The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-05-30


hours contain matter Of Importance. The
crossing of about fifteen thousand troops
over the Potomac INTO Virginia, annoan'
ced in Saturdays paper, has not yet
been followed by any positive engage
ment; but the army Of the Government
has been quietly making itself master Of
the position at Alexandria and at Arlig-
ton Heights. They have also advanced
pinkr Is in all directions, aul body of
troops has taken possession ofthe Alex
andria, London and Hampshire Railroad,
which runs to Leesburg, Va, 81 miles
nortL west from Alexandria in the di-
rcction of Harper's Ferry. Leesburg is
the neatest approach by railway from
Alexandria to llarper's Ferry, and is
distant ahout39 miles from the latter
place--which must be marched across
The possession by our army of this little
strip Of railway is very important, as it
cuts off the direct communication, by
which the rebel troops could come upon
Washington from Harpcr's Ferry.
A skirmish is reported as having taken
place on Arlington Heights, with the
outposls Of the retiring enemy, but it
lacks confirmation. Tie Washington
correspondent Of the, Tribune, ,telegraphed
that paper Oh Thursday night, as follows
"An old friend of Mr.. Gusts and Gan.
Lee visited Arlington Heights this morn
ing. He found ecession seltries up tc
the house on loot and mounted, and pre-
parations making as if for an encamp
ment. The ground was marked out, ,ant
pegs foot high we're in the ground a
proper intervals"
Mr.. Gusts here alluded to was the pro
prietor of Arlington Heights, fine coun
try seat which crowns the Heights and o
which Gen. Lee lately became the pos
SCISSOR. 1t appear that the Governmen
troops took Arlington Heights, just il
time to prevent their being taken By th(
enemy
A reinforcement OF over 5000 NOR
troops were to 60 into Virginia on Saiur
day: 1t was reported that the Govern
ment would pro ably occupy Wincheste
which lies about thirty miles due ives
from Harper's Ferry, on branch of tn
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad But thi
could not be cone without forced marcl
across the country from Leesburg. o
about forty miles.
As to the Sewell's Point rumGrs whicl
so excited the city yesterday and the da,
before with tidiugs Of a bio ,dy battle end
ing in the cOpure by the Federal troop
Of the rebel batteries at that point, tn
whole story is contradicted in our lates
dispatches elsewhere published. Tn
truth appears to be, that this troublesom
masked battery, n aimed with riaed can
non, which grave the Monticello so mucI
trouble week ago, is to be captured at th
earliest moment, II cerlaily ought 70 b
as 1t commands Hampton Roads, and th
channel at the mouth of james River an
mounted with effective guns, 1t would en-
aole the rebels to dispute with Capt
Stringham's blocading feet, the naviga
tion Of that river.
Sewell's Point is tongue of land situ
ated on one of the numerous lulo's o
Chesapeake Bay, about iour miles from
Fortress Monroe. (Old Poin, Comfort,
aud across he channel fIom that fort.
is about eight miles north from Norfolk
from which place ii is approached b
land.
The Monticello (now named the Star
is a steam gun boat Of the United State
Navy, viii III had two engagements wit
this Sewell's Point battery about whic
we have been hearing so much lately
The Monticello is small but, swift an
strong vessel and has brought to and car
tured at least lalfa dozen of the rebC
vessels, about James River (which run
up to Richmoud) aud the inlets Of tn
Chesapeake in the vicinity Of NorfJlb
Her engagement with the Sewell's Poin
batter ended according 10 the official &C
count, with wounding two of her mer
aud splintering hel deck a little, Will
she exhausted her ammunition in Grn
at the masked battery-t thirteen cmbra
Sures being erected behind sand bank.
Three guns of this battery were di'
mounted, but thero were ton left. Th
battery will probably be taken by bring
ing the heavy guns Of the Minnesota
bear, or by a slogming party on land.
Gen. BUTLER, who is most active cor
! manding officers. will soon have betwoo
$1,000 and $1,000 troopsat Fortress Mon
roe and Hampton village, (thlce mile
West of the Fort and has already bee
recOOnoitering, with view, doubtless, t
an advance into the interior. 1t may b
} hat Norfolk will be his point of attack =
D.. but that would bo comparatively barre
victory. 1t is much moro likely tn
Richmond will be, before long, the ohjcC
Of investment. The fact that Con, Blu
t ler's reconuoissances were extended u
between York and James rivers. poiD
$ that way. Moreover. the Richmond jou
3 nails arc getting alarmed about an invi
= sion by way OF York river, which is ii
: way the British came when they took Il
city. The map shows this to be the mo
t assaiable method, Richmond is but
bout sOventy.Gvo miles from Fortre
9 Monroe, by this route, The York river
deep aud straight channel. and trool
could bo marched overland upon Ric
mond from point on that river, on
n thirty miles, or one days march from Il
4 Virginia capital. This is through cor
/. parativOly thin settled country, totally u
:, defended, which cannot be said Of al
!, other route Of approach. g.f...
BY tomorrow there will to four or &
p additional regiments thrown into F0rtr