The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-06-02


Three separate engagements have inaugurated
the campaign for our troops in the vicinity OF
Washington. The full details of the conflict at
Aqua Greek, between the United States gun.
boats Freedom and others, and the rebel bat.
teries-a brief account Of which we gave yester-
day-wili be found in our columns to-day. In that
action, which lasted for an hour or two on Friday
night, and was resumed yesterday morning, the
rebel bsttory was silenced and several Of the
men musthave been killed or wounded, as disabled
soldiers were clearly seen to have been carried
out OF the batteries from the decks of the gun.
boats. no one on the side of the United States
was killed.
Arcoennoitre made by Captain Ward Of the
Freedom, to Matthias Point, settled the question
that no batteries exist in that quarter, as sup
posed.
Another fight took place yesterday morn.
ing at the village of Fairfax, which was
quite brilliant affair. body of United J
States cavalry, under Lieutenant Tomp- \
kins, accompanied by three c. four officers }
of the New York Fifth regiment as, volunteers,
while accommodating in that direction, fell in th
the picets Of the rebels After challenging them 4
ana driving them back, they rushed at charge
through the village and were fred at from hotels,
houses and from behind fences as they passed.
Returning, they were met by three several detaeh
1nents Of the rebels, who had turned out into the
&C bayi
cavalry cut their way through, killing twenty .
seven of the rebels, and making pri-
soners OF five. The United States troops
had only one man killed, one missing, and Sour
wounded. among whom was Lieutenant Tomrkins
himself.
Ouartermaster Carey of the New Yori. .Ninth,
was slightly wounded by q rife shot IN the foot.
THE prisoners taken in this skirmish were sent to
vosh;nc,on. One of them stated that there are
only three hundred men at Fairfax, though other
REPORTS place them as high as two thousand. The
troops of Lieutenant Tom kins s said, numbered
only forty seven mon.
sl;cht affair occurred at Alexandria early yes
terday morning before daylight. The pickets Of
the Michigan regiment, alarmed BY q hostile dis
MAY on the part of the secesicnists, fell BACK on
the lines, party of the New York Zouaves were
then thrown out into the woods, and were met b7
q brisk fire from an ambush, which they returned,
lint. owing to the darkness, could not
tell whether with fatal effect or not. Inc
rebels, however, killed one and wounded an
other sentry Of the Zouayes. Thus at three
different points the two forces have come
into collision, and although the actions, amount
only to outpost skirmshes, they are indications o.
more serious conflicts very soon to eome.
There appears to be no change in the condition
of affairs at Fortress Monroe or Harper's Ferry
Nothing decisive has occurred at either poin
within the last twenty-four hours. The infOrma
ton. However. which we receive from the forme
Mace. that Bartlett's Naval Brigade, of this city
had been landed there without arms and actual
within range Of the fire of the enemy's battery
argues some gross Encouragement in some qua
Ter.
Jefferson Davis, accompanied by Mr.. Secretar
Toombs and Colonel wigfall, arrived in Richr on'
from Montgomery, on Wednesday, They were r
reived with great enthusiasm on the route, whor
ever the train stopped Mr.. Davis made speet
70 the people on the Richmond Fair grounds, up,
his arrival, in which he exhorted them to pr
serve the constitutional government OF
South, and conjured them to remember Il
life and blood were nothing as compai
with the immense interests they had at stal
he said that although they may not be W
trained, and may have much to learn in the art
war, still he knew that determination beat in I
hearts Of the Southern people never to surrend
and proclaimed that he belonged wholly to t
Bouth to the last breath OF his life. Mr. Davis h
issued proclamation to the people Of the Co
federate States, appointing the 18th Of June