, 1861-09-26
Correspondence Of tha Chicago T.fbuus,1
CANT ADvAEcK, Va, Sept, n, 1861.
THE GRAND ApNV

rame from some kind Of thing long since
Departed to Georgetown, and back from The
Potomac from one and . half to three milas.
It is one vast sea Of tents, tbs Temporary
houses Of the thousands who stand daily as
the living breastwork defending the csp;tal OF
the country. I cannot Say how many ther.
are, because I do not know; nor dare tell If
did know. But as the rebels aro estimated
to number 10000, 80 msy be allowed to
estimate our force IS 10000, and 50, ,0oo as 8
reserve in Washington, Maryland and In the
vicinity. Both Of these estimates msy bs too
high, or too low, but to-day there cannot bs
much difference in the numbars on either aide
TEE SITUATION.
The force Of the enemy is scattered along
the Potomac from the Oceoquan on thsir
right, to Lewinsville On the left His heaviest
force is in and about Manassas Junction. Ball
Ru1, and In front OF that position as far for.
ward az Munson's Hill They are 60 close oa
onr hight IN front Of the Chain Bridge Is to be
o1ten consloeIabiy mixed up with our pickas5.
HCKET sK1RN1sH1NG.
In one Instance few days ago, three Of our
men IN Gen. Porter's Brigade, from one Of the
Massachusetts regiments, left their posts flor
one from each post hare right to 1eaye tor
water at t1me} aud went short distance to
farm house, where they procured Bome fresh
mutton and had it cooked In their camp ket
1e. Ihey were returning with the sayory
mosTas a;no T1e4 Inc hungry sece1hera no doubt
ana craRled up and commenced shooting at
our boys, who, dropping their kettle In 4 rs-
zine, made Tor high ridge and returned the
fire. Each party fred few ehots, killing 20
one, when they all retired When the Massa
chosets men nad reached their position they
feg hnng9n sa11aoe ~ no .as1 ksttle and
MmttonSa cnte YanEee & .Esetues 4fne s1,s On tas
twaan +ha Se;rrs 1n- uAeo nAsM8 1uppea o.
kettie T;fhont VI ReIns ss.n ana l. caea ath oh the
Th;s 49,. ~ apH. I'll. Eel " eltaet party
raer1te - 7;+4ia ;.;+r[x ~ ess1y aay, oat
We had two horaea oundad ~ Gtsd ~ f1esy ataouga
Sav AN~N WV '1'ASe' "oH1Ae3 oa5 oeao1e yestes
ooxrn,n.aa
1eeei it stated in some paper that three na.
| Rroes On the average pase our lines a dav
| More than that pass The lines Of every Bripa11.
They arc the servants chiefly Of those Who
have run away and left them alone to etarvs
| place Of temporary safety in ths secession @
army. 4 few Slip away from the army itself.
Three likely fellows arrived one morning At
our lines, who had decamped from the four
south Caroline regiments posted two miles in
me rear Of Vienna They were Ill at !" Bull
!
nme, were IN position to learn much, which
e.; SMas"eSu MeWemas So Heeiy. cAanos ssy #nas
preesion fs that those Who belons to fhe rshsIs
| are simply DISCHARGED. But he eees verv f. 81
Of fhem. a. the officers fake them into servica
! ~ aftacTes. The 1arpest party Of contrshauj.
| have seen come together. numbered aleyan
two Of whom T were ouita hsndsome WON ~
| and three were children. Ten Of tha nar-u
| were eeryanfs of nersons in tha armv 1'~ ~
I
IaI 1EoFAE-
| i have had quite an opportunity Of seeing
the people in the vicinity OF ssChain Bridget
.ome seven miles back from the river. That
Is considerably beyond our picket lines but
have been there. There il vast difference Of
opinion among them but Aemajority look o.
| on the rebellion with ignorant Indifference
| Their great desire iB to get through with utha
troubles" which Is the name they give the re-
| bel1on. One old man, who cAn1ot read ar
write, and of cou1se never had q paper in bis
possession, says that he has now cofoa to tha
conclusion that t'the tronbles'' have come
1fom deeHe o. some "bfg men" to ges
~ era4t1 e. ntuer seaa1ole conclosioa,
eav. e 431d e1Ge b;e III a1eavans es u Anothet
tr3nh1e W e v;1d;nia ~ ~ 1ae3 "ooi9 naTs
sontI a. = ~ y;tt 1s +hn ~ nos unite E1tn 5ae
fhev al ara};t ~, u.su re N1ltn ~ unt. HuI
trn1h1ae ) ~ Ip ta eaI w s9oeo oleaosu
~. eo,,s T., ~ soysu tos seeeea9n. sn9 aas
h 5nG enas a y snG repsl arny iof AZ oi %hch
oHa;,a X aom md 1a4 1or5 ous ae ~ taAoe ILLS
eooAse oo1 ie' aaaaal Aeop lie ie1Aa'
I SICKNESS.
| tits rather singular how the different sec.
| tions of this couxtry are affiliated with diseaee
Some localities are perfectly exempt, and With
in a lew miies others ara dtstressfnrly sick,y.
| Some regiments are extremely healthy, while