The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-14

An advance was made yesterday from the lines
of the Potomac, which placed the important posi-
ton of Fairfax Court House in possession of the
Union army A thousand picked men from the
Maine regiments were sent forward to that point
and succeeded in occupying it without contest.
They found the whole road INSTRUCTED by abattis
Of feiled trees, through which the sturdy lum-
bcuncn of Maine had to cut a way with
uNes The enemy had retreated twenty -four hours
before they arrived, and they therefore took
pcacenble possession Of this point, which for some
time had been considered as the inevitable scene
of an engagement This is the only move which
has taken place in the vicinity of Washington with
in the past few days. but it is highly important, as
it Is the most forward movement yet made in the
direction of Richmond.
From Western Virginia the news is most en-
couraging. General Mcclellan has followed up the
victory obtained by General Rosencrans at Rich
Mountain, by rapid march to Beverly, which he
now occupies, as will be seen by his official
despatch to the War Department, received
therc yesterday, and published in another
column. We are enabled to give to-day
further details of that brilliant movement, which
General Mcclellan designates a complete success,
and which resulted in the utter rout of ten thou.
sand rebels. with the loss on their side of nearly
three hundred killed. wounded and taken prisoners,
of whom ten were officers Six brass cannon, over
two hundred tents and sixty wagons were cap
tured. The loss on the Union side was eleven
killed aud thrty-1ve wounded Gen. Mcclellan says
that The rebels engaged were Eastern Virginians,
Georgians, Tennesseans, and probably some Caro-
iinians. Intelligence had reached Gen. MoClsl-
treated from Laurel Hill to Romney. The orders
Issued by Gen. Mcclellan to the different corps
under his command, if carried out must result
in cutting of the rebels in all quarters, and
rescung Western Virginia from the hands of the
rebels. Reports had reached Alexandra, through
. descrter from one Of the Louisiana regiments
hat there were two thousand rebels at Fairfax
station on Friday. II has been also ascsrtaiued
,ha, an eneampmsnt of rebels still remains In the
vicinity of Aqua Creek.
Affairs at Fort Pickens remain unchanged % far
as the Union forces are concerned, but it appears
that Jefferson Davis has ordered considerable
number of the rebel beloaguers to the North, and
the force under General Bragg remaining there
is said to be very small.
I've learn from st. Louis that report ID preva-
lent there of the assemblags Of rebel troops around
bonneville and that the Union forces at that place
are constantly under arms, in preparation for On
attack.
The Senate yesterday gave aid and comfort to
the Union sentiment Of Virginia in a very decided
manner, by qualifying and rendering their
seats in that body to Messrs. Wiley and
Garlic, Union men, in place of Messrs.
Hunter and Mason secessionists, who had
bcea expelled. The proposition to admit the
Union Senator's met with some opposition from the
senators from Delaware and Kentucky, but it, was
accepted by "a vote of IS against s..