Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-09-14

| ming the Federal plckets from two posts-one al
Gibbs barn and the other at the forks of the road
distant. The expedition took three prisoners eight
| muskets, lot Of camp equipage, two Jersey
! wagons and four horses. After this sharp days
! work Of the detachment it was the next morning
| in its camp at BacOn's Race Church as early az
| eleven o'clock.
Correspondence of the Rirchmond Dispatch.
FAIRFAX C. T.. Sept. 8th 1861. This has been a
very quiet SSbbath day, and one very generally OBJ
served by the troops in this vicinity. Since early
morning, groups OF neatly dressed clearly looking
soldiers, have been PrOmenadng the streets of Fair
fax, or sitting beneath the uncovered porches
reading books and papers. Good order regns every
where and majority of the families resident here
remain unmolested in their homes. Many exagger-
ated rumOrs of battle s1oat, well as at Ma
nassas and Richmsnd, but none of them have any
foundation in truth. There has been skirmishing
along the advanced line for several days and no
firing except between the Pickets, who are within
500 yards of each other.
Attention is now directed towards the village of
Falls Church, which is some seven and half miles
from here, in nearly easterly direction. The
road from here is very good, although muddy in
places owing to the recent rains. 1t is cleared of
all obstruction and Is used chiefly for military pur-
poses. One sees but few of the ordinary signs of
country life between here and the village. On our
way up but few persons were visible along the
route and no soldiers even, except here and there
a party of dragons, guard attached to some
transport wagons. Occasionally Vidette appeared
upon some neighbOring eminence and after care
full recon iOssance dashed out of sight again. No
one but eyewitness can imagine the skill with
which army movements disguised, or the
secresy thrown around both bivouacs and marches.
The village of Falls Church contains some twenty
or twenty-five houses two churches and Ole or two
stores. A majority of the dwellings have been de-
serted by their Northern owners since the defeat of
the Grand Army, and they used as quar-
tiers for soldiers are shut up by clesebarred
doors and gates One can readily imagine Gold
smiths Deserted Village" while riding through the
principal streets, upon either side of which are
ranged the substantial houses and neat white cot
tages. The fences are half destroyed. Scarcely a
man is to be seen in the Streets except those in
uniforms and there is air of desertiOn about the
village that is indescribable. A few of the true
Virginia families are now there, who have taken
possession of their houses since the Northern army
was driven back, They are again cultivsting their
lande and repairing the damage done by the Fede-
rsl soldiers Their losses have been heavy and the
personal sufferings and anxiety can hardly be i'm
agined by those who live remote from the scene of
conflict. l have heard no complaint, however, and
believe these unfortunate people feel safe, and
very happy to be under the protection of Southern
soldiers.
Beyond Falls Church, ion the Alexandria and
Leesburg turnpike, is TaylOrs tavern, upon the
summit Of Tsylor's hill, and about half mile from
the village. Near by the house, and browning the
hill, is q beautiful grove, in which marks of the
encampment OIL the Connecticut volunteers are still
seen. They were some three weeks here, and when
ordered ION to Richmond left their standing tents
and quantity of baggage behind them. On their
return, after the defeat of the 2lst they occupied
the tents for a night, and in the morning folded
them hastily and marched across the Potomac
They left many relics behind them in the shape of
fancy envelopes, stamped paper, maps and articles
of clothing, which new distributed through the
country 10 interest the curious Gen. Tyler's head
quarters were in this grove but now, if we can
rely upon the observations of Prof Balloon Lowe
1t is filed with spring guns, steetrsps masked bat
teries and Black Horse Cavalry. Taylor's Hill is a
very pleasant and romantic spot and understand
was formerly much frequented by the citizens of
Georgetown and Washington, who were accustomed
to make this the turning point of ling drive
Beyond TaylOr's Hill, not above three hundred
and fifty yards distant is MunsOn's Hill, in the
possession of our artillery Immediately st its
foot is the line OF pickets, snd five hundred yards
beyond is the line of the enemy, They keep up a
continual fire upon each other, but well protect
ed are they on both sides that it is very rarely
shot takes effect. Since first taking position here
only one man has been killed and two wounded
This inhuman and uncivilized practice of pickets
firing on each other originated with the Federals
entirely. We fire very seldom and only often
enough to keep them back upon their line. Yester-
day but few shots were fired from side, while
they wasted many hundred cartridges, hitting only
one man, who was but slightly wounded.