Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-10-21
LORD LYONS REKoNsERAuTR
SECRETARY SEWARD "MILD BUT
RIRM.0 .i
This Mornings Report.
FROM WASHINGTON.

3 s5. a FROM WASHINGTON. ...
WAsHIHGToH, Oct. 18, .
Herald's special: ..s.5s-- ...r f.
The abandonment Of Leesburg by the
rebel forces was confirmed TO day. They
are said TO have proceeded towards point
on the Manassas Gap Railroad. II is pre-
sumed they went 10 Manassas to Join the
main body Of their army there, but the fact
is not definitely asosrtained, and the Opin-
ion is entertained in some quarters that
they have gone towards Harper's Ferry, by
way Of Rtrasburg and Winchester. The
latter, however, is hardly probable. For
some days the rebel army has Oooupis the
segment Of circle, several piles in ex-
tent, reaching from Leesburg to the mouth
Of Aocoquan Greek. e5I
The movement recently made by with
drawing from Leesburg, Vienna, Fairfax
@. H., and Annondsls, was unquestiOnsbly
intended to reduce the front which now ex-
tends only from the Potomac River, ct the
mouth Of Aceoquan, upon that creek and
aloug BuIl Run to Manassas Junction, with
Centrevills and Fairfax G. H. occupied ss
oulposis. eH
A very large body Of their forces is
known to have been thrown towards the
Potomac, in the neighboTh0Od Of Shipping
Point The movement is purely defensive,
to meet the supposed intended advance Of
cur army Of the PotOmGc in that direction,
50 as to cut Of the communication Of the
rebel army at Manassas with Richmond
General Stsbel OF the New York 9th,
wiik smsll force made Reconnaissance,
6rst to gsnRspssls, which leads to Fairfax
C. H. The village was not deserted IS
others had been. The inhRbitants said sew
ersl rebel regiments left there only yester-
dsy msF9ing. General Stabel then com.
menesd advancing % Fairfax C. Il. After
proceeding mile he discovered four
mounted rebel piokets Watching our move
ments. Our force arrived ct q hill called
Coyle's near the C. ID. Our men were very
much disappointed when they learned they
would not be permitted TO 60 on to the
Court Honse. Some Of them actually shed
tears. The object OF the reconnaissance
was simply to ascertain the position Of the
enemy and not to seek an engagement
Hsying satisfied himself that nearly all the
febsls had disappeared beyond Fairfax @.
a., General Stabel returned late in the af-
ternoon
Ths withdrawal Of the enemy from his
advanced position In frant Of the Union
lines, is fully confirmed by Prof. La Noun
tain, who made c balloon ascen sion this
sGteFnosn Shortly before Eve o'clock he
assembled from point about six miles west
Of Alexandria. The Eiad carried him FIVE
or six miles over the enemy's camps sFagpd
Fairfax Station, when rising INTO another
eurrent he took a circuit TO Fairfax G. H.,
and thence back to our own lines, landing
at Gen. Blenker's hpad quarters.
He had an excellent view Of the enemy's
position, and could see their eneEmpment
at Manassas. There were no rebel forces,
except here and there q man this side Of
Fairfax G. H. -...1.. ....t
At the Court House there were only 3
few companies, and the appearance Of the
! bivouacs demonstrated that the position
rad been recently almost entirely eVaou-
ated At Fairfax Station there appeared
To be o larger force. u AIR. j.