The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-13
ARMY or THE POTOMAC.
tFRoM oux owv CORRESPONDENT


Notwithstanding my proximity to the HEAD
quarters Of the army, l find it next to impos.
sibIe~ to separate the few items Of truth
desire TO give YOU from the mass Of exagge-
rated rumors that are cons tantly afioat, some
OF them as ridiculous as they are Impossible
and false All the fancies of many idle brains;
the dreams and vivid imaginings by the camp
fire: the tales of personal daring aud bravery
which willing friends circulate Us freely; the
fscts and incidents of military life, come to
US dressed in imagery that would be credita-
bic TO the Partisan authors, or reao Wen De-
side the pages of Arabian Nights. 1t may
seem astonishing that one in the very heart
of the army should lack for news; but beyond
the record of ordinary camp life nothing OF
general interest has transpired for several
days.
The heavy cannonading that has been so
frequently heard in the direction OF Airing
ton Heights, has given rise to assertions that
there are daily skirmishes between the ad-
vance Of the conteEding armies. As have
stated previously, this firing Is from Fort
Corcoran, n short distance above George
town, where the Federals drill daily in artil
lery practice. On Saturday and Monday they
were using some heavy guns, probably sea-
coast howitzers, the report of which, echoing
over the hills, could be distinctly heard at
Manassa. The smaller guns and the light
artillery can be distinguished at FairfaI.-
Occasionally, Il few reports are heard at
points lower down the river, but they are
evidently for practice, or the signal guns by
which the enemy maintain some secret COM
munication. Since the little affair at or near
Great Falls, where the Washington Ar
tillery gave the Yankees q terrible scare,
and made them show the white feather,
rs we'll rs the white flag, there has been
no skIrmishing of any importance. Every
one is looking an1iously towards Munson's
hill and the vicinity of Chain Bridge i'll anti
cipatldh OF some stormy scenes within q
short time. 1t is expected that the enemy
will endeavor to drive our men from tho hill
and that they, mindful of the former unsuc-
cessful attempt, will come out in much
stronger force. Our men on the Hill and i'll
the vicinity are prepared for them, and night
ly sleep on their arms, with the parks of artil-
lery in position, to be used in lees than four
minutes from the alarm. All the passes TO
the hill are carefully guarded and fortified,
and it may prove a hazardous expedition
should Mcclellan try to get possession of the
works there, which he Undoubtedly wishe.
very much to do, and to pull down the g re-
bel flag that is continually floating in his
sight. One can very readily imagine that
it must be an eye-sore to the fanatical
Roundheads, and that it recalls unpleasant
memories of Bethel, Bull Run, Stone Bridge
and Springfield
time of much more importance to the FEEDER
ais than to us and for this very reason it is
desirable that it should not fall into their
hands. With Cpton's, TaylOr's, Munson' s and
Mason's hills, q most admirable line of defenca
could be formed, which, with the field works
that could be easily erected, would resist any
force that Mcclellan can bring against
it. Gums mounted on the redoubt on
and approaches to Munson'x hill, and
could do admirable execution upon troops
advancing by the Leesburs, turnpike, Ger:
tainly the most desirable avenue OF
From Upton's, it is an easy matter to throw
shell upon Halls hill, and it would be but
title work to destroy entirely the house of
Mary Hall now used as lookout or obscrva-
t,xrL ..Ia al ,,iC EafS haf
become quite a centre OF attraction, and there
are many visitors who climb to its roof in
order TO get glimpse of the Confederate camp
near Upton S house. On Sunday last a num-
Der were assembled in both hOuses and stood
peering at each other through glasses for some
hours. We in Upton's house waved hand
kerchief to those opposite and the salute was
Immediately returned; but soon after, posi-
bly, when il was suggested that the signal was
for an attack, there was a general STAN ede
and we saw no more Of them for some hours
The line of hills ow in our possession are
of some Importance as positions Of defence,
and for little else. The Eederals have cree ted
powerful field works opposite them, with bas-
tons having heavy guns mounted dar5e.te
They have also several smaller for tifications
stockade forts, redoubts with redans and lu-
nettes, and various kinds of shelters, behind
which the light artillery coul Id be safely used
Every point that can be strengthened and
made available for defensive operations is
being fortified, and they are burning tho
woods in every direction, bringing to light
houses that have been hidden from our sight
by the intervening forests. 1t is evident
that hot work is expected here, and that
Mcclellan is using every e1ertion to
struck. l have said this line Of hills is
useful for making defence but rs Il base for
offensive operations. is of less value. As far
rs nv Judgment goes, 1 should say that the
best that could be done would be to erect
counter works. mounting some of our heayi-
est guns upon them, and then, under cover of
their fire. a successful advance might be made
The present position of the two armies is one
of much interest TO an engineer, and there are
many problems upon the board that would
require much skill and hard study to solve
When the armies are so close TO each other
it is not surprising that some small sallies
should be made occasionally, similar to those
brilliant sortieS 50 common during the
Crimean war. A brave, dashing man calls
for few volunteers and goes out on a scout
ing expedition. He learns by reconnaissance
of party of the enemy, and endeavors by a
surprise, or rapid charge, to capture them,
which he possibly can do with the loss of one
OF two men. The history of all wars shows
this practice TO be common, and they serve to
cnliyen the dull routine of camp or garrison
duty. In our war these small skrmishes fur
nish the ground work for the kilograms which
appear in our daily pa parS, received in 3 ma
jority of cases from Yankee sources Last
night one took place near the Chain Bridge,
i'll which one Of our Captains, a Lieutenant
and q private were taken prisoners and two
1
history of the affair. but you will undon btedly
have u report Of it in the telegraphc dis
patches from Washington sooner than l can
get ii to you by mail.
The picketS still keep firing on each other
but thus far but little has been accomplished
either side. There seems to be number
of amateur fighters on the Yankee line-fa-
natical Abolitonists, who come out from
Washington, bringing sporting rifles of long
range, and spend the day in cracking at our
pickets whenever they come in sight. be-
lieye that we have lost but two as yet, not.
withstanding many thousand MIME balls have
been aimed at every person who comes with
in a thousand yards of their line. On Sun
day young man belonging to one of the Ten
nessce regiments wa. hit while passing from
one post to another, and was severely wound
ed III the side. The ball struck one Of the ri be
shattered iC and passed outwardS. He will
recover. About the same time Il spent ball
struck another Of our pickets in the foot, ex-
actly on the sole of his shoe. The ball was
imbedded in the thick leather, but did not
enter the flesh. The blow caused some swell
ing of the foot and ankle. These are all the
late casualties near Munson's hill
The weather to day has been stormy and
disagreeable, although but little rain has
fallen. 1t is rare circumstance to have
three pleasant days in succession. GIN
Lieut.. Col. Francis Il. OKeefe, Fifteenth
Regiment New York volunteers HAVING haau