Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-08-05
skrRMrsH ON OUR LINES.

Especial Correspondence of The Star.
BALEI's Cross ROADS, Alexandria Co Va :,
August Son Friday last quite skirmish took
place at Galpen's gak, ION the Alexandria and
Leesburg turnpike, three fourths of a mile this
side Of Falls church, About IS Of our cavalry,
who were there, met about the same number Of
theirs, and three four rounds were fred be-
| tween them ere both retired.
Three were wounded on each side, slightly.
Each seemed to be wary least the other might
soon be reinforced. Hence the speedy clawing
Of of both.
About $50 secesh cavalry range daily around
and In Falls Church village.
1t is believed here that body of their infantry
some hundreds strong are now posted on the old
Dulany farm, one fourth Of mile west Of Falls
| Church.
Yesterday II Of their cavalry came down the
road to Munson's gate, not more than half mile
above this point; and last night considerable
body Of them campsd at Taylor's tavern, where
not long since Gen. Tyler was camped with two
Connecticut regiments.
hear incidentally that some Of Col Richard
sons men again arrested John r. Minor this
| morning, and now hold him at Roachs Spring
AFFAIRS IN sECRssTA.
Especial Correspondence Of the Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, August San arrival from
Secessia last night assures us that the disunion
| troops are busy mining the pads leading from
your city to Manassas and Leesburg-digging
trenches and pits, and putting kegs and barrels Of
powder, broken horse shoes, chains and old iron
In them, &c, &c, ! do not believe that they are
| wasting much powder in that way, as the article
is scarce in their camps.
This arrival further informs us that they were
four days engaged with four four horse wagons
In gathering and hauling to pits their own dead,
after the great battle of Bull Run; and that they
'buried" ours by simply covering them in piles
with few inches Of dirt in and out Of which
the worms are now crawling
They have but fifteen cannon at Manassas ken
in the battle. This is positive.
OVER THE RIVER
Especial correspondence Of The Star
FORT ELLswORTH, (near Alexandra, Va
Aug. 81 avail myself Of your express messen-
gers departure in few minutes, 10 say that
newly arrived contraband states that there are
two disunion regiments on the Bush Hill and
CluremOnt Mrs Scott's and admiral Forest,s)
estates, within four miles of here
Also, 500 cavalry at Fairfax Court House. and
that their main camp extends from a little this
side Of Cenrreville clear back to Manassas. And
further, that he was informed that they have at
least IL, 600 men at Vienna; which I do no. be-
lieve.
know, positively, that they have no troops now
In the vicinity of Murray Mason's place, where,
before the late movement of our forces, they
usually kept considerable body.
NAVY YARD
Affairs among the shipping at the Navy Yard
Is now remarkably quiet, and nothing relieves
the monotony save an occasional arrival Of some
OF the Potomac fotilla for coal, provisions, &c.
The Philadelphia, Mount Vernon and Balti-
more lie al the wharf with steam up continually,
awaiting orders, and the Powhatan swings at
anchor out In the channel with the crews of the
prize vessels on board There are now a, the
yard nine prize vessels, three sloops, two long
boats, and four schooners
The propeller r. Leslie is busily engaged in
transporting provisions, &c, between the yard
and the vessels below
Yesterday the Yankee came up, and after re-
ceiving few repairs to her boiler and wood
work, left again this morning
Inc new sloop-of- war Pensacola Is rapidly as
Stunning the appearance Of ''war vessel" under
the hands OF her corps of workmen. Nearly a
hundred are employ ed on her at times but her
usual complement il about ffty Her decks are
almost impossible from the accumulations of
cables, chains, ropes and timbers among wbic b
caulkers are engaged closing up the seams In the
floor Her toPmasts have been run up, and she
| already presents quite network Of rigging
though not yet more than half completed.
CAPTAIN SEYMOUR
We learn that the artillery for defensive opera-
tons, from Fort Corcoran on the north tn Ellis.
worth on the south, has been for the last week or
two In charge Of Captain Seymour. of Sumter
reputation. This officers health, damaged bv
service in Mexico and the Southern states. w.
are glad to learn, Is almost ompletely restored
FILLING VACANCIES IN REsIMENrAL AND COMPANY
OFFICES.
we hear that the Senate's Military Committee
propose 10 deVolve on the Governors Of the several
states the responsibility Of hereafter filling va
cancies In regimental and company (volunteers)
offices. The proposed change is good one. At
present no responsibility rests anywhere for the
| proper filing Of such vacancies
MUsQUITo POINT
| u. 5. STEAMER POCAHoNras Aug 2-Edjtoy
| Of the Star y: Two " contrabrnds" have reached
this ship, saying that they escaped recently from
| Musquito Point, at the mouth of the Rappahan.
mock. They add that they were a part of force
OF 500 negroes that bad been drafted from pIant,
tons within reach, TO erect Notifications at tina,
point, for which work preparations were being
| made when they "sloped"
ARRIVAL OF FINE BATTERIES.
Five rifed 1O-Pounders-mounted, and
ten OF the same-2O-pounders- mounted. ar
rived here by railroad last night They are
marked N. Y s., and are Of the improved pat
Tern, the same as Green's battery, which did such
| execution at Bull Run.
GOOD OFFICER.
we hear that Capt John Watt, Of this city, IA
in the line OF military appointment for position
suited TO his experience and his devotion to mill
taTY matters