American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1851-1863, 1861-10-26
ARMY or TIE POTOMAC.
goyements and Plans of the Enemy
Especial Correspondence of the Piesyune.I
HEADQUARTERS AMY OF THE PoTOaAC.

Especial Correspondence of the Piesyune.I
HEADQCARrERs Amy OF THE PoToaAC.
FAIRFAX, Oct. 10, 1861.
The last two three days we have been visited
by heavy storms of wind aud rain, which in thi.
open aud exposed country, have been severely felt
In several places night before last where the wind
had frc>sst play. tents rGdely blown down and
many nice plan, bat few hours old. of g mice
and men. = wet fast agiee. At Washington and
the hei gifts around. as well as all along the
stormy Atlantic coast. the wind must have been
very violent and 10 doubt did much damage. Bat
to US in the tented field, it was only agreeable
relief from the heats OF summer or a diversion t.
the inactive life of soldier. After the storm al
so, has followed bright, beautiful autumn day
the certain forerunner Of a frost which gives rud-
dness to the cheek and elasticity TO the step.
The movements of the enemy continue appa-
rentIy a. devoid of plan and aim as ever. They
evidently acting the defensive, and will proba-
bly, continue do to the end of the season
though they labor hard to make think they are
preparing for another 6 On to Richmond" by way
Of Manassas. Now they appear in great numbers
at the Chain Bridge then again below Alexandria,
while their pickets thrown out in threatening
manner all the way between but when we close in
upon them, they III once fall back without resist
and withdraw to a safe place within thei"
lines. Sd invariably have we found these advances
of the enemy to be fents, that have come to
regard them hardly worth our notice One
thing Is certain, they do lot intend TO give Ms a
fair fight in open field again this JASON, and so
far their programme of invasion has failed. with
their reVerses here, in Western Virginia and in
Missouri, they have, indeed, been actually thrown
upon the defensive. Instead of threatening us
anywhere now on the Northern frontier they act
uaily find themselves threatened. At the same
time, by the sudden closing up of the Potomac,
they find themselves cut of from their principal
source of supplies, well the of defence,
where they have most TO lose and where the dan
ger is greatest
1t ~ doubtful even, if the enemy did not find
themselves closely pressed every side, wheth-
er they would could on this frontier longer ad-
here to their original plan of invasion. The nu-
merous prisoners constantly taking. as well
as deserters who are daily coming in. all bear wit
ness to the utter decentralization of the Northern
army in view of another forward campaign. The
places of those who fled over the country from
Manassas and the ranks of the many skeleton reg
ments then hastily brought on to Washington
have, it is true, been for the most part filed but
the terrors of the invasion of an unknown country
stll remain, while still greater terrors in cold and
cherries winter threaten behind them. Most of
the troops now collected at Washin gton have never
received pay whatever. They were suddenly called
away from their homes under the pretenee that the
capital was in danger, and have been compelled to
remain in service ever since, contrary to the ex
press terms of their enlistment. In the meantime
their families represented to be in the most ut
ter state of destitution. Men so situated cannot
have the heart to fight, neither just cause or pri-
vate interest urge them into battle.
In the meantime our men continue eager as ever
to close in upon the enemy, in their strongest
fastnesses, neither regarding toll. nor labor nor
suffering, conquer just, speedy aud honora-
bic peace. Never before probably. was so large
number Of men collected in one field together
who brealhed SO unanimous a spirit of determined
resistance to any and whatever invasion of their
country and their ri gifts And this spirit has only
gained new strength AID vigor by the evidences
thic keuing around that the life of inactivity TO
which have been confined since the battles of
Manassas, is nearly over aud that shall be per-
mtted to drive the enemy clear of the soil Of Viz
GINA. OF our ability to do this have not the
slightest doubt. Since the 2ist Of Jaly our army
has nearly doubled, our artillery guadrupled the
Quartennaster Commissary, and Ordnance Depart
ments have all been recognized and put ia, a state
of the most complete efficiency. The men them
selves also have recovered from the debilitatuge
fects Of a severe summer, and the Gully question
heard among them IL - when shall mover
Should they be disappointed i'll the opportunity, it
would DE a disappointment indeed.
Bat OF this there appears, at the moment of wri-
ting, to be few fears According to the recent or
der. all the sick and unnecessary baggage have
been removed from every regiment aud bat
TALON in the army. and the decks are fairly cleared
for action. Immense quantities OF artillery. newly
arrived from Richmond aud Lynohbarg. are also
moving forward daily right and left TO the front
while the army itself is constantly ia motion, and
each day assuming new and threatening po-
sitions. The hopes and expectations of our men
were. consequently. higher.
Since writing the above, hear that the heavy
rains OF yesterday and the day before have filled up
the water courses, and in some carried away
the bridges. otherwise rendered the roads Iapas-
sahle. II is possible. therefore. that there may be
delay in the transmission of tie mails both to aud
from the South For the same reason doubtless il
is that We Gear nothing from the upper or lower
Potomac. excepting what reaches from below
by telegraph that another uf the enemy 5 steamers
has beer destroyed by our batteries. II r.. /
GIN. KIRBy SxIrH ORDxRED TO FLoRInA. !
We take The annexed item from the Lynch
burg yirginan of the 18th:
Gen. Kirby Smith, with his bride, returned
TO this place on "Wednesday evening, when
the General found telegram ordering him
TO the department of Florida, aud to report
Immediately at Richmond.