Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-10-04
Affairs in Virginia.
Correspondence Of the Daily Patriot.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POToMAC,
FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA, Sept &c, '61
EDITORS PATRIOT My long silence has
not been in consequence of a want of dispo-
sition to write, but more from the fact that
the facilities for getting letter to you have
become so unreliable that to mail letter
would be about as safe as to drop it in the
road with request that the first man passing
would give it kick and push it on as far as
possible. But besides this uncertainty of
the mails, there has been nothing of a start
ling nature that your readers do not know;
or it may be that which would interest you
has become stale to US here. This whole
county is one vast military camp. From
early dawn to late at night, the tap of the
drum may be heard in every direction, and
the cry is, "still they come!" 1 have been
with Gen. Longstreet's Brigade, which has
occupied the advance position since the bat
tie at Manassa, with that of Gen. Bonham.
/ might give some interesting details of our
position and operations of our Generals at
this place, but for prudential reasons l deem
1t best for the success of our arms not to do
90, but suffice that we will be ready TO meet
any emergency.
The heavy picket duty which our Regi-
nent 9th Va, has had to undergo has been
a task of no ordinary character; day and
night for weeks we were in front of the Yam
kee army, nay in sight. Every night we
would bivouac and rest on our arms. The
booming of cannon, rattle Of musketry and
the whizzing of balls initiated our boys the
second time, until now you may regard them
as panic proof.
We have had several little battles in driv-
ing the Yankees from Munson's, Mason's,Up-
places, the particulars of which l presume
YOU have. Oar lines continue to press on
ward slowly but surely; and the advance
forces of the Federals fall back by degrees
to their entrenched camps From my posi-
ton (Munson's Hill,) our flag waves proudly
in full sight of Washington city and with my
glass can distinctly see the various places
of defense around the city. even the port
holes of their siege guns, and can see their
various Regiments on parade and their Off
GERS riding 10 and fro.
How long these two armies can stand face
to face am unable TO say. 1t is evident
that the enemy is preparing for a strong de-
tense; and as to numbers do not doubt but
that they have been largely increased du-
ring the last month; but, at the same time,
we have not been idle, and from practical
observation since the taking of the bills
above alluded to. / do know that these Lin
coin mercenaries are not of the stripe to meet
the Southrons and defend their seat of Gov
eminent. They have more artillery and
siege guns about Washington than ever
saw, and / presume their objectin firing them
so much of late is to temper their chicken
hearted army to the sound and get them
used to it before the time of action, lest they
should become "panic-strieken" and run off
at the first sound of their own guns.
notice our papers of late have good
deal of the aon to Richmond" about the in
activity OF our Generals. would suggest TO
one of these brave Solomons to come over
and take look at the road which he directs
MS TO take. II there is any secessionist yet
walking the streets who is anxious to see an
aonward movement" let him come here
there is plenty Of rOom. -gss