The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-07-27
THE FORWARD MOVEMENT.
WAsuINcrnN Inlu IL 10

@ OK WASHINGTON, July II, 1851: 4,
Another bloodless victory, another Secession
village captured, without the firing of gun, the
rebels retreating in hot hastc--the cavalry or
dered to the front and pursuing for three miles
without catching.
Such is the history of the day at Fairfax
Court House.
About o'clock this morning the center col
umn, Col Hunter, fairly took up the line of
march for Fairfax, by the Leesburg turnpike,
from their camps, between Bailey's cross roads
and the turnpike, a distance OF 8 or 10 miles.
Col. Burnside's brigade in advance.
The troops marched in the following order /:
a corps of skirmishers from the Rhode Island
Regiments; the Rhode Island Battery; Siege
Battery, under Lieut. Benjamin, consisting of 4
twenty pound Tifed cannon, carrying s miles
the Rhode Island Regiments; the second New
Hampshire; the list New York, forming Col.
Burnside's Brigade; the 18th New York; Grit.
fms West Point Battery eight companies of
regular infantry, under Major Sykes; 800 ma.
rines and 500 Cavalry the sth New York,
which, with the above, form Col. Porters Bri.
gade, Joined the column at the Court House.
An hour or two before the general start, re-.
connoitering parties had been out in front, on
both sides of the road. a
In the night the rebels had approached with
in 300 yards of the camps, but had fed before
the skirmishers. The soldiers were full of fight
anxious to know how much farther it was to
the enemy, and occasionally breaking out into
patriotic songs. a9s3 81 rs
Gen. Mcdowell and staff were at the head of
this column. The first sign of the enemy wss
some three or four miles from Fairfax where
trees had been felled for several rods, for the
purpose Of obstrucsing the road They could
not have been there week, for the leaves were
but slightly withered. Another obstruction of
the same kind was put there on Sunday sd 81
The column went round through q meadow
ap steep hill mile further, and the approach
was cautiously made, as it was the highest
ground on the road, aud there, if anywhere, it
was thought would be resistance.
For a moment there were siyus of form;po in
line, but the usual absence of rebels became
soon apparent. The alarm was caused by the
driving in of a rebel force of two or three hun.
dred men by our skirmishers.
At Dor 10 o'clock they went off in such
hurry as to leave their horse bags, from which
our men fed their horses with corn.
About halt mile from the Court House. ON
the top Of the first hill, an excellent position.
vas hne OF fresh earthworks extending on
botn sides OF the road for, perhaps, half mile
between the woods. The hitherto slope of the
hill was cleared of trees and fenoes az il To al.
low range to the artillery; but there we're NO
guns, and no traces of guns, unless wheel prints
near one Of the four embrasures be 90 interpreted
:, More probably they were made By wagon.
lne sight embankment was Of earth, except at
Inc embrasures, which were strengthed by sand
oags, With Confederate States or Quartermas.
Iers Department Of Virginia stamped upon
mem. There we're abundant evidences that he
works had been left in haste. Camp-kettles
hama. little -four, and plenty OF shovels and
.xes, makes up the testimony. There we're no
bitches in front, which left then exposed 70 :
aank movement -