Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-21
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
The Progressing Battle near Lees.
burg.

progressing fight near Leesburg commenced, this
morning:
"EpwARD's FERRY, Oct. 81, 1861 This morn
| ing, at one O'Clock, ave companies Of the F1f-
| teenth Massachusetts crossed the river at Hsrr-
sons Island, at daybreak. They bad proceeded
| to within mile and a half Of Leesburg without
meeting the enemy They still hold on, supported
by the remainder Of the regiment and part Of tho
Twentieth.
"a gallant reconnaissance was made early this
| morning, by Maj. Mix, Van Anen-Cavalry, Capt.
Stewart. A. A. G., from Edwards Ferry towards
| Leesburg, with 30 cavalry. They came on The
18th Mississippi regiment, received their nre az
IS yards, and returned IL with their pistols, and
| fell back In order, bringing In one prisoner.
"We have. possession Of the Virginia side Of
| Edwards Ferry"
We learn incidentally that the position Of our
| troops subsequently attac ked-by the enemy-was
hamilton Island, about three miles fiom Lees
| burg
| Up to 3 p. m to-day Gen. Stone bad held bis
own satisfactorily there, though his mpsrstvely
| small force upon the island are engaged with
| some 4, 900 Of the enemy.
We predict that by shutdown to-day either Gen.
Stones or Gen. McCsIs advance win occupy
Leesburg.
Knowing the position Of Gen. McCallS divis-
ion we take 1t for granted that he hastened 10 get
between the force attacking Stone and reinforce
ments to that force from the direction Of Lees
burg.
/ THE ALLEGED sUPERsKDURE or GIN. FREMONT.
In a few minutes after publishing our nrst
edition to-day we became satisfied Of the incor-
rectness of the impression intmated in IT, thstere
leaving st Louis Secretary Cameron transmitted
| to Major General Fremont orders assigning Major
General Hunter to the command Of the depart.
| ment of Missouri, in his stead.
On the contrary, we feel that we may state pos
Il itively that he (Secretary Cameron) declined to
act In the premises until after his return here
or course, these are simply our individual i'm
pressions, based upon such floating data a. we
have been able to gather to-day.
THOUGHT BETTER ONT.
| 1t turns out that Beauregard had determined TO
\ give Gen. Mcclellan a fight on Friday last st or
about the crossing Of Goose Greek by the AleIsn-
dria and Georgetown turnpikes to Leesburg. He
had on that day, four regiments Of Infantry, (the
18th Mississippi being one Of them,l and some
| cavalry, with much baggage.
The approach Of Gen. McCaL's division In
larger force than he anticipated, however, evil
| IDENTIFY caused him to change bis mind; and he
| accordingly retired bis troops referred to above
| in the direction Of Manassas.
FAIRFAX COURT HOUSE.
II 10 alleged this afternoon that the enemy with
| drew entirely out Of Fairfsx Court House last
| night. We have no time, however, In which 70
verify the fact, ere going to press.
NAVY YARD.
There is no news OF interest from down the
| river. The Reliance went down TO join the 90
| tills last night. The Robert Leslie started down
| at noon to-day.
As the particulars Of the capture Of the schooner
/ Fairfax have been enormously stated, we have
been al some pains to get a correct account Of the
| affair. On Saturday morning, during the prev
alence Of a heavy fog down the river, the steamer
Resolute made fast to two schooners-taking the
Lydia Ann on the starboard side, and the Fair
fax, Capt. Mott, on the lsrbOard. lust the
boats got fairly within range Of - Confederate
batteries about 9 O'Clock, a. m, rain commenced
| falling, and the fog lifted. The Confederates
commenced firing rapidly, and in one hour dis
charged l54 rounds at these vessels.
The Fairfax received Is shots in her hull, and
about 30 In her deck load Of hay, and aloft. One
shot passed through the awning Of the Resolute,
AT, splntering the sustaining BAR and passed into
the cabin Of the Lydia Ann where the captain was
at dinner-no doubt spelling bis appetite.
The Resolute must have been sunk IL IL had not
been for the protection the Fairfax and her deck
| load Of hay afforded. When the vessels were
| nearly out Of range the hawser Of the Fairfax
parted, and left the Resolute exposed IL this
cident bad occurred ten minutes sooner, the Res
olute must have been sunk. IL would have GER
tainly led to the loss Of the Resoute IL attempt
had been made to again take the Fairfax In tow.
The Fairfax fell into the hands Of the Confed-
crates She was loaded with hay and cement, and
had on board piano and some furniture belonging
to Mr.. John Evans, Of the Williamsburg (N.Y)
"a nga fos~ A ahout
81 OOO but be lost some Articles which, on ac-
count Of family associations, cannot be valued.
Some Of the men on the vessels sssert that they
heard the grating Of chain along the kecls Of the
vessels but the officers Of the hotilla treat the
chain story as good Joke.
There was a rumor aioat that 500 Confederstes
had crossed and recrossed the Potomac last night
between Shipping Point and EvansPort, but the
report 10 not credited, because the only place
where they have boats 70 enable them 70 cross 10
at Aqua Greek, and at that point crossing would
be thwarted not only by the fotila at that point,
but by portion Of sickles' brigade stationed on
the Maryland side opposite the mouth Of the
creek.
AFFAIRS IN ALEXANDRIA.
Especial CORES pondence Of The Star
ALEXANDRIA, Oct 81 Editor STAY; On Sstuf-
day, Robert Snyder was before the provost court
for an assault Mr.. Dryer, Of this city, and for
violent and threatening language against the
Federal troops and the Union men Of the city
Judge Friess hned him $500, and held him to bali
In the sum Of IS 900 for his good behavior.
Several vessels arrived on Saturday afternoon
and night, having passed the blockade during the
day, among them the schooner Eliza Jane, from
Philadelphia. She was struck i've times In passing
the batteries, but sustained but little dsmsRe
except by one shot, which struck her nainnast
Everything 10 quiet here to-day. A reoennois-
sance was made towards Fairfax Court house yes
terday, and Il In said that movement VIII oe
made az far an 6srgos' or 6oodwin's to-day.
UNION.