The Tipton advertiser. [volume] (Tipton, Cedar Co., Iowa) 1856-1962, 1861-06-13
FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence fthe Upton Advertiser.
4 WASHINGTON, June ).

wars, rather more OF the rumOrs than Ut
actual fighting, but, on tho whole, our
government troops have made advance
:nent against the rebels and, in fact, al.
though there has not been much fighting
there has been several important move
ments Of our troops. The advance of
the Union forces through western Vir-
ginia and the concentration Of strong
force north Of Harper's Ferry, with the
advance from this city into eastern Vir-
ginia, begins to develop the stra:egetic
points of Gen. Scott's campaign. The
rebels at Harper's Ferry bc.i to look for
"a way of retreat, knowing that they will
DO completely hcmmed in il they delay
their southern march few days longer.
Our army, opposite this city, is gradual
ly extending its line, throwing up en-
trenchments, keeping out scouting par
ties who advance every succeeding day
little farther into the enemies country.
Saturday morning one of these parties,
numbering forty five, pushed forward to
Fairfax Court House, about niue miles
from Alexandria, as they came near the
village they were fred on by the picket
guard Of several huudred rebels posted
in the town. Lieut.. Thompson ordered
a return of the fire and one of the guard
was captured, being by this time in the
outskirts Of the town, Lieut.. Thompson
determined to know more of the force of
the rebels there and ordered CHARGE
this scout: being we'll mounted, soon
swept through the main street, although
fred upon from the buildings on either
side as they passed. They then wheeled
and charged back The rebels having
discovered, by this time, that there was
but a handful of them and placing a
piece of ordinance in the street and so
disposing their men as to surround the
scouts if they should again charge throu'
the streets, expected to take themas easy
as some of their cavalry were taken at
Alexandria, but Lieut.. Thompson and
his men were different material. AS
they advanced near enough to see the
howitzer, Lieut.. Thompson wheeled his
men into side street, charged into the
rebels stationed to surround him, who,
not liking the looks of "Uncle Sans"
boys, broke and fled. The enemies loss
was four to our one, Notwithstanding
their advantage Of position, and the
scouts brought in five prisoners, who
were carried through the city to the pris-
oners quarters in the navy yard. Thus
far the rebels have not been very sue
cessful in Furnishing the invaders Of the
sacred soil Of Virginia, as threatened be,
fore the advance of our army The, here
toforc. governing class of Virginia have
called themselves the "F. f. VS." !
never could find in {" Webster" a defini.
tion for these initials, but I suspect it is
"F2ed From Voluntecrs at any rate
that will be the associate idea connected
with those initials hereafter.
Last Friday had an opportunity to
see an artillery field drill on fine pla-
teau east Of the city, distaut about mile
from the Capitol. There were on the
ground about twenty guns with the re
IuIsIte number of men, horses, mYnton
wagons, &c. When | arrived they were
in line extending half a mile, guns in
front, munition wagons in rear. After
inspection by the officers, the bugles
sounded the charge and advance, ana the
horses and men sprang to positions. aud
the ponderous gun carriages and muui-
tion wagons drawn by two hundred
horses were sped across that plateau
the earth fairly trempled, and then as
the different companies were ordered to
d fferent parts of the field, as if to rcpel
enemies from different quarters, one, not
knowing how men and horses can be
trained, would think there would be in
terminablc confusion among such a num-
Der, but as sure as the bug lies give the
correct sound, SO sure, do men and hors-
cs, each understanding the orders equally
well, coming out Of seeming confusion,
take the position assigned them. These
artillery companies must be very effective
in action-one would not suppose there
could be such celebrity of action as these
companies display in their drill.
Saturday p. m, | visited the capitol
the first time since it has been used as
quarters for our soldiers all visitors have
to provide themselves with pass, this
is required that no spies or other dan.
gerous persons should gain admittance
| found the lower halls aud passage ways
slowed with -four, &c:, for the use of the |
army. There is large bakery carried
on in part of the old capitol. My partic.
ular object, in this visit, was to ascend |
the dome and have look at the distant
camps of our volunteer soldiers which |
are scattered over the hills surrounding
the city. You know that the diversified |
scenery, in sight from the the capitol, of
hills, planes, rivers and woodland are
always beautiful; but the pleasing con-
trast of the dozen camps, in sight, with
their white tents, sprinkled on the green
hills, adds greatly to the prospect. While
my companion and myself were on the
dome, we we're startled by the sounds Of
vollies of musketry coming from The
Virginia side Of the river-thc first
thought was of the mornings work at
Fairfax and that there was more such |
work being done, but, after watching
closely, we noticed smoke near the river.
side and concluded some of our soldiers
on that side were practicing, but pre-.
sumo the sensation correspondents have
made more of it-such things have been
done.
Before we 20 down from this dome,
just look at its size and construction,
recollect it is not finished yet. 1t is an
enlargement Of the original dome on the