New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-26
FULL DETAILS OF THE MOVEMENT.
ITARING DOWN THE REBEL FLAG.
THE MURDER OF COL. ELLSWORTH.
MINUTE AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT.
from Ous Special Correspondent.

of sOrrOwiul calamity, and hasten TO send
such details as my own observation enables me
70 supply. The part of the expedition with
which | moved vas that under command of the
late Col. Ellsworth. His Regiment Of ZOuaves
was certainly the most actively employed and
was the earest upon the hostile ground and
with him were associated the most startling
events of the day. OF the general forces which
are now assembled in Alexandra, others can
speak better than l. for their operations were wholly
distinct, until the time of the junction, when they
were combined under one command. The exact
nature of the inroad, as well as the means by
which it was to be effected, were Of course with
held from the public up to the latest hour. and
the only sure method of gaining accurate know
ledge of the result was by Joining what seemed
likely to be the leading body in the movement.
1t was generally understood in Washington, on
Thursday evening, that an advance OF some sort
was contemplated, though the rmors fixed no
exact time or point of assault. But as the
night advanced, the slight fever Of excitement
which the half.authOrized intelligence created,
wore away, and the city fell into its usual tran-
Quillity. The contrast between its extreme quiet
and the hustle which peryaded some Of the ex-
pectant camps, was very remarkable. l crossed
the Potomac, from Seventh street, in little
boat, and before / had half reached the ZOuaye
camp, unusual indications of busy preparation
came echOing over the water. The night was
peculiarly still and clear, and the moon so full
and lustrOus, that the camp was almost visible
from the opposite shore. Above the slight mur-
mur caused by the rustic of arms and the
marching, song would occasionally be heard,
and the whole regiment burst out into
"COlumbia, the Gem Of the Ocean," with all the
fervOr they could bring 10 il. 1t was not early
when l reached the camp but the exercise was
s.,.l progressing under the vigilance Of the Colonel
who threw in DOW and then clear and energetic
counsels for the guidance of bis men in the
MORNINGS work. Before midnight everything
needful had been done, and the troops were
scattered to their tents for two hours Of rest.
The Colonel did not sleep until much later. He
sot at his table completing the official arrange
uents which remained to him, and ~etting care
fully before his subordnates the precise charac-
Ter of the duties they were TO be charged
with. After this he was alone, and thought
as l entered his tent q little before he turned to
his straw and blankets. that his pen fulfilling
q tenderer task than the rough planning Of
dangerous exploit He was so much a stranger
TO fear, this brave little Colonel, that his friends
sometimes wondered at him; but it seemed, then,
that Re was not insensible to the awful hazards
of his station. hope that those who were
neares. to him viii find touch Of consolation in
the assurance that the last moments be passed
alone were given 10 them.
For more than an hour the encampment was
silent. Then it began to stir again, and presently
was all alive with action. At 2 o'clock, steam
BOATS appeared Off the shore, from one of which
Crpt. Dahlgren, the commander of the Navy
Yard, came to announce that all was ready for
the transportation. The men marched forward
in line, and were drawn up by companies TO the
beach. At this time, the scene was animated in
the highest degree. 1he vivid costumes of the
men--sOme being wrapped from head to foot in
their great red blankets, but most of them clad
in their gray jackets and trowers and embroi-
dered caps; the peaks of the tents, regularly dis.
tribut,d all glowing like huge lanterns frem the
fires within them; the glitteriDg rows of rifles
and sabers; tie woods and hills, aud the placid
river, which here meet in exquisite proportion,
enfoldng all--and all these suaused with the
broad moonlight, were blended in such novel
picturesqueness that no among the throng
cou.d fail to be moved by it. The embarkstion
was rapidly conducted, and, although the spot
chosen was not apparently the most advantageous,
,.as completed in less than two hours. The en-
tire regiment, excepting the small guard necessa-
rily left behind, nearly one thousand men, were
safely bestowed and on their way down the river
y o'clock, Just as the dawn began to shine
over the hills and through the trees.
The night had passed without any noteworthy
incident. II had been thought possible that the
rebels, who could by some means undoubtedly
have gained premontion of the movement. might
fire the bridge by which other regiments were
to advance upon them, aud thus diminish the
attacking force for a time. Nothing OF this Kind,
however, had been attempted, and as we steamed
down the river (very slowly, for the boats were
heavily laden), there was no sign that We were
expected, or that any inroad was provided
against. This seemed at first suspicious, e.
pecially as on nearing Alexandra we found it
sharing the same appearance of repose. 1t could
hardly be credited that at least rumOr OF warn-
ing should not have reached them. But if it
had, it would appear that their enormous self.
confidence was not to be even thus disturbed,
for it afterward was found that no preparations
either for resistance or for evacuation had been
made until early in the rnorDing tvben If | am