The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-13
IMPORTANT FROM WASHINGTON
Reconnaissance by Generals
Heintzelman and Sickles.
The French Treaty Respecting the Free Navi-
CATION Of the Mississippi.

Order from Secretary Seward in Regard
to Passports Across the Lines,
&C., &C., &c.
.es
WASHINGTON, Nov. IL, 1861,
REcoNSelssANcE IN FORCE BY GENERAL HEINr-
ZELMAN. Z
On Monday two regiments Of rebel infantry were 70
ported to be at Pohck church, and squadron Of rebs
cavalry en- the bank Of the Accotnk 1t was presumed
that they only portion Of much larger force.
Early this morning General Hcintzcman went out in that
direction at the head o large foroe for the double
pose OF making collecting and saving
from tho rebels large quantity OF forage known TO bc n
that neghborhood The result Of the reconnaissance has
not yet been ascertained.
RETURN OF GENERAL HErNrzLExAN.
The reconnaissance made to-day by force from Gene
raj Hentzlcmans division in tho direction Of Acotnk
creek below Mount Vernon returned without finding the
enemy report circulated In the city tonight by
officers who ought TO be engaged in better business that
our forces were attacked and company Of cavalry
engaged in the reconnaissance cut TO pieces and tho
captain killed Investigation proves the whole story
untrue.
THE RESULT OF A BALLOON REcoNNoIssANcE ON THE
MARYLAND SIDE OF TUE LOWER POTOMAC.
BY an arrival from Budds Ferry this morning learn
Lowe accompanied by Gen. sckcs, in which the enemy
discovered in force in and around Dumfres and
lines extending from Dumfries towards occoquan
Brentville
Two thousand rebels arrived near Accotink yesterday
from the main body of their army.
THE HERALD's SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ON THE
LOWER POToMAC-PRoPOsED BALLOON ASCENSION.
The following despatch is from the HgRAps special
correspondent on the Potomac
UNITED STATES STEAMER YAsKKx,1
OFF INDIAN HEAD PoroMAc RIVER, Nov. 10, 1861. (
Last night quite number Of schooners the blockade
of the rebel batteries going both up and down. and this
morning several other schooners have up having
passed the batteries unmoested Tho United States
Dawn went down this morning, at three O'Clock
and heard firing the inference is that she passed
by unmolested But this calm may precede storm.
UNITED STATES STEAMER CGpR DR. Lfoy.
MArrAwoMAN CREEK, Nov TO- 1861. e.
This afternoon, about four o'clock, . steamer was
seen coming down the river, towing nondescript
sort OF craft. AS they near the steamer was
found to be the Cour de Lion, Captain whittlcscy,
and the craft in tow the balloon vessel Of
Professor Lowe The latter is tho hull Of an old steamer,
widened the deck by means Of braces like the New
York ferry boats and the deck was any quantity Of
apparatus for the generating Of hydrogen gas to initiate
the balloon that protected by vouminous fold OF
Professor Lowe, with whom had previous acquain.
tancc, and he promised ascent. consultation
held and 1t determined that the Ceur dcJion
should anchor the shelter Of Maawoman creek for the
night, with the balloon boat and that special mossen.
ger should be sent to aPprise General Hooker OF the
arrival OF Professor Lowe. Accordingly, We cast
anchor in the creek. Among tho party was
Mr. Wilson, q scientific gentleman Of Rhode
Island, and detachment OF the Fourth Michigan
regiment. sergeant Of this regiment selected as
the messenger, and volunteered to act guide having
gone Budds ferry before with Captain Eastman,
OF the Yankee Taking the helm or our little boat, ]
teered to the spot where we had previously landed and
after difficulties Of no ordinary kind found the headgunr
tiers of General Hooker half mile from Poseys house.
hear Budds ferry. We had travelled upward OF three
miles through dense forest, and with mud half knee
deep places and bad gone half mile out Of our
way in addition When reached our destination the
sergeant deiveredhis dispatches which immediate
ly acted upon, and We started our chcerless way
back arriving on board the CGur de Lion
at eleven O'Clock, having tramped through mud
since half past SIX o'clock, tired and glad OF the
repose which we then sought. About haR mile
from General Hookers quarters accidentally met your
military correspondent on his way from Washington-one
object of my mission What passed between us bears
reference your to him about the balloon He will
make the first ascent and the second.
NOVEMBER II, 1861.
This morning cloudy and with every appearance Of
slight storm, consequence of which the balloon boat
was anchored under high buf with her bow touching
the beach Professor Lowe does not intend TO initiate her
today in consequence We passed an anxious night, as
the Cnur dc Lion is not armed, and much relieved
this morning the Resoutc make her appearance
and anchor near
uN1ED STATES STEAMER YANKEE
INDIAN HEAD, Nov. ii, 1861. (
The Resoute did not remain long and up Indian
Head on her It is arranged that the Yankee shall go
down TO Matawoman creek for the protection Of the
Cnur dc Lion and the balloon boat tonight At half past
eleven this morning heavy gun was heard mt Shipping
Point proceeded by wreath Of smoke. The gun
followed by several others until forty two had been fred
In the midst Of the firing several schooners
making their way up. The wind and tide fair to
the vesses and consequently they passed the batteries
unhur they could keep close to the Maryland Shore
and presented SO small mark, that not one hit
though the projectiles very some of them.
The scbooners six in number, and they far
on their way to Washington. Heavy firing has just been
heard somewhere in the direction of Fairfax Court House
Some Of our officers Suppose battle is in progress
Tho batteries the Maryland shore, it is said returned
today the fire Of the rebels. No damage done to
THE RgroKrED TREArY BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND FRANCE As 70 TIE FREE NAVIGATION OF THE
MfsstssiPPi-ACTfoS or THE GoyERSMENT, ETC.
The despatch in the HERALD Of Sunday last announcing
reported discovery by Emperor Napoleon, in the British
Museum, of copy of treaty made at the time France
ceded Louisiana the United States spulatng that the
Mississippi should all times be kept open the paviga-
ton Of French vessels has created quite sensation in
diplomatic circles here The private letter received by
distinguished gentleman of Philadelphia from London
banker announcing the fact from which ! originally
quoted handed TO Secretary Seward to-day All the
treaties known to the government, the subject
Of the Louisiana purchase. have been examined this
afternoon but none yet discovered appear to contain
anything that could be construed into such pledge
the part of government indicated in The private
letter from England, except clauses six and scvcn on
page sixteen Of volume eight Omitted States sautcs At
Large 1t only necessary to state and do author
tatively that the government OF the United States vii
adhere strictly to the requirements of that