The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-05-30

Special Dispatch to the New York Tribune.
Advance of the Grand Army into
Virginia.
AleraadriG occupied By the Michigan
Regiment and Fire Zouaves-Death
of Col. -Ezlsporth.
WASHINGTON, May "a, 1861,
Ten thousand United States troops
breakfast in Virginia this morning. As
1 telegraphed last night, Alexandria
was occupied by Federal troops at an
early hour this morning. A movement
as successfully executed as it was skill
fully planned, has resulted in the cap
ture of troop of horse, the complete
possession of Alexandra, and the Po-
tomac line of hills, thence to points op-
posite Georgetown.
About 10 o'clock last night four
companies of picked men moved over
the Long Bridge as an advanced guard.
They were sent to reconnoiter, and IT
assailed, were ordered to signal, when
they would have been reinforced by a
corps of regular infantry and a battery.
At II o'clock Col. Ellsworth's regi-
ment of Zouaves embarked in steamers
from the navy yard for Alexandria.
At II o'clock, also, nine infantry
regiments, artillery and cavalry corps
began to muster, and take marching
order. As fast as the several regiments
were ready they proceeded to the Long
Bridge, those in Washington being d.
rected to take the route. The troops
quartered at Georgetown, the Goth, 5tb,
sth and 28th New York Regiments,
proceeded across the chain bridge
under the command of Gen. Mcdowell.
At about II o'clock six companies of
District Volunteers, including the Ma
tional Rifles and Turner's, stepped from
the Long Bridge upon Virginia soil.
1t had been intended to capture the
first patrols by boats, but the bright
moonlight prevented it. The patrols
crossing the first hill took to their
horses heels. Nothing else hostile
was seen until they arrived at Alexan-
dria.
This vanguard was commanded by
Inspector General Stone, under whom
Capt. Smead led the center. Adjutant
Abbott the left, and Capt Stewart, son
of Sir Charles Stewart, the right wing.
They stopped within half a mile OF
town waiting for the main body, having
made sure that the coast was clear.
The rest of the army crossed the
bridge in the following order:
10Th Regiment, New York.
25th Regiment, New York.
1st Regiment, Michigan.
Ist, I'd, Sd and 4th New Jersey in the
order named.
Two regular. cavalry corps, Of sc
men each, and Sherman's two batteries:
next and last came the New York It'll
Following these was long train oil
wagons filled with wheelbarrows, SHOW.
els, DC. Altogether there acere at eas1
$4,000 men an the advancing army.
Mai. Gen. Mansfield commanded the
movement of the troops until the las
corps left the District. The first regi
ment of the main body that crossed the
long bridge started at twenty minutes
past 2, and the last corps left the Dis
trict at about a quarter to o'clock
Ala o'clock, Major-General Sanford
and staff left Wizards and proceeded
to Virginia to take command of the I'D
vancing forces.
AT A o'clock in the morning, the Cap
tain Of the Pawnec demanded the sur
rend of the town. A Major in com
mander of the Virginia troops, refused
The Captain then said the consequen
ces would be terrible to the village ant
all its inhabitants, and prolonged thu
time till o'clock.
Early in the morning, not far from
O'Clock, the feet of boats with tn,
Zouaves on board came up to the whar
at Alexandria, Some 20 or 80 shot
were fired upon the boats by the seces
sion forces as they came up to tn,
wharf, but none were killed or wound
ed. The Zouaves disembarked ant
literally took the city.
THE first Of the troops to enter TIL
torn Of those aoho crossed the Lon.
Bridge aoere the Michigan Regiment
They were accompanied by two gum
from Sherman's Battery, and a com
pany of u. S. cavalry. AS the,
marched into the streets whistle sa
luted them, and train of cars steamed
away, probably bearing most of tn
secession forces. One company O
horse, however, numbering thirty-fiv
men, were captured, with their horses
aecoutrements, and flag, mounted
mounting, and preparing to mount.
Sherman's battery came up the stree
9 toward them like whirlwind, and the
had no choice but to surrender, alive o
,, dead. :
The Zouaves landed in good order il
double quick time, each company form
ing in company order on the stree
facing the river. Company E, Captain
Leverich, first disembarked, and wa
at once detailed to destroy the railroa,
track leading to Richmond, which ser
vice they promptly performed. Afte
detailing company E, Col. Ellsworth
directed the adjutant to form the regi
ment, and there, with his aid, Lieut.
Wisner, and file of men, started 70
the telegraph Office to cut the wires
Colonel Ellsworth proceeded in doubl
quick time up the street. They ha,
proceeded three blocks, when his atten
fiOn wao attra ofod bv q Iaroa oooocc;o,