Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-17
OUR War FOR INDEPENDENCE.
TRE OAmPAIoN IN VIRGINIA.


0opslQe OF tue isu&t brushes between the plckets.
Reconnaissance of the banks Of the Potomac show
that the enemy have perfected line of works from
the Chain Bridge to four miles south Of Aexandria,
having accomplished, for distance of about fifteen
miles, line Of well constructed sarthWorks.
Il WAS understood at Manassas that we had forth
fed our position the banks of the river ct Great
Falls. Gen. Banks column had been moved not far
above the Falls for the purpose, it s supposed, of
guarding the passage Of the river.
Our troops remain quiet near 4unson's Hill. Our
pckets, however, are said to have advanced within
about eight hundred yards Of some companies Of
the enemy, supposed ts be New York volunteers, in
the advance and under the fire OF their batteries.
Beyond the desuitory IRE of the pickets, there had
been no engagement or occurrence ofimportAnce.
Correspondence q the Richmond Dispatch:
MANASSAS, Sept MISUNDERSTANDING my prox-
unity to the headquarters Of the army, find tnext
to impossible to separate the few items of truth
desire to give you from the msss Of exaggerated
rurnors that are constantly ahoat some of them as
ridiculous aa they are impossible and false. All the
fancies Of many idle brains; the dreams and vivid
imaginings by the campfire; the tales of personal
daring and bravery which willing friends circulate
as freely; the facts and incidents Of military life
eorae to Us dressed in imagery that would be cred
table to the Partisan authors, or read well beside
the pages of Arabian Nights II may seem astonish-
ing that enc ia the heart OF the army should lack
for news; but beyond the record of ordinary camp
life nothing of general interest has transpired for
several days.
The heavy eannonading that has been SO frequent
y heard in the direction of Arlington Heights has
given rise to assertions that there are daily skir
mishes between the advance of the eontepding ar
mics. As ! have stated previously, this firing is
from Fort Corcoran, q short dstsnce above George
town, where the FederalS drill daily IN artillery
practice. On Saturday and Monday they were
using some heavy guns. probably seG-coast howit-
zers, the report Of which, echoing over the hills,
could be distinctly heard at Manassas. The smaller
Oun md iOl n ahoda
Fairfax. go W e
Occasionally, few reports are heard at points
lower down the river, but they are evidently for
practice, or the signal guns by which the enemy
maintain some secret communication. Since the
little affair at or near Great Falls where the Wash
ington Artillery gave the Yankees a terrible scare
and made them show the white feather, as well as
the white flag, there has been no skiTmishiDg of
any Importance. Every one is looking anxiously to-
wards Munson's bill and the vicinity of Chain Bridge
in anticipation of some stormy within short
time. It is expected that the enemy will endsavor
to drive our from the hill and that they, mind
fal of our former unsuccessful sttempt will come
out in much stronger force. Our men on the hill
and in the vicinity prepared for them and night
" sleep on their arms, with the parks of artillery
in position to be used in less than four minutes from
the alarm. All the passes to the hill are carefully
guarded and fortified, and may prove 8 hazardous
expedition should McCellan try to get possession Of
the works here, which he undoubtedly wishes very
much to do, and to pull down the "rebel" flag that
is continually floating IN his sight One can very
readily imagine that it must be an eye-sore to the
fanstcsl Roundhsads, and that 1t RECALLS unpleas-
ant memories Of Bethel Bull Run, Stone Bridge and
Springfield.
The possession Of Munson's hill is at this time of
much more Importance to the Federals than to US
and for this very it is desirable that should
not fall into their hands. With Upton's, Taylor's
MunsOn's and Mason's hills, most admirable line
of defence could be formed, which, with the field
works that could be easily erected, would resist
any force that Mcclellan can bring against it. Guns
mounted on the redoubt on Msson's hill would
sweep all the roads and approaches to Munsons
hill and could do admirable execution upon troops
advancing by the Leesburg turnpike, certainly the
most desirable avenue of approach for any cOnsid-
cradle body Of men. From Upton's it is an easy
matter to throw shell upon Halls hill, and it would
be but little work to destroy entirely the house of
Mary Hall, now used as lookout or observatory by
Federal pickets. That house has now become quite
centre Of attraction, and there are many visitors
who climb to Its roof in order to get glimpse of
the Confederate camp near Uptons house. %
Sunday last number were assembled in both
houses and stood peering at each other through
glasses for some hours. We in Uptons house waived
handkerchief to those opposite, and the salute was
immediately returned; but soon after. possibly
when it was suggested that the signal was for at
tack, there was general stampede, and we saw no
more of them for some hours,
The line of hills now in our possession are of
some importance as positions Of defences and for
little else. The Federals have erected powerful
field works opposite them, with bSstions having
heavy guns mounted en- bdrbetts They have also
several smaller Notifications, stOckade forts,
doubts with redGns and lunettes, and various kinds
of shelters, behind which the light srtilleRy could
be safely used. Every point that be Strengthen
ed ard made available for defensive operations ia
being fortified and they are burning the woods In
every direction, bringing to light houses that have
been hidden from our sight by the Intervening for
ests II is evident thst hot work expsctsd hsre,
and that Mcclellan is using every exertion to per-
feet his defenceE before the blow is struck. have
said this line Of hills Is useful for making defence
but as base for Offensive operations, il ia Of Lass
value. As far as my judgment goes should say
that the best that could be done would be to erect
counter-wOrks, mSunting some Of our heaviest guns
upon them, and then, under cover of their hre,
successful advance might be made. The present
position of the two armies is one Of much interest
TO an engineer, and there sre many problems upon
the board that would require much skill and hard
study to solve. q r45s- Dc z
When the armies are so close to each other it is
not surprising that come small sallies should be
made occs sonaly similar 70 those brilliant sorties
so common during the Crimesn war. A brave, dash
ing man calls for few volunteers end goes out on
q scouting expedition. He learns by reconnaissance
of a party of the enemy, and endeavors by q
which he possibly can do with the loss of one
or two men. The history Of all wars shows
this practice to be common, and they serve to
liEen the dull routine of camp or garrison duty. In
our war these small skirmishes furnish the ground
work for the kilograms which appear in our daily
papers, received in msjsrity Of cases from Yan>
kee sources. Last night one took place the
Chain Bridge, in which one Of our captains lieu
tenant and private were taken prisoners and two
privates killed. have not learned the full history
of the affair, but you will undoubtedly have q re-
port of it in the telegraphic dispatches from Wash
ingtOn sooner than can get it to you by mail.
The pickets still keep firing on each otner, but
thus far but little hss been accomplished on either
side There seems TO be numbeS Of amateur fight
era on the Yankee line-fanstica AbOlitionists who
come out from Washington, bringing sporting rifles
Of long range and spend the day in cracking at our
piekets whenever they come in sight | believe
that we have lost but two as yet, notwithstanding
many thousand minnie balls have been aimed at
every person who comes within G thousand yards
of their line On Sunday young maA belonging
to one of the Tennessee regiments was hit while
passing from one post to another, and severely
wounded in the side. The ball struck one of the
ribs, shattered il and passed Outwards. He will
recover. About the same tIas q spsnt ball struck
another of pickets in the foot, exsctly on the
sole of his shoe. The lbsl was imbsdded in the
thick leather but did not enter the flesh. The blow
caused soma swelling Of the foot and ankle. These
are all the late casualties near Munsen's hill.
Operations In western VIrgInIa-Lee'R
General Order,
From the Richmend Examiner, Sept, H.
We referred on yesterday, to the intelligence re-
eeiyed here of an advance movement of General