, 1861-11-09
Especial Correspondence Of the Chicsgo Tribune

Especial Correspondence Of the Chicsgo Tribune.}
WASHINGTON, November :, 1861.
The great theme Of conversation and cGojec-
ture i'll Washington is still the expedition, Of
Which 70 newe. The "best authorities
tFeak in terms Of confidence Of It's safety, but
this is il ferred rsther than implied from any
thing known here. The sailing orders being
discretionary, rot the best informed official
here enjoys much advantage over the multi
ta3e in liz disc1saicn of what are meze prob.
Abilities.
The hesvy rains Of the late storm !are set
TIC .fctemac at its tantrumr, and to degree
ras it's floods 20 high in twenty years past. It
1clis down its immense turbid current with 4
volume ard force that Lave produced already
serious results in the loss Of property exposed.
Thousands Of dollars damage has been dcne
to Government army sto.te on the wkarycs, in
cellars, AID s1ong the docks at Georgetown,
~EtIB hard bresd" has become soft and
folsEe has been ruined in large quantities.
Ife Pcttmac has borue d:;zn to us An elo-
q:e1s and sad burden in token Of the war
::on shove. From the rubbish and drift
@utd ha4e alrtsdy been taken numerous
e':c5's O! the yictlms to the compound dis
a::kE from rebel teroci'y and official bluuder
r1g at Ed~arde Ferry Several Of these Gwol-
lcn snd diEGgured remains have been recop-
Eizsc At those of Massachusetts soldiers, and
sHo nave becR fully identified and will be sent
10 tEe4r friends, who will enjoy the melan-
c1oey pleasure OF giving them resting place
i'll tle:r rasive soil With the debris 81 DRIFT
Hcod are numerous b1sckened beams that a.
test 70 rebel violence in destruction Of the
railroad bridges above. The lower part of
Georgetown vas everao~ed throughout yes.
1<rday, and some Of these relics were f1oated
aId left high and dry in the strsts
Shall write it, the old, familiar and we'll
known EXPRESSION, that t*grcat actiyity pre-
esals IN military matte1s?" And yet It is true,
9Ieal evente and great bodies move slow, bpt
o conSi.;nn ~ ;1magms ~ that nothing is doing The
sis cunning to do something to strike a blow.
ihe great interest at present centres in the
ecnc1tion and aspect Of atr,:rs along the
lower Potomac, ana your correspondent ieayes
,or lhat 1egion this afternoon, whence / shall
that Dixie is Lot to have it 3ll In lis oEa wav
IN ttlat quarter OF the seat Of war.
Chicago and Illinois occupy, though not =
| large, yer cEedltable share in army matte1a
lsIe, Farrswo1th'e splendid cavalry res,i.
Ment L. being rapidly put in trim and sIe
H 1case1y c11lnng with promising and excellent
| Tnoie the best lot OF ani1nsls brought here
IN; ..s season ifom anj qusz1sr. Barker ia get
Ing nle squadron Of Chicago Dragons in
o1dtr, !1e new company working In well. As
loe tooE guard Of Gen. Mcclellan they have
| most honorable position. and I wTifa no
| mcre than what Is confessed bY al, here~ttat
20 company, either volunteer or re0ulsr. enr.
pass them in their drill Msior B.rker
brought with him from Chicago q maon5a.
cert chestnut, sixteen and half hands f1iuh
which is destined to bea. Gen. Mcclellan.
"A word for another Chicago boy. Fred.
Aease, now acting Colonel Of the First Rest.
inert of Berdan's SEatpshooters. This is to pe
made Brigade. which will give Fred. his com
1nanc. He Ia low Lieut. Colonel Hi
| acbitEe ement in drilling these men wins him
nigh e1comiums from even veteran officer
Eefc Col 10. ". Bell in making exeltions u
econ as possible to commence tie enrolImenj
snd equtpplng Of his new Illinois CayalryRex
new spur has been given 10 military en
rollmenfs here BY the return to fh. nlsn III
scceptirg Ill Independent regiments affered
And the pressure for acceptance DrSmIsea h
increase our Amy to tbs fun measure anf
| even mora It Would have been better. Il 1
low seen, to have never checked thia 1ennr
Gus eide. The now troops are place tn com
Mard Of positions for defence OF WAshtpptou
md the Older tnocpa will thus be released fo
fighting co'umns-
Washington il rapidly t1lirgup. The PREF
STATIONS Tor the coming session are makta
rapid prrgrcs& The work of renovation IN
rtftting 1t the Capitol Is moving on apac
We are on the eve Of the most important q.
eicn Of ConFTtSe ever held. 8.