Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1861-10-23
0~rlrarapbu arns.


NEoN ~ " ~ /" K1aA~ - "AR~['% 10y
Railroad. Ii is presumed they went TO Manassas
to Join he main body of their army there, but the
fact is not definitely ascertained, and the opinion
is entertained in some quarters that they have
gone toward Harper's Ferry by way of Suausburg
and Winchester.
The latter, however, is hardly probable. For
some DAYS the rebel army has occupied the seq
ment ola circle several miles in extent, reaching
from Leesburg TO the north of Occoquan Greek.
The movement recently made by Withdrawing
from Leesburg, Vienna, Fairfax Court House,
and Avondale, was unquestionably intended to
reduce the front, which now extends from the
Potomac rives, at the mouth of the 0ccoquan
upon that creek, and along Bull Run to Manassas
Junction, with Centerville and Fairfax Court
House occupied as outposts.
A very large body of then forces is known 10
have been thrown towards the Potomac, in the
neighborhood Of Shipping Point.
The movement IS purely defensive. to meet
the supposed intended advance of our army of
the Potomac in that direction, so as to cut off the
communication of the rebel army at Manassas
with Richmond.
Gen Stahl, of the New York 9Th, with a
small force, made a reconnaissance frstto Avon
dale which leads to Fairfax Court House.
The village was not deserted as others had
been.
The inhabitants said several rebel agents had
been there only yesterday morning.
Gen. Stahi then commenced advancing on
Fairfax Court House. After proceeding a mile
he discovered four mounted rebel pickets watch
ing our movements.
Our forces arrived at a hill called Coles, near
the Court House.
Our men were very much disappointed when
they learned they would not be permitted to go
on to the Court House. Some of them actually
shed tears.
The object of the reconnaissance was simply to
ascertain the position of the enemy, and not seek
an engagement. Having satisfied himself that
nearly all the rebels had disappeared beyond
Fairfax Court House, Gen. Stahl returned late in
the afternoon.
The withdrawal of the enemy from his advanc-
ed position in front of the lines is fully confirmed
by Prof. La Mountain who made a balloon ascen-
sion this afternoon. Shortly before 5 O'Clock he
assembled from a point about 6 miles west of AL
exandria.
The wind carried him Eve or six miles over
the enemv's camp, around Fairfax station, when,
rising into another current, he took a circuit to
Fairfax Court House, and then back to our own
lines, landing at Gen. Blenker's headquarters.
He had an excellent view of tae enemy's posi-
ton and could see their en~campments at Manas-
sas.
There were no rebel forces except here and
there a man this side of Fairfax Q. H.
At the Court House there were only a few
companies, and the appearance of the bivouacs
demonstrated that the position had been recently
almost entirely evacuated.
At Fairfax Station there appeared to be a lar
ger force.
WASHINGTON, Oct. l9.-Lord LYONS, several
days ago, addressed n letter to Mr.. Seward, Sec
rotary of State, in which he says Her Majesty's
Government was much concerned to find that two
British subjects, Messrs. Patrick and Rabmee,
| had hpQn SnhiQcfQd IN arhitrarv arroat and nj
though they had been released, it could not but
regard the matter as one requiring very serious
consideration.
Lord Lyons. under instructions, therefore felt
bound to demonstrate against such irregular pro
ceedings as he designated them and to say that the
authority of Congress is necessary in order to
justify the arbitrary arrest and Imprisonment of
British subjects.
Secretary Seward, in the course of his reply,
after detailing the facts in regard to the two pris-
oners named in the note of Lord Lyons. says the
proceeding of which the British Government
complains was taken upon information conveyed
to the President by the legal police authorities of
the country, and they were not instituted until
after he had suspended the great writ of freedom
in just the extent that in view if the perils of the
State he deemed necessary for the exercise of
that discretion.
He as well as his chief advisers, among whom
arc IHt OcCTtJdTl vi Otdbts II TtopOliclcic Wv LAW
before the highest tribunal of the republic and
amenaole also to the judgment of his country and
the enlightened portion of the civilized world.
In conclusion, Mr.. Seward says the safety of
the whole people has become in the present ex
igency the supreme law, and so long as the dan
ger shall exist all classes of society, equally the
dehizen and the citizen, must C e~erfully a~cquiesce
in the enjoyment which that law prescribes.
This Government does not question the learn
- II IL a. - ----
the justice of the Difference with which Her Ma
iesty pays to them; nevertheless the British Gov
eminent will hardly expect that the President
will accept the explanations of the Constitution
of the United States, especially when the Con-
stitution, thus expounded, would leave upon him
the sole executive responsibility of suppressing
the existing Instruction, while it would transfer
to Congress the most material and indispensable
power to be employed for that purpose.
Moreover, these explanations find no real sup
port in the letter, much less in the spirit of the
constitution. He must be allowed. therefore, to
be governed by the organic national law, which,
while it will enable him to exercise his great
trust with complete success, receives the sanction
of the highest authorities of our great country,
and is sustained by the general consent of the
people for whom alone that constitution was es-
tablished. (signed) WIN III. SEWARD.
WASHINGTON, Oct. l9.-Surprise is expressed
here at the misconstruction attempted to be put
upon Secretary Stewards circular by alarmists.
The circular shows that our relations abroad are
in good condition. and that the Government
means to keep them so. The Administration has
taken measures to put them right within, and
now turns its attention to putting them right
without. 1t asks the cooperation of the loyal
States in the latter as in the former.
The Secretary of State. accompanied by the
Ministers from England, France and Spain, had a
pleasant excursion over the river yesterday, visit
ing the camps and Notifications. They after
wards attended the review at Arlington Nights,
passed by Munson's Hill, and returned at a late
hour by way of the long bridge.
A special to the Post says:
Some excitement was created in diplomatic
circles here to-day by the publication OF the cor
respondence between Lord Lyons and Secretary
Seward in relation to the arrest of British sub
jects. Several new arrests have been made in
Baltimore.
A special to the Commercial says:
The gun boat Union went dow the river last
night with a paymaster on board destined, l be-
lieve, for Fort Monroe.
This morning, to the modification of the
friends OF the Union. she returned here, report
ing that she found it impossible to get past the
formidable batteries which the rebels have open
ed.
A reconnaissance went yesterday towards the
Occoquan and has returned, taking the telegraph
road as far as Actinck creek. Parties were sent,
to Actinck and Pobick, and on a road leading
up the Actinck. This latter party met the rebel
pickets, who Immediately fell back and gave the
alarm.
The long roll was beaten at the camps across
the creek.
From information received there are no rebels
between the telegraph road and the river, this
side of Occoquan, and but a few at the latter
place.
The only advices received from the upper Po-
tomac at head quarters. is a very brief dispatch,
sent last night, saving the rebels were about leav-