The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-13
War Items frcm Washin9ton.
We copy the following from the Washing

ton chroaicte, of Sunday last.
1 We learn that Capt. Palmer, of the Corps
OF Typographical Engineers, re turned yeste
DAY afternoon from reconnaissance of sew
| eral points on the Potomac. That the service
undertaken was well performed by that ac-
com piished officer we need not say. We un
| dfrstand that he landed at several places on
| the Virginia side of the Potomac and attend
| ed by two officers and twenty marines. pro
ceeded a considerable distance inland at
w hite House Point, where a company of about
sixty Seeessionists had made their appea rance
few days before. Capt Palmer, we learn
was greatly aided in his expedition by Cant.
Rowan, of the United States Navy, COM
manding the Pawnee, and by the officers of
that ship, AT Aqua Creek two small bat
teries, with some five or six hundred men,
were distinctly seen by the party.
Early on yesterday morning little corps of
Secessionists was brought into mpCochrane
or troop of the saith boys The circum-
stances of their capture arc briefly these =
Some OF the men in the ''early grew dawn. -
CHANGED TO be out after stray cattle when they
spied party OF the enemy not far distant. ap-
parentiy reconnoitering. They immediately
returned to camp and reported With his
usual prom ptness Col. Cochrane dispatched a
company OF the 69th, who were not long in
coming upon, surrounding, and arres ting the
parties Indicated. They appeared much eha
grined, professed great LOYALTY and ohtactad
decidedly TO birth in the guard house.
The Orange and Alexandria Railroad is heipp
rapidly repaired. We understand the Gov
eminent is repairing and intends to bring into
use, Tor military purposes, the railway track
from the Baltimore and Ohio depot, now laid
along the Capitol grounds and Maryiand ave-
nue. to the Long Bridge. 1t will probably be
extended across the bridge, and will afford
greatly increased facilities Tor the transnor-
tttion of provisions, &c.
Private L. q. Caustn, Capt. Owens Pres
idents Mounted Guard, whose wife lives near
Seneca, Mary land, - miles above Georgetown.
went to visit her Monday night, and was
eahen prisoner by Secession troops, who
crossed from the Virginia shore in a boat
The last heard of MIR. g. was at Manassas
junction, probably ell route to Richmond to
be imprisoned.
Great activity prevails in the Ordinance De-
partment at the Nayy-Yard large force of
workmen are employed in casting. furnishing
ana mounting howitZers. The foundry is
nlied with mechanics, cas- ting shell. Minnie
oalls are manufactured at the rate of I6 coo
per diem. Percussion caps are thrown GU I
by the bushel.
The Monticello having hauled ont from
under the shears at the Navy \ ard, the sIoop
Oh war fensacoia mas swung back 10 her old
berth, where she is now brskly preparing for
sea. Her rigging is full of sailors who are
woI king with might and main splicing braces,
fastening shrouds, running up the t0pmas Is,
and making everything look decidedly ship
shape.
Engines and ears for the Orange and Alex
andria Road have arrived from Philadel phia
The road Is repaired on the Alexandria end
but the rebels are burning the bridges and
pulling up the rails further out. The connec-
ton OF this road, VIA the Alexandria aud
Washington Road, via the Long Bridge, with
The Baltimore Road, will be completed early
next week.
Some members of the New York Ninth reri-
ment, while scouting lately some distance in
montgomery county, Md, heard the report of
II gun at some distance, but thought nothing OF
II. TN returning TO their quarters however
one OF the party found u bullet lodged in his
knapsack, indicating that they had been shot
at.
An extra train of cars came in on ri,iay
morning, at To- O'Clock, bringing 13l horses,
70 mules, six ambulance wagons for the New
1ork State troops, liz baggage wagons for the
Pennsylvania troops, and au extra locomo.
tive engine for the extension railroad
The corps of Geographic opera tors, formed
to accompany the army, is already at work,
filling new Offices created in the neichborhood
of Washington, on the Virginia side of the
Potomac.
A detachment of troops, consisting of parts
of companies ID, f, q, andH, third u. S. in
tantry, left in the cars Thursday for Baiti-
more or the Relay House. Their destination
was unknown.
The Garibaldi Guards have gone into camp
on the las tern Branch, near Benning's bridge.
on this side of the river. azl..
The volunteers on the Virginia side are max
ing good progress on the Qualifications now
under their charge.
Inn r N.II