The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-29
NEWS VIA WASHINGTON.

appropriate: otherwise SnaIl deposit IL III W
library of the Mechanics Institute at Lancaster.
NEWS VIA WASHINGTON.
From the Washington Star of yesterday ever
ing we clip the following items of fact or specula
ton:
THE SITUATION.
Washington is full of Of the ap
proach of ii battle the other side of the river.
| The circumstances on which they are based amour
to little more than the gradual advance of tn
scouting outposts of Beauregard's army to pOint
almost within range Of the guns of the ortifcaton
| of the United States; which, however, have no
| attempted to be held (by the enemv) so far, TO
| more than sufficient time in which to make recon
| noisauceS.
1t is BIZ no means improbable that if the enem,
| persevere in making such recOnnoisances, con
| siderable affair of outposts may off within
| possibly, twenty-four hours, somewhere not more
than four five miles distant in direct line from
| the Capital; such collisions almost invariabl
| grow out of such advances.
We state the fact that our iellow-ctizens NAV a
| once know, if hearing the boom Of artillery ovei
the river, just what it amounts to.
General Mcclellan, who is constantly in the sad
die, is well informed as to all the movements and
plans of the enemy, and certainly prepared for
them at all points-from Harper'S Ferry to Point
| Lookout
| We may add that it is utterly impossible that
| Beauregard contemplates a serious movement
against the fortifcations on the other side OF the
| river.
p. .S.-Some desultory firing is said to have been
heard across the river between and O'Clock this
afternoon.
TELEGRAPH DOWN.
Last night special engine, with telegraph wire,
left the depot and went out towards Baltimore in
haste. 1t is understood that the wires had been
cut by secessiOnists Bladensburg.
The telegraph is certainly working to-day.
is 1T so?
Ii is stated on the street this morning, upon what
is regarded as reliable authority, that some of the
BOYS employed in the arsenal have been putting
buck shot in blank cartridges, and at the same
time, instead of the genuine, inserting harmless
limitations OF bullets in the ball cartridges. The
matter will doubtless be investigated.
NAvY-YARD-ARRIvAL FROM OLD PoINr-A NAVAL EX-
petition.
This morning, at II o'clock, the steamer Phiade-
phia, which took down the mutineers of the New
York 18th, 2lst, and 79ih and the Maine I'd regi-
ments, under Lieut.. Parker, of the yard, arrived
bringing $50 seamen taken from the Connecticut,
of New York, for the Pensacola and the gunboats
Of the f0tlla and the guard of marines and the
detachment of United States troops connected with
the Provost Guard.
The Philadelphia left Fortress Monroe Yesterday
morning at nine o'clock, and reports all quiet at
that place and with the Potomac hntia. The mu.
tiueers left at the Rip Raps, where they will
remain until they can be taken to their destination
tho Dry Tortugas. The mutineers very
docile going down, no disturbance of any kind oc.
curr0g. Some twenty or thirty knives and pistols
(private property were taken from them previous
bash, Harriet Lane, Minnesota, and two river
steamers, with several large boats in tow, left for
Hatteras inlet with considerable force of the
Naval Brigade board.
The side-wheel steamer, Island Belle, Captain
Adams, of New Y ork, arrived this morning. hav-
ing been purchased by Government for gunboat.
In coming up last evening, when hailed by the
Penguin, she failed to reply, being in hurry, and
having answered several of the hOtilia, when
muskct shot fred into her, passing within two
feet of couple of ladies, and plungng through
the panels aft. She then replied, and was allowed
to proceed. She will take on her guns soon and
Join the lota.
The Yankee, commander Craven, went down last
night and took command of he tiotia.
There now at the yard the steamers AnaC0s-
tia, Philadelphia, Baltimore Mount Vernon, Pow
hatan, Ceres and Island Belle, together with sev-
era propellers and schooners. Some half dozen
neat little cutters, each armed with rifed l2-
momenEs notice al and 6hers are b6ng tttd up in
the style.
Yesterday some interesting experiments were
made with a new kind OF projectile for burning an
enemy's cover or batteries.
This morning forty gunners, under Lieutenant
Badger, We're drilling in the naval battery with
one OF the large guns.
AFFAIRS OVER THE RIvER-THE ENEMY SCOUTING NEAR
Err AND NEARER AND SHOOTING OUR PGCKETs.
ALEXANDRIA COUNTY, Va, August 2S.-1 en- have
doubtless heard all sorts Of rumors in Washington
about battles fought over here yesterday and last
night. &C.. &C., as | learn such stories were clrcu-
lated there last night. The truth is, there has been
no fighting in this county, except affairs of pickeS,
though Yesterday and last night the enemy ap-
preached with their outpost guards or scouts over
the whole line from above the Chain Bridge, clear
down to Hunting Creek perhaps mite nearer than
they bad previously ventured. They, however, did
remain in such advanced positions, retiring back
before davbreak.
1t turns out that they are not entrenching at
Baley's Cross Roads. Their nearest pretence of a
temporary entrencbment is at Tavlor's tavern, a
mile south of Falls Church, where they are be-
leved to have FIVE pnunder ried guns apparent ly
in battery behind slight work of brush; which
does not really amount to being in battery at ALL |
| fancy.
| At Munson's red hill, half mile nearer to Wash
ing (by the Leesburg turnpike they have two or
three companies of cavalry, some infantry, and
| believe two light pieces of artillery; and yes
! terday, in the general temporary advance OF
their ouposts, this force drove in pickets pre-
| viousy stationed at Baileys Cross Roads, half a
mile still nearer to Washington. In the course OF
the night their scouts ranged think, across Four
Mile Run, past w esley Carlin's, and proceeded 10
| within half quarter of mile of Bulls Cross
Roads, which is within two and half miles of the
| Virginia end of the aqueduct at Georgetown. Ii
so. they were actually within mile and three
quarters of some OF our works on Arlington
! Heights.
In the course Of Yesterday afternoon mounted
company of them crossed Four Mile Run at Riley'S
Hill, and came down the county road to Mr.. South
| ern's gate-our pickets retiring before them to
! Balls Cross Roads, half a mile below.
| ant advances on their part took place over the
| whole line. What was meant by them, further than
to obtain opportunities to murder few Union
pickets, know not; nothing like an attack, as is
| evident from the fact of their retirement before
| daybreak everywhere. They succeeded, | hear, in
| killing (aad bayonetipg) two of our pickets near
the Chain bridge; and this morning one of our
mounted pickets belonging to CAPTAIN Geary
| company of Colonel Ioung's mounted reglment) Is
missing.
| Yesterday evening we heard firing of artillery
| for some minutes, apparently in the direction
| Fort Ellsworth; but as yet it has not been account
| ed for.
Gen. Mcclellan is unceasing in his personal la
bors, inspections and movements on this side. He
was over here until late hour last night, visiting
all portant points.
need hardly assure you that we are all ready
| to receive the enemy, if his movements mentioned
| above really mean an attack upon us.
| THE SURPRISE OF UNION PICKET GUARD AT MUSsoNS
HILL-NARRow PROBABLE ESCAPE OF DANIEL NUN
| SON, ETC.
| ALEXANDRIA COUNTY, Va, Near Bailey's Cros
Roads,) August 2s.-Y esterday, shortly after noon
our picket guard twelve men strong, at Munson'
red hill, a mile above Bailey's Cross Roads, wa
surrounded suddenly by force of about 800 seces
sionists, who opened fire upon them, killing on
man. Another was killed by being shot in tn
back by one of his comrades. Six OF th
twelve were captured by the enemy, and the othe
four escaped back to our guard (ofa company &
Bailey's Cross Roads.
Mr.. Daniel MunsOn, hearing the fire so near hi
residence, mounted his horse to ride towards ou
lines. As he emerged from his gate on the turn
pike a volley was fired from the hill, two hundre
wards up the road, one shot bringing bis horse
the ground. TIE horse fell, and he eXtricate
himself and ran across Bailey's field in the direC
tion of BIS house. Nothing OF his whereabou
has since been heard here. lie probably got 0
safely, however
The secessionists pursued the four retreating me
to point near Baey's Cross Roads, when the al
pearance of company OF regular cavalry comm
TO the reinforcement of the guard there caused ii
: enemy to face about and make again for Munson
s hill.
. Heretofore that guard has been but single cor
8 pany. | do not believe that it will soon again
y set upon in any such fashion, unless general a
= tack be designed by the emmy.
sKIRMIsH OVER THE RIVER.
6 ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, August 2S-Col. Hoffma
= of the 23d New York (Elmira) regiment with Cap
- Dinslee's company and one other, started yeste
= | day afternoon to the vicinity of BaPs Cross Roa6
+ for the protection of pckets in that locality.
Near Bas Cross Roads they encountered abo
600 secessionists, when a volley was exchange
'e The two Federal companies retired, in presence
!. ~ the superior force, in excellent order
81 About thirty rounds were exchanged, and -
Carol, of Elmira, killed by shot from
ID enemy. He was young man, and was very por
g lar with his regiment. Another OF our men
k wounded in the neck, and had finger shot G
t. Whether the Confederates suffered any loss is
ell known. Our companies and the pickets fell back
Or the camp about half mile beyond Arlington.
al Col. Hoffman and the Quartermaster of the re
ment, bearing that large force of Confedera
were in the vicinity of Falls Church, took circ
h tous route, and got on top of house about m
- = from the church to reconnoitre. They had &c
,, glass, but were unable to detect the presence
% - troops in any. force in that vicinity.
l The manufacture of paper from the leaves
oil Indian corn is becoming extensive in Austria.
ng naper is said to be tougher than any ordinary
tn per made from rags, while it is almost wholly t