The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-09-17
Kirhmunn pispatrb.
TUESDAYMORNIN SEPT, ", lse
Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch
NEAR FAIRrAx CorKrHorsE,

Neft. IL. 1851.
On Friday. the 9Th of this mont our reri-
ment was ordered to leave its encam pment
near Fairfax Court oase, and go up towards
Washington on picket duty. The day npon
which we set out was pleasant, and although
the roads were quite muddy from the recent
rains, we had u much more agreeable march
than we anticipa ted. Our officers were kind
in permitting us To avail ourselves of the side
walks upon the turnpike, some of them walk
ing for the weary to ride, and Others admin
istering to our comfort hv passing up AMI
down tho line and treating us to peaches
pears and melons they had bought upon the
and think he has found out the true secret
OF governing his men, We passed Fairfax
'ourt- House with our spirits much more
e,ated than When we retreated from that
place NJ the approach of the ''tIrand Army
on Wednesday, the 18th of July With
arms at VIII" and "route step and many
Joke and heartylaugh, we wended onr way to-
"ards the city OF the Great King
lhe country III front rises in beautiful I'M
dulations until the hill region of the Potomac
forms vast amphitheatre. in which are to
ne seen cinste of chestnut, skirts of cedar
aispersso IN various profusion, cultivated
helus OF corn and buckwheat in full bloom
stately mansions, and orchards laden with
delicious fruit. Near the road, we observed
some few abandoned houses of noble souis
VINO had left all for the sake of the Union
ana are ready not only to sacrifice their
property but their lives and sacred honor In
defence of political and military despotism
TOT when their fathers did not fight After
stopping to rest several times and filling up
our cahteens with good cool water, we came
In sight of Falls Church, distant about ten
miles from our encampment. This is 4 neat
village, con tanning about twelve families and
ionr churches, at one of which it is said that
Ieheral washington often attended service
The boundary line of the original District of
Columbia runs just beyond Falls Church
Alter passing the line stones Of this District
now called the County of Alexandria, we
"a p fArG nfp 10,
stretched our arms upon ndymore Castle,
near the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hamp-
shire railroad. The eagerness and anxiety of
our soldiers here TO See the Yankee CapitaI
surpassed all bounds. 1t was almost impos-
slble Tor the military authorities to keep their
men III camp.
The nearest point from which view OF
Washington could be had was from ITptou's
Hill place OF much interest Us it is owned
by the present Black Republican Congress
man from the disloyal portion of Virginia.
Upton residence. is pierced by two cannon
balls, fired into it by the Washington Artil-
lery, when they drove the enemy off the hill
some ten days ago. The writer of this article
rs he now stands upon this lofty eminence and
facing tne Potomac, can see the stupendous
dome of the Federal Capitol far beyond and
overlooking Arlington Heights. The colors
OF the stars and stripes floating droopingly
over the doomed city, contrasts finely with
the deep blueish green of the forests of the
Maryland Heights that lie far beyond loom
ing up with magnificent grandeur above all
surrounding objects.
On the Maryland side, below the Capitol.
appears the LUnatic Insane Asylum, Il large
red, brick building, said to have been built
by charitable con tributiops. Further back
upon the heights is the,residence of Mr. Sea-
ton, the we'll known editor of the National IN
feAige"ccr 1t is magnificent palace, and in
some respects RESENT bles the Capitol at Wash
inSton. The breastworIts of the enemy can
be distinctly seen about three miles of and
sentinels standing upon post. With the aid
OF the telescope, an officer upon horseback ap-
pears far III the distance under the United
States flag, brdndishing his sword and giving
orders to his men Away he dashes off at full
speed swearing, no doubt, eternal vengeance
upon the "rehels, and exhibiting at the same
lime his wonderful capabilities of making au-
other glorious retreat. A sentinel of Abe ap-
pears to the naked eye TO the left, walking
upon the top of Il large framed house. A very
large schooner, with its sails in full blast, is
seen lying quietly upon the bosom of the Po-
tOmac. The smoke from the steamers as they
run MP and down the stream, indicates their
course by the cloud like columns that hang
heavily above the forests.
Upon the Georgetown Heights appears the
Holders Home, breaking the horizon on tn e
left. Its elevation and the purity of the
surrounding atmosphere renders it favorite
resort for distinguished individuals during
The summer season. The lofty spire of the
Episcopal Theological Seminary, near Alex
andria, appears to the naked eye from aim ost
every hill i'll this region of country, and
wnPn viewed Win the telescope 1t shows IT.
self to be q building of nice proportions and
exquisite finish. The balloon of Professor
Lowe can be seen regularly twice day
making observations upon our movements.
The Washington Artillery shot at it a few
days ago, and ii has been very cautious ever
since III peepIng over the trees at US. The
drums Of the enemy keep up almost an inces-
SAINT beating day and night There are va
rious conjectu what it all means. 1t has
been thought that every man who threw
away his gun at Bull Run has been promo
ted to the office of drummer. We can hear
the Yankees play dixie" upon their brass
band, and occasionally they give US a touch
of Yankee Doodle The town clock strikes
within hearing of our pickets when every
thing is still at night.
Munsons and Mason's Hills are to the right
of Upton's Hill Both are occupied by our
soldiers. The former is almost destitute of
foliage and underground, while the latter is
covered with large and shady trees. Between
these hills and the entrencLments of the enc
my is comparatively level portion of land
bare in some places and in others covered
with growing crops and original forests. The
pickets of the two contending armies advance
several hundred yards beyond their respee-
tive asiworks, and take every advantage
possible OF every stump, rock, ravine or hill
TO get shot at each other The distance is
so great that it rarely happens that any one
is injured by this useless kind of warfare. 1t
is to be hoped that the officers on bO Oth sides
will put stop to this species of fighting
which resembles more the practice of the
sneaking savage than the open hand to hand
fight of civilized nations The pickets have
had many a skirmish over the peach orchards
between their lines.
Our soldiers have had feast of fat things
which We're intended for the Washington
market, and they esteem it frolic to go in
sight OF the enemy on picket. Yesterday,
while on duty, Capt. Wall, of the Prospect
Company, brought in two bipeds of General
Scott. They had the ''sweet German ac-
cent" and, as we could not understand their
mn n n tn in
ter 10 learn from them, what we knew before,
that they were fighting for pay. While we
were looking over at the enemy, and lying
carelessly about our posts, some six or eight
cannon balls came over our heads and took
us by surprise. Col. Withers CALAMITY came
to our assistance with the balance Of the re-
giment and display of artillery, as if for
battle, whpreupon they kept remarkably
quiet the rest of the day Capt Spencer,
Company K,) with ten men as Il body guard,
mean time performed a hazardous enterprise.
Several females, frightened by the firing Of
the artillery, passed ont of our lines, and had
gone through a skirt of woods, occupied part
ly by men and partly by the enemy. For
fear that they would give important IntelU-
gence to the enemy, the Ca plain determined,
If possible to bring them back. After adj
yancing to Il house III the open field, hwhere
he supposed them to be, several OF our boys
noticing Il squad of men in Yankee gafb
making towards the Captain, with their guns
ready to shoot, brought two to the ground
and received their fire without effect As the
door was closed against the party, and as it
was not known ia what mum bers the enemy
might be ON their own ground, 1t was thought
best to retire. Enough at present When
we take Washington, I'll write again
H**~**, 18th Reg't, Go. x.
WAsHINGros IrEMs.-A Washington cores
ponGent of the Baltimore Sun, under date Of
Sept IL, says:
The new metropolitan police, to the num-
ber of Que hundred and five, went on duty
for the first time last night.
Yesterday DeDuty Marshal Phillips and de