The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-16
OUR SENECA MILLS CORRESPONDENCE.

The Rebels Continue their Upcdrd Movements and Hat at
Conrad's Frry-Sgnalising by the Enemys F6rces-Sr-
mishing Bet'ceen The Thirtyour Neo York Volunteers
and the Retels-7he Former Capture the Enemy's Stock
ade-Liemcaant 1ompkins Of the Rhode Island Battery
Shells the Rebel Camp and Scdtt7s the Occupdnts--A
Redouu Erected by the Union Troops at Great Falls Dur
ing the Nisht-Sketch Of Lieutenant Experimentation
Miles from Adndssds7he Enemy Apparently Moving on
Hdrrer's Ferry, de-, DC, dc.
The rebels continuing their upward movement. To
the number Of at least five thousand they passed this
point twenty four hours ago. They were accompanied
by flying artillery and from observation tho artillery
presumed TO be a portion Of the Rhode Island
battery captured at Bull run. We have reports
that this detachment Of tho rebel forces have
halted at Conrads ferry, with view to cross
the Potomac there, and do what damage they
to the of the Union. That they have sympa
thiZers this side is beyond question: for their signals
not only seen, but understood by those whose pro
vince it to look after such things Three points settle
this plan Of the campaign OF the Upper Potomac, to wit
l. night movement is made here; 2. signal light ap
prizes the enemy of said movement; and g. guard Of
Union soldiers is placed about the rebel signal station
and its occupant placed under durcss There is no fur
thcr satisfaction to tho Union side by these operations
than that of arrestng the suspected individuals and al
lowing them the limits of contracted picket In the
obtained upon the very nstrs Of warehouses; make
their arrangements either to decay deploy concen
tratc With what result arc hot yet within the lens
that Ia capable Of ahordng foreshadow; but,
judging from the light already received we
not free to believe that the rebel force
which has passed the Virginia side above referred to
is the only force they have at hand ready to invade the
sacred soil Of Maryland at the present time.
THE THIRTY FOURTH NEW YORK AND THEIR siiRMsH WITH
THE ENEMY.
The Thirty fourth New York Volunteers, Colonel La
Dew arrived at this important post the upper Poo
mac the LIST OF August. Since the 18th the regiment
has been guarding nine miles OF the river between Great
Falls Edwards ferry There good fords in the
river between those points where the enemy cross
the depth being, at the ordinary stages of tho river, from
two to three feet All these iords have been properly
guarded, and protected by tho pickets OF the
Thirty fourth. They commenced firing on the enemy
the Virginia shore they arrived The first night
the enemy fred ON the Thirty fourth they placing
their pckeis on the owpaih OF canal running parallel
with the river The Thirty fourth returned the fire
with their Enfield rides, and tha enemy took
refuge in old log building, which had been
placed in the condition Of stockade Thence the enemy
fred again upon the Thirty fourth, through loophoss in
their stockade and this not being the sort OF play the
Western New York boys were accustomed to, they re-
solved to take the stockade and accordingly did take and
destroy it the night afterward august ~ From that
date until the present (September 49, the New York
Thirty fourth have been on excessive duty the details Of
which it is not proper here to mention.
On the 9th inst Colonel La Dew, Of the Thirty fourth,
received Information that party OF -four thousand with
section Of ricd cannon marching In the direc-
ton OF Dranesvle Va, Six miles from the Virginia shore
Proper precautions made, expecting attack. A
detachment OF artillery from the Rhode Island Second
sent TO the assistance of Colonel La Dew, and the
rebels found it convenient to leave their and move
somewhere else. This was on Sunday, the 8th inst.
On the same day Lieutenant John A. Tompkns OF bat
terry A, First Rhode Island artillery, ordered by
site side OF the Potomac One piece was placed In open
ground on hill another about half mile to the north
ward, masked by wood, so that il the enemy made
their appearance at the north Of their encampmen Lieu
tenant Il. could open their troops. lie
opened fire about three NJ fred twenty rounds Of
James shell at distanceof about miles, which had
the effect Of scattering the enemy that they have not
been heard Of or since in the same vicinity and
Eve days have elapsed Lieutenant Tompkins sent
shell about two miles and half In open field beyond
the rebel cncampment, tearing up the ground SO as TO
throw up column Of dirt fifteen feet in the air. Lieu
tenant 1ompkns did his first engineering work at Great
Falls some few days previous. He threw up a
redoubt in the night time, and the morning showed
the rebels battery and rcdoubt they had
sappose would be established ut sunset the night before
Seeing these preparations the rebels left the shore oppo
site Great Falls, and made upward movement which
was interrupted by the adrot mannuvre Of Coloro La
Dew Of the New York Thirty fourth above referred to-
Lieutenant Tompkns IL New Yorker by birth. having
been born in Newburg He is resident of Prov-
dencc lie has service, and was in the Bull rum in
which battle he brought of gun, travelling battery
forge and two battery wagons Lieutenant Tompkins
relative of the famous Governor Tonpkns of New York
and will be ranked captain before this reaches his
friends.
THIRTEEN MILES FROM MANASSAS, Sept. 13-4A.M NJ.
Expecting advance movement of the rebels across
the Potomac your correspondent has just reached here
He finds the New York Thirty fourth, Colonel In
Dew, taking good Of the line. The rebels still
appear be upon their upward march, towards Harpers
Ferry. From the best information, however, 1t is not
likely they will dare to cross into Maryland
The New York Thirty fourth has been doing good SER
vice. and there have been some changes in the regmena
and company officers since they left homo.
SEyBcA MILLS, Montgomery Co., Md. Sept 10, 1851.
Three Rebel Regiments Opposite the Thirty fourth Neo York
Vo1uners-7he JET. Darts Troop Of Rebel Cdpalyy-Es-
cape Of SIaUs from Their Adstcrs-lhe C1rabdnds Act
Servants TO the Ooers-Gredt Want Of Sal BY the Rebels
Catalogue Of the "ConraIdnds," Shouting Uefr Former
Stations, Matters, 6c-Ho. Socrates ". Sherman, CAi
Surgeon Of the Thirty fourth Rcgimen-Bdking Of Bread
in Camp-Recpe for Making Feast, &C., dc.
Last night, at tattoo and taps heard the enemy g
drums and bugles From the sounds and localities, it s
there three regiments Of tho rebels in the
vicinity ready to pay their respects to the New York
Thirty fourth whenever tho ceaseless vigilance Of tho
commanding officer, Col. La Due, shall BIO relaxed,
and that s not likely to occur when
thcre Is anything to DO done looked after.
From observations this morning, 1t appears
that the enemy has not yet removed with all his force
from his position the opposite shore The three reg
ments above mentioned arc Of course not included in
the forces which knswn to have passed up the river
yesterday and the day two BEFORE supposed on their
way to Edwards or Conrad's ferry.
Among tho enemy who occasionally show themselves
to Col La Dues pckcts is corps Of cavalry, known
tho JEFF Davis troop, of Loudon county. They
bright metallic cap helmet with horsetai trimmings
called by some the "Johnson cavalry hat" It is easily
distinguished and may serve as signal to some Of
boys when they approach
slaves are rapidly leaving their masters and crossing
the at the peril Of their lives, both from the
my g and pckets Eleven are already in Colonel
La Dues camp, some of whom have travelled over
hundred and 6iiy miles TO reach there. famiya man.
and infant chldarc among tho recent arrivals.
They carried with them box containing necessaries
which seems TO havo been heavy enough to have stag
gered a horse Some OF these contrabands adopt
ed as servants BY the oscrs Of the Thirty fourth, and
they are quite snug and appear quite content
ed with their new quarters Their excuse for
running away that they threatened TO DO sent to
Manassas and rather than go further South they pre-
ferrcd taking trip 10 the North Tho universal com
plant among tbs slaves 10 tho want OF salt. Their
bacon TO which they have from birth been accustomed
has beop seized BY the army and although they have
plenty Of fresh bsef u does suit them Tho slaves
have delicate sppeiites sometimes Ono OF the colorod
family who has recently within the household OF
Colonel Ia Due hely nm! intelligent, boy called Dick
lately the property OF Tom viele and brothers who have
farm about three miles from the riye Dick wants to