New-York daily tribune., 1861-07-18
Repulse of Rebel Cavalry.
GEN. JOHNSON In FULL FLIGHT.
PATTERSON CLOSE IN PURSUIT.
Special DIsp.,eh to rhs N. z. Tribune.

WASHINGTON, Wednesday, July II, 1861.
Another blOOdless victory, another Secession vii.
lage captured, without the firing Of gun, the
rebels retreating in hot hastethe cavalry ordered
to the front and pursuing for three miles without
catching.
Such is the history of the day at Fairfax
Court House.
About o'clock this morning the center
column, Col. Hunter, fairly took up the line OF
march for Fairfax, by the Leesburg turnpike,
from their camps, between Bailey's Crossroads
and the turnpike, distance of 9 or 10 miles,
Col. Burnside's brigade in advance.
The troops marched in he following order: A
corps of skirmishers from the Rhode leland
Regiments the Rhode Island Battery; a Siege
Battery, under Lieut.. Bepjsmip, consisting of 4
tgeuty-pound riAed cannon, carrying three miles;
the Rhode Island Regiments; the second New
Hampshire; the Seventy first n YOrk, forming Col.
Burnside's Brigade the Fourteenth Eew.YOrki
Grifhn's westffOiot Battery; eight companies Of
regular infantry, under Major Sykes; three hun
dred marines and Eve hundred cavalryj the
Eighth New.York, which, with the above, form
Col. Porter's Brigade, joined the column at the
Court House.
An hour or two before the general start, recon-
noiterng parties had been ont in 'front.' both sides
Of the road.
In the night the rebels had approached within 300
yards Of the camps, but had fed before the skir-
mshers. The soldiers we're full Of fight, anxious to
know how much farther ID was to the enemy and
occasionally breaking out into patriotic songs.
Gen. Mcdowell and staff were at the head Of
this column: The first sign Of the enemy was
some three or four miles from Fairfax, where
trees had been felled for several rods, for the
purpose Of Obstructing the road. They could not
have been there week, for the leaves were but
slightly withered. Another obstruction of the
same kind was put there on Saturday.
The column went round through meadow up
a steep hill q mile further, and the approach
was cautiously made, as it was the highest
ground on the road, and there, If anywhere. it
was thought would be resistance.
For a moment there were signs Of forming In
line, but the usual absence Of Rebels became
soon apparent. The alarm was caused BY the
driving in of o Rebel force Of two or three
hundred men BY our skirmishers.
At Q or 10 o'clock they went of in such
hurry as to leave their horse bags, from which
our men fed their horses with corn..
About half mile from the Court.HOuse, on
the top of the Rrst hill, an excellent position,
was @ line of fresh earthworks extending on both
sides Of the road for, perhaps, half q mile be-
tween the woods. The hitherto slope Of the hill
was cleared of trees and fences, ss if to allow
range to the artillery; but there were no guns,
aud no traces Of guns, unless wheel tracks near
one Of the four smbrasurcs be 40 interpreted.
More probably they were made BY wagon.
The slight smbankmsnt was Of earth, except at
the embrasures, which were strengthened by
sand-bags, with Confederate States or Quarter.
masters Department Of Virginia stamped upon
them. There were abundant evidences that the
works had been left in haste. Csmp-ketiles,
hams, little Eour, ard plenty Of shovels and
axes, mako up the testimony There were no
ditches In front, which left them exposed 10
flank movement. .-s. sss -, - 90 !.
Presently the troops were moving up O steep
and narrow street, between broken down vir
ginis houses. It was hard even Cor officers to
believe thst this was Fairfax CourtHouse al.
ready. 40 IL proved. II was captured about ia
O'Clock by three mea--twO Rhode Island skir-
niishers and o volunteer-who walked the whole
length Of tho street alens, bOwing to the few
women who were 10 sight. and greeted with
groans BY the nsgroes. At noon the head Of the
column marched up the street, cheering aud
singing, Or with bands playing the star-spansled
Banner. tsst ~ = ss.sg..as ~ &C.
The Secession Gag on the Court. House wps soon