
of rescue ? While Baltimore has abundant mate-
rials provided for its swift destruction, it has but
little for its defence."'

The Richmond Dispatch of the sth Sepfember
gives the following account of the late battles near
the Rappahannock :
" Passengers by the Central Railroad, now almost
our only source of information from our armies at
Manassas, brought down with them yesterday even-
ing no well-authenticated intelligence from the great
battle of last Saturday. At the time of their leaving
Gordonsville it had been telegraphed thither from
Rapidan station, that participants in the battle had
arrived at the latter place, bringing intelligence of
the death of Sigel, the mortal wounding of Generals
Pope and M'Dowell,:and the capture by our army
of 7,000 or 9,000 prisoners. This is all we could
gain of a later date than on the 28th.
" But among the passengers were several gentle-
men who participated in the fight of Thursday.
From them we have the first intelligible, though
that they had caught General Jackson in small
' force, and had an opportunity of crushing bin], but
as Often as they charged our lines they were driven
•
neither full or satisfactory, account of the locality
of the great three days' battle and the positions oc-
cupied respectively by the opposing forces. The
battle was fought on the plains of Manassas, our
forces occupying the identical position occupied by
the enemy at the beginning of the ever-memorable
battle of the 21st July, 1861, and the enemy occu-
pying the position held. by us on that occasion. We
will lay before the reader the account we have re-
ceived of the movements,'and the battle that ensued
on the day subsequent to our occupancy.
" On Monday General
A. P. Hill moved down
from Salem along the Manassas Gap Railroad, and
on Tuesday took possession of Manassas Junction,
capturing several hundred prisoners and eight or
ten guns. General Ewell followed General Hill,
and General Taliafero, commanding General Jack-
son's old division, followed General Ewen. General
Taliafero reached Manassas on Wednesday evening,
. just as the troops of Ewell and
. Hill were evacuating
that position and falling back towards Bull's Run,
in the direction of Centreville. General Taliafero
occupied Manassas, and made a show of throwing
out heavy pickets towards the enemy, who was at
Briston station, on the Orange and Alexandria
Railroad, five miles distant, in a south-westerly di-
rection, but directly after nightfall calling in his
pickets. He then fell back towards Centreville,
and took a position near Grovestown, where he re-
mained an night. His position was to the right of
Generals Ewell and Hill. At dawn the next day
occasional reports of cannon and musketry began
to be heard towards the left, which was kept up at
intervals until evening. Still no enemy had yet
been on the portion of the field occupied by General
Talisfero's division; but about 5 p.m. they were
suddenly borne down upon
by several heavy co-
lumns of the enemy, numbering, it was esti-
mated, 20,000 men. The fight was opened on
both sides with artillery, at first at long range,
but gradually the enemy drew up his batteries
to our lines. By six
o'clock the distance be-
tween the combatants had been reduced to
musket range, and the fight along the whole line
of Taliafero's, Ewell's, and Hill's divisions, became
general. The enemy fought with great obstinacy,
being inspired, it is thought, by the supposition
' back with thinned ranks without being able to