The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1861-07-19
Further Particulars of the Advance on Fair

Further Particulars of the Advance on Fair
fax
Washington, July IS.-The following dis
patch was received this afternoon
Fairfax Court House, July Is.
To Lieut.. Col E. D. Townsend,
Asst. Adjt. Gen, Washington.
The first division under Gen. Tyler is between
Germantown and Centrevile. The second, Col.
Hunters is at this place, and is about to move
forward to CentreviIe. The fifth. Col. Miles ,
! is at the crossing of the old Braddock road with
the road from this to Fairfax Station, and is Or
dcred forward to Centreville by the old Brad
dock road. Barry's battery has joined it.
One Regiment of Colonel Hentzelman bri-
gade, Col. Wilcox S, is at Fairfax Station. Col.
Ileitzelman, and bis other brigade are below the
Station, but he has not reported to me since we
have been here, and | have not been able to COM
municate with him. | think they are at Sang
ster's Station.
! The four men wounded yesterday, belonged
to Col. Miles division who had some slight skir-
mlshing in reaching the position. Each column
encountered about the same distractions, trees
felled across the road, but the axemen cleared
them out in few moments.
There were extensive breast-works at this
place and some of them with embrasures reset
ted with sand bags. Extensive breast works
were lso thrown up at the Fairfax Railroad
Station and the road leading to Sangster's. A
great deal Of work had been done by them, and
the number and size of their camps show that
they have been here in great force. Their re-
treat therefore must have damaging effect up
on them. They left in such haste that they
did not draw in their pickets, who came into
one of our camps thinking as it occupied the
same place it was their own. The obstruction
to the Railroad in the vicinity of the station,
nc luding the deep cut filled with earth, &c ,
can be cleared out in few hours. The Tele-
graph poles are up with the wires on them.
look to having Railroad and Teegraphic COM
munlcation In IL very short time.
Much -four, arms, forage, tents, camp equip
age, &C., were abandoned by them.
am distressed to have to report excuses by
our troops. The excitement Of the men found
vent in pillaging which, however, was soon
checked 1t distressed us all greatly. | 60 to
Centreville in few moments.
Very respectfully, your most ob't serv't,
IRWIN MCDOWELL,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.
Numerous trophies were brought to Wash
ington this afternoon, including Commissary S
tent of the Third South Carolina Reg irnent,
guns, books, coats, hats and palmetto buttons :
the latter appeared from stamp to have been
manufactured in New York
All the masked batteries SO much talked Of
and which rendered the leaders Of our forces
extremely careful on the forward movement,
turn out to be nothing more than infantry
breastworks of the lneanest style of construc-
ton.
SANGsTER's STATION.
Is miles from Alexandria. July II. {
We have had the pleasure of seeing the enc.
my flying before us, but in consequence Of the
rouShness Of the march and owing to the heavy
guns which we have carried along they have sue
ceeded in making their escape without fight.
We have now full possession of the Railroad as
far as this station. The enemy commenced
their retreat during the day and barely escaped
by the old Fairfax road which is occupied as far
as Fairfax. Col. Heintzelman in the meantime
remained at the corner of Sangster's Cross road,
two and half miles from Fairfax Station with
Col. Towards brigade and Capt. Lewis caval.
ry.
Several Regiments of Rebel troops are report
ed to have passed Sangstcr's Station during the
day, in retreat before Col. Frankln's column.
An Alabama Regiment was encamped within
two miles of the forks of the road, where we
arrived at noon. The camp fires were still burn
ing, when we passed this afternoon, and there
y Us
Titles of fresh beef, corn &C., being left behind,
near this camp. We found that they had made
an attempt at infantry breast works, which
could have been walked over by our troops It's
construction prove the weakness of the enemy
in this art of war.
SECOND DISPATCH.
On Tuesday AFTERNOON the line of march was
taken, the Sd division of the corps DE Armee
under the command of Col Heintzelman of the
18th infantry, comprising the brgades of Col.
Franklin, Wilcox and Howard. The troops
proceeded without any difficulty whatever, over
the old Fairfax and Pohick roads, a distance of
10 miles from Alexandria when they bivouacked
at Pohick Creek over night. The seems was
most romantic one, the camp-fres burning on
either side Of the hill that surrounded the
Creek. At o'clock the next morning the
troops were stirring, and as early as dawn the
line was re formed. The troops proceeded on
the old Fairfax road in the following order
LIST brigade under Col. Franklin in the advance
"a brigade under Col. Wilcox, as the centre of
the column; Sd brigade, Col. Howard of Maine,
p6;pr