The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-02
THE REBELLION.
Reports Of Refugees from
Charleston, Richmond and
the Rebel Camps.
Rebel Commission to Examine Into the
Cases Of Union Captives.
The Treatment Of the Prisoners
Sent to Charleston.
~~c>~>~>~~>o>oo~o~~~-
Position Of the Rebel Army
Of the Potomac.
The Reasons Of the Rebels for Not
BIockading the River.
Quiet Reigns Along the
Union Lines.
The Reasons Of the Rebels for Not
BIOckading the River.
Quiet Reigns Along the
Union Lines.
Preparations for the Coming
Conflict in Missouri,
&C., &C., Sc.
OUR SPECIAL WASHINGTON DISPATCHES.

WASHINGTON, oct. !, 1861.
AFFAIRS AT THE NEW ADVANCED POSTS OF THE ARMY
Our forces in front have boen busy all day strengthen
ing their position upon the advance lines recently
evacuated by the enemy, and pickets still occupy
Falls Church unmolested.
The rebel pickcs still occupy the lower end of the
village Of Falls Church, on the line of the railroad The
troops Of neither army in possession of Townsville
Our pckets extend only Langley from the Chain Bridge
langley and Townsville are three miles apart
reconnaissance made to-day by the Mozart regi
mont to Pohck church and vicinity about twelve miles
from Alexandria, to the left Of Springfield station They
found the rebel nirenchments entirely deserted nothing
indicating their presence in that neghborhood
At ten O'Clock night all is quiet along the lines Of the
army Of the Potomac according to the latest dispatches
received at the headquarters Of General Mcclellan.
ALARM CAUSED BY ARTILLERY PRACTICE.
Some excitement created here today by the noise
Of cannon and the report that battle being waged
in the direction Of Fairfax Court House. 1t was ascer.
taned that the foundation Of the rumor the practice
Of the seamen in the firing drill board the Pocahontas
at the Navy Yard and field battery in the vicinity OF
Chain Bridge.
BALLOON RECoSNoIssANCEs.
General Mcclellan has been SO well pleased with the
result Of the balloon "Reminiscences that the order of
the War Department for the construction Of four bal
looms, previously reported made his request yes
terday.
General Mcdowell and the Count dc Paris avalcd them
selves Of tho opportunity make aeronautc recon-
noissance at Upton's HILL AT the time they the as
censon scouting parties had reported the enemy ad-
vancing in force From the balloon observation it was
ascertaned that the report Incorrect and that the
rebels in and behind the village of Fairfax Court
House, and making movement, nor any preparation
for one.
Tyr Ipyr NAV
The position Of the rebel army Of the Potomac to-day
is asccrtaned be follows The centre at Fairfax
Court House, extending back to Manassas Junction the
right wing extending 10 point the mouth Of occo
quan creek, and the left wing to near Leesburg.
DISPATCHES FROM THE ARMY ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
Dispatches from Generals Banks and Stone announce
that everything in front of their columns has been quiet
all day the enemy not appearing the opposite side 1t
known that large rebel force previously reported
in this correspondence is at Leesburg and that General
Johnston commands.
NEWS FROM THE LOWER PoToMAc--REcoN oNNoIssA ANcE
OF GENERAL sICKLEs-THE OBJECT OF THE REBELS
IN ERECTING BATTERIES ALONG THE RIVER, ETC.
The Reliance and the Island Belle with the propeller
report all quiet down the river
Brigadcr General sickles, under special orders re-
turned upon the Island Belle from trip investigation
as far down the river Matthias Point. 1t was ascer-
tanned that there was no battery at that place but
raj were observed between there and Aqua creek
1t now evident that these batteries along the south
bank OF the Potomac have been erected resist attack
upon Fredericksburg by the Union army. 1t is unques-
tonably true that they have complete control over the
navigation Of the Potomac between Occoquan and Matthias
Point. This has been demonstrated by the throwing OF
shells from the Freestone Point battery half mile inland
the Maryland side few days ago. and by the expert
af tla
at Aqua creek time ago to withdraw distance
Of four and a half miles to be out Of range
Of their ri2ed guns. But although they have the
power to stop navigation Of the river with these bat
eres they dare not do for fear Of prccipatng the
attack to resist which these river batteries erected
Fredericksburg might be made easy prey army
should advance in that direction and the possession
Gordonsylle Fairfax, Cupeppar Court House would
be the immediate and unavoidable or capture OF
Fredericksburg The rebel army Of the Potomac would
thus be cut off from all communication with Richmond
and the South, and be caught like rats in a trap
The batteries upon the Potomac below occoquan are the
chief protection Of fredericksburg and the rebels do moi
care to invite movement Of the Union army in that d
rection. The very erection of these batteries thickly
Snng the Potomac, is indication OF their conscious
that Fredericksburg is their weakest point and that
its capture would turn the flank of their great army and
insure its destruction. They seem to have become
alarmed lest their recent practice upon passing YES
sells should invite attack and since Saturday they have
not fred gun.
Much alarm has been manifested by parties engaged
bringing supplies Of various kinds up the Potomac They
have applied to the government to provide them with
Conveys. Capt. Dahgren assured them there nc
danger, and their request could not be granted.
During the reconnaissance Of Gen. Sckes, the Island
Belle approached the mouth of Aqua creek The
George Page and cleared decks for the purpose
Of anlihatg the dimnutive gunboat; but, upon seeing
the Yankee, Reliance and Freeborn approaching, put
back up the creek with all speed.
ARRIVAL OF SLAVES FROM THE ENEAY's CANT
WHAT THEY HEARD OF BEAuREGARD AND JoHs.
sT0N's PLANs-THg DISPOSITION OF CONTRA
BANps.'
Two negroes reached here this afternoon from the rebel
army One Of them belonged to Chancellor Nicholas Of
buniries, who captain in tue rebel army He is
quite intelligent says he has been driving wagon with
the army about three months, and has worked in
the trenches-that he has been worked very hard He
mas attended upon Captain Nicholas aud other officers
meals, and has heard them that Gen. Beauregard