The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-17

inst then the mail from the city was brought
Into Colonel Bnrkp's office. There were % or
30 letters addressed TO the prisoners. Colonel
Burke looked them over and picked out one .
"There In al~tter for Mr.. -, and know
tho hand which addressed It, the letter il from
his sister, but cannot send il into him As
you know the family You NAV open and rea d
It, 1 .hal he obliged to /; a. / open ali lette
viii, come to or from the prisoners Their
family letters glance at and II there is any
thing importantto communicate, the purport
of the letter is sent To the person to whom IL Is
addressed. NY orders with regard 10 III, nri
sonsfs are yary9etriet. and obey them.
49, may leave nay card for Mr.. -
s hs,s NV tasi ,e Certnnly yon may write
Il note, merely stating that he had called, &c :.
and Coionel Burkesent i in by a Sergeant
~ must be very much Like a State prison
over there" "Oh, no." said the Colonel,
me prisoners have nothing to do, plenty to
eat plenty of air and exercise. They hive
thr run OF the fort al proper hours. Do you
see that man leaning against the doorway ~
:, aes. Well, let me get the glass; think
glass TO the visitor and II was Mr. - The
visitor returned to tire city with the follow
ing consolation from the Colonel: well,
yon came down to see DIR. -, and you
have seen HIM And the Colonel bade his
visitor n courteous farewell.
kx-aAYoR J, g.. BERRRfr ORDERED TO ns RE-
LEasRD.
The Washington Star announces thgt
Thursday evenings mail carried to New
York an order from the Department Of State
directing the release of james O.. Berrett
late Mayor of the Federal Metropolis. fro,,
his present confinement In Fort Lafayette
rms order is ON condition that he takes the
oath OF allegiance to the United States against
any and all enemies whatsoey III. and also
resigns his office as Mayor.
FEDERAL REPORT OF A sKIRMIsH
The following is the official Federal report
OF the reconnaissance which took place from
the Yankee encanpment, near the Chain
Bridge, a few days ago. Although there is
very little truth n the statement by this Fed
eral 0.scCr, still it will be amusing to orr
readers to see with what cool deIibera ton
they lie Themselves out of every defeat which
they sustain in their sorties upon our forces
Camp .fdCance, IN, sept. H. 1Sel.-The S;ey-
enty-ninth regiment of Highlanders. New
York STATE militia, ordered on special
connoisance In the direction of Falls Church
left camp at one o'clock A NJ Sept 10. and
proceeded to place designa ted through the va
rious by paths, without disturbing the enemy's
Plckets, ana arrived there at daybreak The
command was divided III to two wings to guard
the approach of the enemy. Soon after the
men had been posted firing was heard in tho
direction of Lew .nsyille, and BODY of cayaI-
~ came from the direction of Falls Church
and when endeavoring to pass where we We're
posted, our men were ordered to fire. which
they did, causing the enemy to retreat Pre-
yious 10 their retreating, which was caused
by well directed fire from the left wing un-
der command of Capt. John Falconer, the enc
my fired on us. killing one, pri sate John
Downie, of the eighth company. AT the same
time the right wing captured a prisoner, who
was wounded, and who had on when cap
tured majors shoulder straps His name is
Hobbs, of Col. Stewards eaytiiry regiment
Having successfully accomplished the mis-
sion We We're ordered on--the prevention of
the pickets at Iewinsviiie being reinforced
and :he enemy having retrca ted, and the alarm
being sounded III all the enemy's camps in the
nei2hhorhood, we left our position. and ar
rived In camp BY way of Langley st half pa st
10 O'Clock, a. NJ. TIE lowest estimate Of tn.
enemy's losses is four killed, two wounded
and one prisoner. Much Of the success of the
expedition Is owing to iho exertions of our
guide, Mr.. Sage.
LieQt Alexander Graham, of the Eigh tn
company, WAS conspicuous for his GOODNESS
and bravery during tbe engagement Mr.
Hazard Stevens, volun teer. distinguished him
self III the expedition for his usefulness and
his bravery during the engagement.
With these remarks beg to subln it tn g Il boye
report. Yours, obedientlv, t
DAVID IRELAND
hdJutant Seventy ninth Regiment.