Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-10-21
From Washington.


were sent to Ocatonk and Pohick, and on
road leading mp the 0catonk. This lat
ter party met some rebel pickets, who i'm
mediately fell back and gave the alarm,
and the long roll was beaten at their camp
across the creek.
From the information derived from this
reconnaissance, there areno rebels between
the telegraph road and the river this side
of 0ccoquan, and but few at the latter
place.
The only advices received at headquar-
tiers from Sandy Hook, is briet dispatch
from the operator there, saying that the
rebels are about burning Bolivar, near
Harper's Ferry.
Three tug boats, the Pusey, Robt. Ges-
ley and another, went down the river last
night to give assistance to any vessels
coming up, but in consequence of the light
moonlight and afterwards the thick fog,
they were ordered not to attempt to pass
the batteries up or down. Last night
firing was heard from the batteries about
midnight, but the cause is unknown.
There are indications that the rebels are
erecting permanent batteries at Cockpit
Point and Freestone Point, as considerable
bodies were seen at work at those points
yesterday. Twenty-six vessels are known
to have run the blockade night before last.
1t is believed that vessels drawing not
moro than s feet water can hug the Mary
land shore sufficiently to escape harm from
the batteries. The only steamers now at
the Navy Ynrd are the Dawes, HetZel, An
acosta and Couer De Lion.
Gen. Stephens having been ordered to
more important field of duty, he will be
followed by the Highland regiment, which
he but recently commanded ms Colonel.
A New York and two Pennsylvania regi-
ments are alternately on picket duty at
Vienna, where the Highlands have been
similarly employed.
Persons attached to the Steam Tug Res
olute, report that about eleven o'clock this
morning, while off 0ccoquan creek, near
Budd's point, the cable by which the Res
Olute was towing the schooner Fairfax
from Philadelphia, broke, when the latter
drifted towards the shore, and the rebels
started out in boats and captured her.
The Resolute was, it is added, fred at from
the battery in that vicinity, but being I'M
able to render assistance, made her way to
Washington. She arrived this evening.
The Fairfax was heavily loaded with hay.
II is respected that the rebels had stretched
chain over the river to impede the pas
sage of vessels; the Resolute being lighter
draft than the Fairfax, passed over it.
Gen. Mccall, with the Pennsylvania re-
serve corps, togetherwith cavalry and artil-
Iery, left Prospect Hill early this morning
on Reconnaissance, Information received
tonight states that they had reached
Drainsville, about ten miles from Prospect
Hill, without opposition. Drainsville is
within about Is miles of Leesburg.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 2O.-Lord Lyons has
addressed II briet circular to her Majesty's
Consul in the Southern States, enclosing
the following, us embodied in the official
note of the Secretary of State, namely,
the law of blockade, which does not per-
nit vessel in blocknded port to take on
board cargo after the commencement of
the blockade, will be expected to be strict
ly observed by all vessels blockaded by
the Naval forces of the United States.
Lyons instructs those Consols to take this
law for their guidance.
The other vesselin port arrived here safc-
" with the Resolute, notwithstanding the
attack from the battery upon them. The
Tug Murray came up last night with the
schooner in tow. They escaped unhurt,
though fired upon. The Murray returned
the compliment this morning by a heavy
detachment from GenSmith's division with
portions of Motifs and Ayers batteries, and
with companies from the regiment of the
regular cavalry, and Col. Friedman's Phil
delphin cavalry, advanced towards Fairfax
Court House on reconnaissance. They
went ms far as Flint Hill, which is two and
half miles this side of that village, and
overlooks it.
The report from the steam tug Resolute
mentioned in previous dispatch, that the
rebels had stretched chain across thu
Potomac near Bradd's Point, proves I'M
true. as has been ascertained by careful
inquiry in responsible quarters.
Since last Tuesday, when the rebel bat
teries first regularly opened, about fifty
vessels have reached Washington and
Georgetown. a'5a
The schooner laden with hay, cement
and furniture which fell into the hands of
the rebels, is the first casualty of that
kind, and that was owing to the breaking
of the hawser by which it was fastened to
the ReSolute, and drifting toward Virginia.
They saw there the enemy's pickets in
such large force rs to impress with the be-
liefthat the reserve of the rebel army was
not far from that point The expedition
was accompanied by Gems. Mcclellan,
Porter, Smith and Hancock.
A private of the 9th Cavalry regiment
named Byron Bnston was shot by rebel
picket.
The latest accounts represent that Gen.
Mccall as still at Draiusville.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1O.-Lord Lyons adj
dressed a letter several days ago to the
Secretary of State, in which he said her
Majesty's Government were much concern
ed to find that two British subjects, Messrs.
Patrick and Raining, had heen subjected
to arbitrary arrest, and although they had
been released, it could not but regard
the matter ns one requiring very serious
considerations. Lord Lyons under in
structions, therefore, felt bound to remon-
strnte against such irregular proceedings,
us he designates them, and TO say that the
authority of Congress is necessary in or
der to Justify the arbitrary arrest and i'm
prisonment of British subjects.
Secretary Seward in the course of his
reply, after debating the facts in regard to
the two persons named in Lord Lyons