The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-12
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
a portion Of General McDlelan's forces, eta.
toned near Buckhannon, Va, had brisk Skin.
mish ON Wednesday afternoon with the advance
posts Of General Johnston's command at Laurel
Hill. which tasted nearly the entire day. The
Fourteenth Ohio and Ninth Indiana regiments
were engaged on the one side, and the
rebels were supposed to comprise . Geor.
gia regiment Of some reputation. The
latter were completely routed, however, By the
fire Of the artillery, which scattered their cavalry
with shell. and drove the infantry In disorder,
nto the woods, from which they 6N not rally;
and at dusk McOlellans men withdrew in good
order. II was asccrtained that tho rebels are
strongly intrenched near Laurel Hill, and proba.
bly, number some 5000 men. General McClellen
had resolved to dislodge them, and was said to
have advanced his entire force in two divisions
yesterday, FOR that purpose.
Accounts up to as late as two o'clock yesterday
afternoon report General Mcclellan throwing up
batteries on the hills commanding the position Of
the enemy. The rebels opened fire upon him, but
without effect General Morris was keeping the
rebels at Laurel Hill actively employed in con.
tnusl sxirmishing for the last twenty -four hours,
and we regret to say that several of his men of
the Ohio and Indiana regiments were killed.
At Washington military matters are on the move.
Several Arguments were advanced yesterday in
the direction of Fairfax Court House and along
the Manassas road, thus drawing the lines closer
together. I! was reported that a portion Of the
rebel troops at Fairfax were reireating
II there we're any doubt, however, that
General Scott designs to make grand and
prompt movement it would be dspeed by the
TACT that the term OF service Of the best drilled
soldiers al his oomnand-th three months volun.
teers.is rapidly running out and it is by no
means likely that he will permit that period to
arrive and pass away without using them in the
field According to the statement of the Secretary
OF War there are $4,000 men whose term will ex-
pre- before the 9Th of August These are m
DOUBT scattered over all the different encamp-
ments, including those of the West
but we know that the term of Ger
vice Of the following regiments, making
in the aggregate ,4.s45 men now stationed around
washington, in the commands of Generals DcDow. |
ell and Mansfield, will expire between the a5th Of
che present month and the 5th proximo:-Fieth
regiment. Colonel Hchwarzwaelder, located in
Washington City, esa men; Sixth regiment, Colonel
Pinckney, Annapolis, 7s4; Eighth regiment, Col.
ouel Lyons, Arlington Heights, l.oao; Twelfth
regiment, Colonel Butterfeld, Washington City,
i,hS; Thirteenth regiment, Colonel Smith, Balti-
more, $50; Twenty fifth regiment. Colonel Bryan,
Arlington, $780, Sixty ninth regiment, Colonel Cor
ooran, Arlington Heights, 1,lss; Seventy first regi-
ment Colonel Martin, Navy Yard, Washington,
1.072-totat New York, s,l95 men; enc Rhode
Island regiment, go; two Massachusetts, regi-
Oaents. 1880, and Of the District militia, 4,0o0
These troops are the advance guard Of the army.
They are the longest in the field they have ex-
nerienced protracted drill since they entered the
service. and moreover, belong to the regular mi
iita, and are therefore not inexperienced in dsc
pine and drill, 1t ia not to be supposed. then
that General Scott will allow the time of
these Is 900 veteraDs-as we may call them
TO expire before he strikes . blow. The
position now occupied by the armies
under Generals Mcclellan, Pattersou, Nc.
Doweh and Mansfield located ct Buck.
hannon, va., Grafton, Va, the Arlington line of
the Potomac, opposite Washington, and the fede.
raj capital itself-renders O successful advance
movement from both ends of the line at any time
available. Gen. Mcclellan has not less than
10000 men between the Ohio river and his head.
quarters at Buckhennon which is in the rear of the
rebel position at Laurel Hill. Gen. Patterson com
mands 20 900 more at and near Grafton. The line
OF the Potomac fronting Washington s guarded by
force of nearly 10000 me1 under Gen. Mcdowell.
threatening Mans' .Sss Junction, while about 40 900
more are encamped in the federal capital under
Zen Mansfield. It will thus be seen that the
~an@uvres Of Gen. Scott, slow and cautious as
fhey have been, leave The Union army TO day in q
pagnidcsnt position for attack at any moment
Aa = b dssaed necessary 10 ATTEMPT . grand
1esbansd fsrwasd noysxess.