New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-20

heavy force N RAPID reUSAp lone huAuio"b Va s""'
beyond us. Infantry, cavity, and artillery were OBJ
served at various p6n,s Our own artillery wac III.
s.antly summoped aud volley Of shells was eho"ered
among the runaways vastly acceerating their move
uents At the sound Of these discharges, our own
forces formed in splendid order, regiments stretching
dlenly out on both sides of the road and the entire
% Brigade, under Gen. Shenck, deployDg in lne-oi
b, tile to the left. Every hll and every valley ioF
miles arJuld was sparkling with tie weapons oil ON
troops.
In tEer race for safety the rebels east on all lncun'
braBocs, and, ON advancing TO the spot ~hieh 'u'f
eaval had held, blankets provisious, and heeou'oi
ments Of al kinds were found scattered around many
Of lhese were seized by our ,roops but were soon
found % lie Of inferior quality and cast ava! "s''D
Az attention was then directed TO the movements VI
the rebels, who could he seen from every hil,'oP
spreading 10 all directions, except our own ana U'A'N
refuge within what apptared to be weil-'olfI,
bsiteries in the vicinity Of Fairfax c'ur'' ho"'o'
Their preparations If they made any, aVaiieu h'"'e
for our column soon afterward turned TO the he" "
tbe road 10 Germantown. This was naf,o"'i w.!
than the bread road we had Just absndone1' anu
ebstrnclions Of felled trees whch had a'so o'I" -
eetabhsi Cd proved more troublesome Li'''0 ~
however, was gwen 10 them, nnti the report ,l'o
that belul one OF tocu W /" S''''
an earhyotk vas planted with battery td Two guns.
H. ma he fsf intmaton Of an intention 70 stand
A. their work on the p4rt of the rebels. Our column
hecs,oo busier than ere. The engineers tore away
tbe teed trees tkirmshcrs wound through the woods
A. asok the position, and the rifed cannon were
bnupht up from the rear Unfortunately, their arrival
was much delayed so that blythe time they were ready
IN omen Ere the earthwork deserte1 and the guns
removed. few shot were sent among the flying
rebels after which the work was occupied and exam
med II was really pos, Of some Strength, command
ing long stretch Of tie open road and aOrding shell
Yer to a large body of MN. 1t had only one sandbag
embrssure for two brass gnns, but it also inciad'
pgpse OF breastworks two hundred yarde long. Alto
gerher il might have yiveu us great annoyance. COL
Keyes and tle officers accompanying him were by tins
time a little bewidered at the unvayng coward ee
sf the enemy. "Tm tired Of chasing them" said Col
Reyes.
The eath.wOrk was hlled with the Implements used
IN is construction which the runaways had no thought
Of in their hasty flight. CotLing and raOns and for
age were also discovered. A few weapons lay about
oil recently broken Gs if the fugtiyes were equally
unwilling 10 eneumber themselves with them, and 10
leave them in useful condition TO the invaders.
Passiug few newy-deserted camps the army en-
tered the village OF Germantown, which seemed al
nast equally deserted. Some Of soldiers undertook
~ relieve the quiet of tie place by such bsbarous out
RACES as burning The dwellings as they passed
them regret that l conld not learn the authors OF
these misdeeds. They attributed to men OF iue
S9th and I'd New.York and let Massachusetts Regi'
uaenis As regards the first two can say that heard
enc maD wearing s uniform and Dnmber, boastlne OF
having set fire 70 a building and tbat saw member
Of tae Cd checked while attempting 10 deftroy cot
saQe which he had brohsn into As 10 the Mass2ehn-
sets st it is untrue that they in any way con-
eerned They were far in the the lime the con-
hsgosins were kinlled.
At G srrnantown Gen. Tyler's Division was joined
by put Of Col. Heintzelmans and part Of Col.
Hunters greatly ineIeaing our force of cavalry and
artillery. This tes that wO Is expected to
b. accomplished by this column. AC Germantown,
too we learned the excel en that Fairfax Court
House bad been occupied without contest and TINT
the DO geriu and formidable forJfCatioDs reared by
the rebels had been abandoned without single effort
70 maintain them. This filed the dfgraeeful measure
Of Their conduct to the full Their days history, it
seemed presented only unbrOken Of mastery
eowardee.
Gen. Mcdowell appeared at this point, and assumed
command fUT short tme after which he returned to
Arlington, leaving Gen. Tyler again at the head.
Somewhat to our suFprise-for it was only 2 O'Clock,
and the troops were eager 10 press Ont was an
ed thai the attack upon Centreyille would be
deferred till tomorrow Az Cenreville il s declared
The rebels had fortified themselves with great care;
and it is believed that here, if anywhere, they must at
ieast sttemp, show Of resistance. Early Tomorrow
our work s to begin, and we shall tes, them.
Thstxtreme dificulties Of writing in the mid.t Of
camp upon ra id march must excu'e TIE omIssion Of
~ -
iay. Our chances of communication with the mails
few, and must seEe those which are open to us
at all risks.