Newbern weekly progress., 1861-09-10
IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS ABOUT WASH
INGTON
The Richmond Examiner says

IMPORTANT NOV FEMENTS ABOUT W ASH
INGTON.
The Richmond Examiner says
We have late Northern papers Baltimore
dates to Saturday last-but the pressure of
other important matter excludes usual
summary Of Northern news. The Intelligence
from Washington is stirring aud important,
and we make room for a full AID com
piled account Of the movements in that vicini-
". Our forces are within sight of Washing
ton, and the Confederate colors can he seen by
the enemy floating in the breeze:
WAsHINGTON, August 29.-Mattcrs near the
Union lines on the Virginia side of tht Potom-
ac remain pretty much as they were yestcr-
day. The enemy still continue to show them
selves near our piclctS, and occasionally fire
at them. The enemy are pressing upon our
lines in foroe, and seiZing upon every hill
or wood that vii. command any porti' II of our
camp. They evidently mediate some bold
stroke. The Confederate camp fires can be
seen from Georgetown Heights, near Falls
Church, about six miles from Fort Coreoran.
The enemy have not onl j rc-cstablisLutt their
old line Of pickcts, as before the battle Of Bull
Run but have actually cncrOached upon the
territory formerly held by Us, nearly onc-half
taile nearer our line Of fortific ttions. They
now occupy several important stratcgcticit1
points upon which they throwing up for
t1fcationS The line Of the cncmy'> pichets
covering; our front on the Virginia side OF the
Potomac, commences on the Orange AicXan
dria Railroad running thence IN AN irregular
course, taking advantage OF all the natural
lines of deter Sc across the Little River turn
j ike, between Clouds Mills and Bent N : Tav-
rrn. to Bancrait's Mills, at the junction ot
Hunting Greek and the Columbia turnpike.
A this place the enemy have constructed a
breaStwork commanding the turnpike iii the
direction of Ballcy's Gross Roads. Proceeding
from this point, over titled fields aud thu oush
heavy woods the line of Confederate piCkvt>
continues to MunSon's Hill, and quarter
miles from Baey'S Cross Roads, on the Lees
burg turnpike. On this hill the enemy are
constructing works. They have tenn
pOrary battery Otrllicd cannOh at the SoUthcrly
face of the hill, from winch, for the past few
days. they have kept up a desultory fire on
our troops at Ballcys Cross Roads. Proceed
inw in Il northWCStCrly direction from Munson $
Hill about one and hall miles, reach
small mountain, the summit of which
mands the country for four miles around, over
looking the famous Union works at Arling
ton.
This mountain, three days ago, within
the easy grasp of our troops, but since that
time has been seized by the ConfedcratcS, and
,Ipon it they arc constructing large tortiica-
tions. THIS point Is of immense Stratcgeucal
value to the Confedcrates in ob>tructing the
march Of our troops into the interior OF the
State, should such a measure be adoptcti.-
From this mountain the encmy'S line Of pickcts
stretch along in a northwestcrly direction to
the farm OF Basil Hall, and from there, in
westerly direction, to a point opposite the
Chain Bridge. Along the route referred to the
enemy have several depots Of supplies and re
Inducements, al least three new tertlficatlons,
and probably double that number Of concealed
and under construction.
From y personal reconnaissance made Of the
cnemys forces at Munson's Hill, it was dis
,,T, ,.nI
cavalry, one thousand infantry and three pieces
OF field cannon.
From h Ii not far from here, good view
Of Munson's Hill can be obtained. Yesterday
to observers With good field glasses, great &C
tyity was noticeable there. large force of in
fantry and cavalry being visible, as if they
were parading for our inspection. In the at
ternoon they had drill, which, but for the
damp foggy weather, would have been an in
teresting sight As it was, their marching,
and counter marching, &c, could be distinctly
seen.
They are throwing up cntrenchments on
the slope of the hill-apparently all around 1t
and a large force was at work yesterday.
A tall pole has been erected on the highest
point, and on that pole Secession flag is fly
ing at least forty feet above the tops OF the high
est trees The three stripes are plainly
seen. A smaller flag is visible to the left. No
doubt these flags be seen from the dome OF
Ine capitol IN w aSDl1SlOH Will SOpu grass,
as Munson's Hill is distinctly visible with the
naked eye from that point
Yesterday, shortly after noon our picket
guard twelve men strong, at Munson' S Red
Hill, mile above Bailcy's Cross Roads, was
surround suddenly by force of about 800
Secessionists, who opened fire upon them, kill
ing one man. Another was killed by being
shot iii the back by one of his own comrades.
Six of the twelve were captured by the enemy,
and the other four escaped back to oar guard
(of company at Bailey's Cross Roads.
Mr.. Daniel Munson, hearing the fire so near
his residence mounted his horse to ride to-
wards our lines. AS he emerged from his
gate on the turnpike, volly was fired from
the hill, two hundred yards up the road one
shot bringing his horse to the ground The
horse, fell, and he extricated himself and ran
across Bailey's field in the direction Of B. S
house. Nothing of his whereabouts has since
been head here. He probably got off safely,
however.
The Secessionists pursued the four retreat
ing men to point near Baily's Cross Roads
when the appearance of a company of regular
cavalry coming to the reinforcements of the
guard there, caused the enemy to face about
and make again for Munson's HILL
In the course of last night the scouts OF the
enemy ranged across Four Mile Run, past
Wesley Garlins, and proceeded to within hall
quarter of mile of Bulls Cross Roads,
which is within two and half miles of the Vir-
ginia end of the aqueduct at Georgetown. II
so, they were actually within mile and three
quarters of some Of our works on Arlington
Heights.