The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-08-03
War News of the Week.
THs AsrT At WAsuixGToS.


Great improvement is said to be mani
feat in the discipline Of the troops aroune
ws.hington since Gen Mcclellan ha
taken command. He Asas been CLOTHED
With almost plenary powers, Gen. Scot
being content to act as kssie more thar
adviser. The Slurgis' rifles, Gen. McC. :.
body guard, have been entrusted with the
police Of the city, and harerestored some
thing like order there 9s,e General ha.
Issued an order compelling officers te
leave ter comfortable quarters at hotel.
in the city ana remain an their encamp
nents. None are allowed to visit til,
city on any pretence except with a writer
permit from the brigad;er commander.
A. to his plans, he keeps them to him
self His general orders are, for brirad,
and divisions to he ready to move at an
hours notice. As he believes this will be
mainly an artillery war, he asks for double
the present number of batteries, and it is
said arrangements have been made at the
different armories to turn out 60 rifed
cannon q week. At his instance, a rigid
court of inquiry has been instituted into
che competency of all the officers, and if
-eny are found deficient, he will dismiss
them without ceremony.
After the battle of Bulls Run. it is
known meeting Of all the leading officers
OF the rebel army and the rebel cabinet
took place at Richmond. Pretty authen-
tic Information states that the object of
this meeting was to mature plans for the
future, and that something like the fol.
lowing was agreed upon. Hereafter they
propose to act on the offensive, striking
out in several directions The Federal
forces on the James River will be attacked
and driven into the shelter of Fortres,
Monroe. All the posts that have been
captured by the Federal forces on the up-
per Potomac, including Harpers Ferry,
are to be retaken. And, finally, an attack
is to be made on Washington from two
directions simultaneously-on by crossing
the Potomac across the Chain Bridge and
coming in from the north; and the other
by taking our entertainments on the left
bank OF the Potomac, and turning their
guns upon the capital
In confirmation of this view of the enc
rlys plan, there is no doubt but they have
nearly abandoned Manassas and sent heavy
forces not only toward the upper Potomac,
bu. also all along the Lower Potomac, while
southwest of Washington, toward Manas-
sas. there are no retel troops as far as Fair
fax
But whether Gen MCLEAN believes this
TO be the real plan OF the enemy or not,
there is no doubt that he is taking active
measures to meet such an assault fully
The deie'nces On the south of the Potomac
are being greatly strengthened The north
side OF the city is being fortified Gen
Banks has been largely reinforced, anu
large re-intolc. ncnts Of cavalry and artil-
! " are being sent to Fortress Monroe
""iir such an armament has been placed
upon the Potomac as far up as the cha n
bridge as would render its being Cross. d
ia tie enemy Improbable.
The enemy appear to be gathering quite
force In the vic n ty OF the chain III i'd e.
and firing between the opposite pickets
occurs there almost dali " On the os,h.
1t. Tompklns, of the regular cavalry, cap
tured ~ PIC k.ts within mil. OF Arlinr-
ton, heights.
Gen Wool has a: length been called
into the field and given the command at
Fortress Monroe. Gen Butler will be AZ
Signed to a command near Washington.
Col Farnham, of the Fire Z,ua.es, i,
recovering of his wounds. The Zouayes
became demoralized and have been dis
charged Their loss in the battle of Bulls
Run. was 23S.
Coils Abunter and IIeintzelman, have
also recovered from their wounds and will
report for duty on Monday
Col COrcoran, of the famous Goth y. Y
Irish Regiment, is neither dead nor woun.
ded, but is prisoner at Richmond in i'll
health