Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-03
News aud RuTnorS.

From tie Richmond DISC s.chs ept. 70
The most eager anxiety is now manifested by the
public to hear from our army in the West, but the
fact that there was no railway connection beyond
Stanton yesterday prevented the receipt Of any
news by the Central route. The engagement On
Tuesday was doubtless outpost skirmish, and
one report says that the enemy was driven back
Heavy firing was heard on Wednesday at Jlckson's
river in the direction of the Gauley and 1t Is not
improbable that battle took place on that day
We have information that eight regiments are or
dered forward from different POINTS to reinforce the
Western army.
There were no passengers from Manassas yester-
day the trains having failed TO connect in conse-
quencs of the breaking down Of a small bridge at
RapahannOck station by a passing freight train on
Wednesday night. No person was injured by the
accident, but the cars were considerably smashed
MP We learn from gentleman who arrived from
Fairfax at IL O'Clock on Thursday night that Gen.
Beauregard was at Fairfax Court House and Gems.
Johnston and Smith were mile or two below. The
health of the troops was rapidly improving, and
systematic measures had been adopted to prevent
disease in the camps. loves balloon was seen
from MuGson's Hill on Tuesday afternoon The
pickets continued to fire upon each other ct in
teryGls.
A painful rumor prevailed at Winchester on
Wednesday that the gallant Capt. Turner Ashby
was killed the night before, between Halltown and
HarPer'G Ferry.
The York Rives train yesterday brought up an
individual AAdsr arrest, supposed to be spy
The Petition OF the Armies and the ID efeR-
ces of washington
A Washington correspondent of the Cincinnati
GGssts who appears to be an intelligent witness,
gives the following description Of the position occu-
pied by the two armies at Warrington:
Our pickets extend in an irregular line from q
short distance below Alexandria to the vicinity of
Lewinsvie. about four miles back Of the Chain
Bridge The distance between the extreme ends,
following the lines is, should say, from fifteen to
sixteen miles In direct course it would be three
or four milsa shorter. At no point do they reaeh
over FIVE miles from the river. Those who have
observed the shape of the Potomac will notice that
from Mount Vernon (eight miles below Aexan~
dria) to Great Falls, (sbOut the same distance ABOVE
Chain BrIdge) 1t forms almost h2H circle,
Washington being on the outside and the
Virgins shore on the inside OF the same.
We occupy only the portion OF tins half circle
above described the Confederate lines t1verglng into
the river above and below thus enclosing us III this
crescent, within q space Of say twelve miles in
length, and from three to Ave IN width. TIE Only
recent changes of Importance, IN the picket lines,
hsve been in our advance across Chain Bridg' ,
and the extension of our pickets little up the
river on that side, and four niles west TO near
Townsville. Previous to that, their plckets cam
in TO the brow of the hill overlooking the br ge
From this point we occupy only the Mary band
side of the river the right flank OF main body,
consisting Of General Banks column, now raltirg
near Poolsvie, some twenty five miles u, snd
facing the left flank OF the enemy at Lee-buTy, on
the opposite side of the river Thus the two armies
NAV be sid to be standing face to fscs-0urs IA
not ready to move, and theirs apparently prepared
to dispus our advance with the first step forward
we make.
The reader should also bear in mind that Ithe