Litchfield enquirer., 1861-07-18

CONDITION OF THE REBELs.-Wm. H. Wilson, journeyman printer, escaped from Fairfax Station on Sunday. He had been in New Orleans on business, and to save his life joined a volun- teer company now stationed at the above place. He represents the regiment to which his compa ny belonged as in a very demoralized condition. They are only half clad, many of them without shoes, and very effectively armed, having only smooth-bore muskets. They have not had a cent of pay since they mustered into ser vice, and great dissatisfaction prevails. MT. Wilson was dressed in tattered fragments of a negro dress, and was barefooted when he es- who will not fire on the Union forces if they are attacked. Such was Mr. Wilson's determination. He is of the opinion that the force of the rebels has been greatly over-estimated. He thinks they will retreat from Massassas and attempt to make stand at Richmond. Preparations were being made for retreat from Fairfax station, and it will be done the moment the Union forces l are known to be moving in that direction. He says that several farmers who have passes to at tend the Washington market act spies for the enemy.
 | Mr. Wilson as soon he earn enough money at the government printing office, where he has temporary employment, intends joining one of the Indiana companies so as to help to take Richmond at the proper time.
 The following is the reported strength of the four grand divisions of the Union army ill Eir- ginia:
 | General PatterSon-central ......2 25, ,000 1 General McDowell-northeast. .45 ,O0O i General cClellann-northwest. .45 ,000 | General Butler-southeast ....... 20,009 i Besides these are the forces under Col. Stone, who is acting auxiliary to General Patterson, and the Beet in the Chesapeak Bay, ready to render aid to General Butler. Not included in i the above are forty thousand men in Washington city, under General Mansfield, and nine thou sand in Baltimore under General Banks-making a grand total of over one hundred and eighty 1 four thousand well armed and disciplined troops in and near the line of Virginia
 COMPRESS CONTINUED busily at work Monday and accomplished large amount of important business In the Senate after the presentation of petition from citizens of Connecticut pray ing for the prompt suppression of the rebellion d ballot was had for Clerk in place of ASbury Dickins which resulted in the election of John i w. Fony, fly 26 out of 36 votes. A bill was introduced by Mr. Wade of Ohio for the pro- lection of Government contracts. 4 bill was introduced similar to that of the House, proyi- ding fur the confscation of rebel property The Army Appropriation bill was passed, after having been amended in various minor partct lars. The till to increase the Military cstlb- llshment was then taken up and passed after having been amendedso as to empower Conyre $ to again reduce the Army whenever it may see fit. The remainder of the session was devoted to the consideration of the l oan bill, and sevcr- al amendments reported from the Committee on Finance wera adopted In the House the Commlttee Oh Commerce was directed to ascer- tain what further measures are necessary to render the blockade of rebel ports more eff cent and that Committee subsequently, report ed a resolution directing the Secretary of the Treasury to employ a sufficient force to render l 1t so. A resolution " passed providing for the adjournment of Congress next Friday if the Senate concur. It Was ordered on motion of NJ. Van Wyck from the Select Committee on Contracts. that all moneys shall be withheld from the owners of the steamer GHa'inc. rrccnt- ly burnt near Fortress Monroe until that Con- m;ttoe can report as to the propriety of paying the:n Ben Wood offered a resolution provi- ding for a General Convention at Louisville. Oil the iirst Monday in Septemhcr next but it was voted down. Nr Hickman reported from the Eu;ciary Committee a bill to define and punish conspiracy. which Was passed only seven mem- : bnrs voting in the negative.
 i \ resolution offered by Mr. McClernard, of Illinois was adopted. rl1tiges the House to vote all the men ans! :lirals that may !c needed to }-It down the rebellion. Only five votes were cast in tho negative. Tine remainder of thn session was spc. n tile consideration of d res i,:iIi | off. l. #
 directing tle Committee en elections to inquire i into the circumstances of Hon. Henry Mays
 late visit to Richmond. It was finally passed. ! The Scott girls who ent;ced Capt. Kellogg of the Conn Second into captivity. have been arrested and are held as hostages for lis return, says the spciai of the Hsruld.
 CrR1oUs INVENTIONS OF THE EHEMy.--A gentle man. just from New-O Orleans. reports that the rebels had taken powerful tug-boat, covered her with railroad iron. and put her machinery below the water line They had built a new boat completely of iron, very sharp. with sharp point below the ", ter line, and intended to run down United States vessels. She was to be commanded by Capt. Seward Porter, formerly of Portland, Maine.
 ANOTHER Acc1DESr.-'Iichacl DrscoIl in i Capt. Harlan $ company of Norwich, Sd Con- i nccticut HGgiment. Was accidentally SnOt tGfOuS Il 1 the abdomen this afternoon, by a priuate in Capt. Frv's company. At fast. accounts he was not dead.
 Among the military dignitaries who affect a contempt for the press and lose no opportunity to rdicule it's reports of army movements and operations, is General Mcdowell. When Capt. Taylor the rebel flag bearer, left Arlington on his return to the Confederate camp, the General gave him late copy of New York daily saying to him, Flake that to my old class
 mate Peauregard and tell him if he gather anything reliable from it regarding our move ments he is quite welcome to do so and will be more successful than l have been.'
 A BACK PENSION OF SlG200.-Peter Van Bus kirk. of Washington, is go years old. He was on the revolutionary pension list as a private. As such he had received 5 month. But he claimed to have been assistant-forage master, and he recently found the evidence to establish his claim. He is therefore awarded arearages to the amount of SI6,200.
 Vim. Brent of Richmond, arrested some days ago as spy at Badensburgh, Md, was on Fri day released from jail on his parole of honor by order of the Secretary of War, he having satis- fled the authorities, through responsible parties that he was good Union man, and had never had any i'll designs against the Government. 1 He took the oath of allegiance.
 AN intelligent contraband was brought before