Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-13
A1rairs alnnr ,hs pn,omnc.

/ Affairs Along the Potomac.
WASHINGTON, Oct 4.-There has been ne change
in the position OF the Federal troops on the Virgna
| side since yesterday.
/ The Confederate piekets still occupy the lower
/ end of Falls Church, on the line Of the railroad.
The troops Of neither army are in possession Of
/ LewinEvile.
Our piekets extend only to Langley from the
Cham Bridge. Langley and Lewinsville are three
| miles apart
/ A reconnaissance was made to-day by the Mozart
Regiment to PCh:ek Church and the:vieinity about
/ twelve miles from Alexandria, to the left Of Spring
/ field Station. They found the rebel encAmBmeuts
entirely deserted and nothing indicating their pres
4 encs in that neighborhOod.
/ cOntraband came into our lines this morning
near Falls Church, and was taken to the headquar-
ter's Of General Mcdowell, at Upton's Hill he
stated that he the servant Uf the Surgeon of the
| 18th Georgia Regiment, which was eneamped to-
gether with two other regiments four miles from
Falls Church. on the road leading to Fairfax Court
| House. BE also said there were no rebel troops
there excepting those just mentioned. Neither
were there any foFtidcatOns this side Of Fairfax
Court House.
He gave as a reason for the recent preeipitate
reteat of the rebel army as above mentioned by an
officer in his hearing that they were fearful OF q
flank movement by the Federal army. from the
direction ofHL6 " nsville. Thai he had heard his
master, the Surgeon say, Thursday last, that the
fortihcations on the river, below Washington were
very extensive. That Beauregard had given orders
to close the navigation of the Potomac to cur yes
sells.
Information received tonight from Gen. Banks
column represents all quiet on the upper Potomac.
Captain Chsdssy, Of the steam transport Albany
reports that he was stopped at Indian Head by the
fOtlla, await the darkness Of the night to pass
rebel battery of four guns, erected on high point
of land on the Virginia shore, known as Cockpit
Point. This battery was firing into every vessel
that attempted to pass
During the fog of Wednesday morning the Reso-
lutte quite close to the batteries Of Aqua Creek
and was fired upon with shell. No damage was
done-the shOs not striking the propeller at ALL
Wednesday night the drum and fife was heard con-
tinually, until morning, upon the Virginia shore
but what was going on among the rebels is not
known
Last evening the Herbert came up from the TO-
tilla for some repairs to her engine, reporting ali
quiet. -.-.. ~
pairs, being somewhat leaky.
The Island Belle has been keAched Immediately
opposite the yard where she is undergoing repairs
to her stem, there being no other Of getting
at her below the water line, the ways are occu-
pied by the storeship Anacostia. Il will be remem-
bered that the Island Belle into the Jacob Bell
few DAYS since, iDjuring her own bows so as to
lay her up for short time with the latter for
repairs.
This morning the gunboat Underwater, Lieutenant
Lowry, went down and joined the iOtills again.
The Navigation OF the POtOmac--.The Bat
terry al FTeestOne Point
The Washington Star Of the 4th has the follows
ing:
ALEXANDRIA, Va, Oct 3.-We have information
here that the guns used by the rebels at Frrestone
Point and which were seat down from the line of
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, have been
withdrawn for fear Of their capture by Federal
troops. The Potomac is now fully open for nGviga
ton, and the number Of vessels coming up is unpre
cedented
Within Tho lost t.ve,t, Co.., b,,.., .o,, ee.0 =
twenty vessels have arrived here with COAL wood,
and lumber. The schooner Commerce, which ar
rived at Carter's wharf this morning from Phadel-
phiR, with cargo Of COAL reports that the river is
full of large and small craft and regular traders,
and that the Potomac, in fact has seldom if ever
been 80 full Of vessels at this Of the year
More arrivals would be reported today, but for the
calm which prevailed and the current caused By
the rise of water from recent rains. Capt Myer
was unable, with good glass; TO detect the pre-
Eence of single soldier at Freestone Point or any
where in the neighborhood of Oeeoqusn bay. At
Potomac creek, however, q feet of eleven sail Of
trading vessels were fired st by the rebel battery
IN that vicinity. Four shots were fred but all fell
short The balls all struck near the buoy, and
richochetted over the water.
Attack upon Gen. Banks Encampment.
DGRSEsroWE, Oct 3.-An attack was made upon
our encampment at the Great Falls on Monday
morning, by six regiments Of rebel infantry, body
of cavalry, and battalion Of artillery all N trans
ia for the upper Potomac. They fired about forty
rounds of shot and SHELL doing considerable damage
to the houses, hurting but slightly person,
elusive Of another who was shot in the shoulder by
a rebel picket At earlier hour. The guns used
by the rebels were seven in number, six and twelve
Founders. the latter being riied and throwing pro-
jectiles Of the Sawyer pattern.
At the commencement Of the csanonading Lieut
Col. Suffer and the Adjutsnt Of the 34th New York
rode to the Falls ten miles distant and found ne
regiment on guard there widely scattered, they
having no artillery to respond with. While Colonel
Suffer was conversng with the AdjutsHs six pound
ball from the enemy's battery passed between them