The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1861-10-16
Prom Washington.


Wilmington, Oct 15.-Ths Postm astsr Ger.
eral has decided that the tosVgs on a single
letter TO or from Canada, Is ten cents Prepay.
M Mt is opionsl, but the whole postsge must
be prepaid or noDe;--par paymens are not re-
coRnizcd. Prepayment must be mad' by pos
age stamps not IN money. PostmStefs would
do well 10 preserve this statement.
An EXCHANGE oH PRISONERS
The f Loving has been Issued from head
nusr,ors Of tho army as special order.
Flfly-teven u the United Statss soldiers
obtained a. prisoners in Richmond, having been
r. EN- ed on taking an oath not to bear arms
against the states in rebellion, an equal number
Of the prisoners Of war taken from tho.e statos,
nov confined In Washington and New York
barber, will be released on taking the pro-
scribcd GA h Of lleeanee 10 the Unite Sta es,
OF an ath not TO engage In arms against the
United States.
Thirty seven confined in this city will DO 70
leased o. above. Col. LOOMS, com man1inE at
Fort Columbus, will in concert vita Lieat. Col
lurko, solect 90 from among the prisoners Of
wsr under their charge TO make up tho MI nbst
indicated. The prisoners 10 be reless ID will bs
mt by tho first opportunity TO Fort Monroe ami
thence under flag dtruce through the United
States lines.
T1oHTiNG THE POTOMAC BArTEHGEs AGAIN.
The Yankee arrived this afternoon, AMI one Of
her others reports that AT out oon today, tho Pc
cabontas, while steaming down the Poo
ionsc, fired few shots into the now
work at Shipping Point, on the lower side OF
Qusn,ico, which had the effect Of awaking the
rebel batteries, which did not respond, but pro-
pared its guns for the Seminole, which was but
q short distance in the r,M Of the pOcohotas.
The officer Of the Yankee was Fix or eight miles
distant, and witnessed tho exchange of shots
letWeen the battery aud the Seminole, and
through his glass distinctly sa the bursting OF
the laticrs shells II Ia supposed that both the
vessels, which were loaded wi h stores and
ammunition, have gone Oh their way without
further obstruction.
IIIE CASE or col. MILES.
The Court Of Inquiry in the case Of Col.
Dixon 8. Miles, ~ u. g. infantry, is TO re-
assemble tomorrow, at Camp Williams, in Vir-
Ginia.
SHARP RRCoNSoITKBISu.
Yesterday afternoon, q de,ac ment Of the 18th
and 10Th New York regiments, under Colonel
McQradc, made reconno anco two and-s half
miles from Falls Church, on the line Of the
lAesburg turnpike. They vainly underworld
90 draw out a party Of rebels who were con-
ccaltd in tho wCols. There was sharp firing
On both sides, but certainly without injury 10
any VI our troops.
HANDSOMELY DONE.
The rebels, this afternoon, burnt the house Of
tween Falls Church and townsville, TO the
right Of the loesburg turnpike. a party Of the
Fourteenth regiment went there to inquire into
the cau.e Of the COT Hsgration, when they we g
surrounded by largely superior force Of the
rebels. Bv the prompt use Of their rifles kill
log two Of the enemy, they safely escaped.
VALURoF RpBEL's PROMISE.
The robcls soon after advanced their pickett
somewhat nearer to our lines. Protection had
been promised to the estate by the Admihistra'
tor who ia in the rebel army. Mr. Barrett the
| father of Mrs. Chlds, has n fine residence "
that vicinity and it is spprohended tho enemy
will also DESTROY II, rs he is known to be
Sircng Union man. lie is from the SA'o o
New York.
CLOSE QUARTERS.
Yesterday afternoon our forces at Miners
Hill diec5veted number Of sccessionists in a
field probably mile and a half distant, and
threw three shells al them, when they dis -.
| peared. Two SHELLS were also thrown in the
| same direction this morning, which were an
| sweied from hill 10 the left Of l.esnsylle
The rebel shells exploded within three-iJurtt
II n IN lie Of Gen. Smiths headquarters.
From tho observatory al Up.on's HILL III
relNl pickcts arc plainly seen 10 tho left
Falls Church.