East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-10-15

We are permitted to copy the follow
ing portions Of private lettor dated Oct.
8, from an officer in Stockton's Independ-
ent Regiment to friend in this city. If
the intelligent and clearly expressed
views Of the writer arc correct, it is ap.
parent that thorc is need for great addi-
tions still to the force upon the Potomac:
We are still hero in front near Falls Church,
which is still occupied by the enemies picksts; they
arein one end of tho village and our pickets in the
other They fell back few days since from Nun.
sons and Halls Hills, and we now occupy the posi-
ton and part of Richardson's Brigade holds Mum
sons Hill. Their main advanced force, which is
doubt very large, is at Fairfax Court House. about
miles distant where they have strong inrenchments
Saturday afternoon our artillery here threw mum
Der Of shots from the riaed cannon into Falls
Church, by way Of diversion. will your
enquiries a can As for tho Potomac river beng
closed it is not and for the formidable batteries
on Munson's Ill., they do not exist; to what force
we havo tho Potomac, cannot give you the loast
idea You or 1 might as woll look at a forest and
attempt to tell the number Of trees it contains Reg
mcnts are here one day and gone the next; we are
not allowed to go to Washington unless on special
business and then must have pass signed by the
Colonel then by tho Brigadier eneral and then by
tho General of Division, that it is about impossible
to go anywhere You know only what is going on
Immediately around you, and that is all. You get
far moro information from the newspapers than VIC
| ~ 4 Al Al. n ID
tomac is as large many suppose, There is an i'm
mense force around Washington, but on this side
there is not in my opinion, as, 900 troops. There
arc Of course enough to the forts in the line of
Notifications on Arlington Heights and its continue
tions but that takes but comparatively small num-
her, and tho rest in advance with force or at
most an napoquato one, between the front Inc and
the fortified line three or four miles back. l do not
believe that the three divisions Of Porter Mcdowell
and IIentzclman which constitute tho force on the
whole line, from below Alexand ria to beyond Chain
Bridge, contain Is 900 men; and If the cnomy should
concentrate heavy force at this point or any other
along line, they could hur us back upon tho Po-
tomac and if conjecture is correct they could easily
do IT, for Manassas junction. whore their main force
II, II Dut 10 OF ~ iniics iiVth U.S.
Of five or six hours would br ing them upon us.
Our pickets on our right wero driven in night be-
fore last and may hear the long roll beat at any
timo; but my ideas on these points may be wrong
il is not for mo judge l only know that if they
do advance there will be desperate fight and great
loss of life, and IL should fall back we must 60
TO Arlington Heights close to Washington, and make
n last stand behind Notifications there for we
have no supporting force near us to retire upon. A
farmer living near us, at whose house B.ruregard
was few days since, heard him say that he thought
he could force us bfrk and take position, but il
would cost him $4,000 men You m9y take these
conjeeturos Of miuo for what they worth; Ijudgc
from observation only.
rode over Sunday afternoon to the camps Of the
9Th and "a Mich saw Mrs. O'Donne and had a
short but very pleasant visit with her; her hus and
was with his Regiment at Munsons Hill. also
called ON Lieut.. Emil Moorcs. Ho looks brown and
hearty; army rations and picket duty agrco with
him We had long chat about Saginaw, and friends
there; VIC also had some cake and cool wator. We
drank TO old friends at home. and success 10 the
cause and then ] returned. found Lieut.. 0'Don-
nell Capt Sherlock and Lieut.. Pomeroy, Of tho 9Th
awaiting mo. They remained to supper and fires'
parade. They started for tho camp at dark in dnc