The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-01
OPERATIONS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.
OUR BUDD's FERRY CORRESPONDENCE.

ItUb = EkRf, OGt. lopA,
INC blockade Of ne Potomac BY he Rebcls at ShirIin.
fo"s-sarrey and Reconnaissance BY CapIaui William
son and Colonel 7ay,ors Regimeat--Ca ieation
crh The Enemy Across tae foomac BY Neans of Sigma
L'gms-A'7eS ef M Posey aud his Eumily--Locaion
&nte 9f the Rebel Bae iesAclirs Operations IF IN
E"emy--Parties in Pursuit Of SpesFiags Of Truce oao
southern CAiealry, dc.
Budas Ferry is becoming an important point Of opera
ons on the Lower Potomac il is situated about forty
miles, by the river, below Washington, tho mouth
Of Chickamoxon creek. Part Of General Hookcr'f
division is stationed here, the remainder being
in the rear, while almost directly opposite, at
Shipping Point, on the Virginia side, are number OF
rebel batteries supported by several regiments OF
troops Whenever any craft which does not float the flag
Of the insurgent States attempts TO pass within their
range they open fire upon her. The main channel runs
close by the rebel guns shipping Point New batteries
have been recently discovered and thus il has been said
that the rebel guns opposite this point have eectuay
closed the navigation Of tho Potomac.
The existence Of these batteries has caused considerable
Inconvenience TO our government by preventing the free
transportation OF commissary sores Hcnce 10 was that
short time since Captain Williamson OF the Topographic.
cal Engineers, supported by the Third New Ycrk regi
ment Colonel Taylor. attached 10 tho Excelsior Brigade
was detailed 10 make Reconnaissance down the river
and survey OF the coasts, measuring The distance
from shore to shore at particular points il Is
presumed that the object Of this Reconnaissance and
survey to obtain information which would 70.
yern our operations towards sencing those batteries
which have thus far intcrfcred with tho uninterrupted
navigation Of tho river Shipping Point said was al.
most directly opposite Badds Ferry while Evapsport Is
less than half mile below The shore on this side oppo
site these points is low, and the river just mile ana
half wide Half mile so from the water on the Ma,
yylanl side behind Rudd's tbero
eminencc some sixty seventy feet high, on which Mr.
is located This an excellent position
for observation and the batteries Of artillery stationed
here by General Hooker command some Of those on tho
other side.
few words or explanation necessary concerning
the owner OF the house. II that system OF sig
nails established by which communications were
made by Mr. r. B. Posey to the rebels the poto-
mac; and answers received from them by him Lights
were used as signals. BY Of these he kept tho
rebels fully informed of movements on this side.
After the sgLals discovered efforts were made by
officers TO interpret them. successful In this the
object to then Mr. poscy operate with the sig
rails ourselves thes deceive the nmy and perhaps lead
him into movement which would prove disastrous 10
him and successful to We failing interpret
ing The signals, Mr. Poscy was arrested together with
his wife and daughter, who, with one Of the children
in custody in Washington penang full Investigation
the case which Is progressing. ~
The servants st remain in the house which is used as
The headq of one OF the regiments stationed
this point Here are detained prisoners, Mr.. r.
Harrison Posey, hs eldest son, With younger bows
and an elderly gentleman their cousin who resided in
their family. The young man has a farm or his own
about dozen niles distant and there al the time Of
his labcr's apprehension. Hearing that Union troops
In this vicinity, he roce To learn what was
Transporting here. He was then apprscd Of his father
arrest ard also OF his own. He protests that he voed
.lo unen ticket a, the last Presidential election, voted
towards secessoa and says he has had communicative
with Virginia since that ~sac prccptated herself out OF
the Union. The investigation will those who
are bamc'oss. in the meantime Marian AMI Julia, aad
the other servants, wait upon the table Of officers
with as much chccsnness ana grace as they could posi-
But abot the batteries and the operations Of the enemy
the other side r1ere heavy siege gun mountc
the hoe on the west side OF Quanico creek point
ing directly to Mr. Icscy house, and commanding
tho river at this point, well as the mouth of Chca-
moxen creek. Directly opposite Bndds ferry there is a
battery gus two O; thcm heavy siege guns and
Tic other four supposed to be thrty-two Founders.
little 10 The left lkewse near the shore at Evsnsport Is
but cyiicntly iatended for eight guns. These can be
plainly from tho Maryland shore, the rebel nag flying
from each of them. short distance further to tho
SOUTH almost entirely concealed In cove there is bat.
tery mounting ut least three gyms, one Of which
seems to be y thirty-two founder: the other
two appear to be riacd cannon Of heavy caibre
High up commanding position, neatly cut out in the
dense woods, is place wheca heavy mortar is believed
to be. Embedded in the woods, in sothcssery arrc-
ton from the man battery shipping Point, ard
hill rising about hun feet above tho surface the
water, two mere batteries, hitherto unknown here were
discovered Yesterday. Their positions were revealed IN
the afternoon when they opened fire on the steamer
Thomas Freeborn, and the Philadelhia iccboa OF te
firing which you have been informed by telegraph.
Several other batteries believed to be erected hidden
by the woods further down towards Aqua creek Ope-
ratons OF the enemy can be both seen and heard They
appear be industro,siy engaged at this time. The
sound Of axes and other notes Of preparation heard
during the day alone, but also in the night. Iasi
evening, the wind blowing in this direction, we could
hear the drums beating atoo and the bugos calling the
cavalry 10 their quar- tcfs During yesterday and last
night rebel ienior ceincDs were heard arriving Indeed
tho reamng OF tho bayCncts Of fresh troo were secr
aci the river yesterday Afternoon On tho shore
the shipping Point heavy battery in course Of competdn
rebels observed practising the skrmsh drill. This
,pornNg IL Is evident from their camp fires that
troops concentrated opposite this point than there
have heretofore besn. | am informed that they have
more than hundred beats eecretcd, by which it Il be
! lieyed they win attempt a crossing at some point.
Is supposed that the rebes making arrang mepts
for sogae offensive demonstration from The vicinity 81
Aqnia creek for crossing into Maryland They have rail
road communication between Richmond and Aquia creek
where they could rapidly concentrate large numbers Vi
troops, they low appear ~ be dong Oar operations
this side, however, anticipate anything they can do
and should they ATTEMPT a crossing at any point, they
win fEd ilt perfectly prepared u meet thsln
willie, thesame time, they may soon learn that thei
batteries Will not be able 10 close the Potomac as much
they imagine. They are very anxious to divine Owl
movements. Indeed no less than nine of their number
all OF whom bui oDe were disguised, the
river Tie ether day and now believed to be ceuia
irg among our camps as SPIES. Parties IL parsu
/ of them One Of them, more bold than any OF ths
rest was dressed in similar Uniform 10 that worn hy
our artillery officers. Ills name Is T. muol Harmon and
has been esocraacd from some Of hosa with whom Ii
was IN communication this SIDE that he san oiice
beon <ing to &c tho rebel batteries The ether he
fu description of him Is in poss ssion cf Capt Arsta
Of the Third New York regiment, who il IN pursuit 0
him Ec was last at fomonky, IL tbs region las
ght Capt. Austin clasa Hpoa him 10 get HI
and other personal oecis a,d 10 destroy t
boat in which hc expected return 10 the Virginia shore
/ One Of the others. Mr. Chds is son Of u minister re
/ siding here in Maryland.
Another Illustration Of the dishonorable rcsote,
IN Inn n-pf iu SCOTS m "a
/ Witnessed from this place yesterday afternoon boa
| seen coming from the Virginia side over 70 BuGd
/ ferry with fug OF truce, and Captain Adams, Of IN
First Massachusetts, regiment, went down ~ the shore
receive IL. Tho boat approached within about thou
sand yards Of the Maryland Shore and archorcd barre
like buoy. Then, hauling down the lng OF truce, til
rebels pulled the beat back with all their might am
main; White, after reaching tic virginia side again i
safety cne Of them mounted eartlworl at Shipping
/ Point and waved the white Tag his head DC
I hautly aud trumphenty. What object they lad Il
placing the buoy there has not been asccrtained Flag
Of truce should be used only in Of absolute necessity
and IN The honorable manner. Flags Of truce shou
be considered sacred Honor or the cardinal quail
ties OF chivalry. Southern claim be pecuiiar
! chivaroas. We arc told by their own authorities ;ha
very many men of wealth ana high social standing
ii their army Yet facts prove that they have aln0s
| invariably treated and employed Tags Of truce in dis
honorable What counterfeit is that upon genu
| Inc chiyary
! ARRIVAL OF THE FORT LAFAYETTE PR