The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-31
ketreat Of the Rebel Troops from
Williamsport.
NEWS FROM FORTRESS MONROE.
Captain Engle's Reconnaissance Of the
sewall's Point Battery,
JEFF. Davis and General Beau
regard in Virginia.
DNinety- five Thousand Federal Troops
at the Seat Of War.
ATTACK UPON ALEXANDRIA
BY THE REBELS.

THREATENED ATTACK UPON ALEXANDRIA
BY THE REBELS.
wAsHiSoroS, Nay 80, 1861.
A special messenger jas. eaue in fr'm Alexandria,
with intelligence the secession residents Of that city
10 eave the place forthwith It the intention Of
the rebels to attack the city within twelve hours.
Immediately on the heel Of this have infor
aticn that General Mcdowell, commanding forces in
Virginia. has information that C,Ione Lee late o. the
United States Army, is advancing with twenty five thou
sand rebel troops upon Alexandria The precise point
which he now 10 do not learn.
That General Mcdowell anticipates attack is evden:
from the fact the approaches to the city Of Aexan
dria from the direction Of Manassas aut Rchm ond,
beng strongly fortified
The zouaves, Fifth Massachusetts, and Michigan regi
eats have been hard at work nearly all day throwing
Up earthworks TO protect the pla,e.
Scouting parties repoyted at headquarters TO day
that there forces not only at the Junction
but for fifteen miles this side Of there Tho reports
ncs cIedited at least they regarded greatly
exaggerated General S;ott does no. believe there
more than four FIVE thousand soldiers q. Manassas
Junction, and that these poorly armed.
The military preparations to night indicate important
events.
Tonight two regiments Of the District Volunteers
ordered to arms with orders preparations for
hong march.
| The Eeventy fret New York regiment ordered to
be on arme 10. night ready for instant march.
To night nearly every regiment in the city s un cr
marching orders Should the few insane rebels at Ma
rassas Junction stemp to towards Alexan iria
before they could get within reasonable lighting distance
OF the place thirty thousand troops could be
uated the heights west Of AleSandria TO meet them
n they employ the usual means OK communicating mill
tary intelligence, they must know this fact.
Since IL lie known that the South Caronians hold
ing and commanding Manassas Junction, the feiera
troops anxious to &C. At them Especially is
this true OF the Massachusetts, troops,
Major General Banks, accompanied by Hon George
Asbmun, and John A. c. Gray have made tour 10 the
various CAMPS or the army Of occupation In Virginia TO-
dry They visited the headquarters o. General McDos
ell at Arlington House, and ColSne Stone, at AlsKan.
dria At tho later place they witnessed the at
work, two mss west oi the t,xa, throwing up breast
works. in the event Of atta,k sush Is threatened
General Hcnoscl has positive Information OF tie pxsct
srtugth ard p,ecn of the enemy. The n1oe from the
rebel camp 70 the soccsionsts of Acxaiara is vexei
as fse specimen Of chiga,ric blum Besides there
we 10. not twenty psrsors in Alexandria who would
DOT sooner trust themselves with the federal than with
rebel troops The trnders Of hst city begin - dis
cover the difference IN their pockets our forces pay
cath, the rebels in promses