Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1861-10-04
WAR NEWS.
WASHINGTON. Sent. .!

event took place, it found few believers
among those least excited by sensation re-
ports. A personal visit, however, puts
the fact beyond doubt. The American
flag now floats there in place of that of
the rebels, Detachments from Generals
Richardson, Reyes, and Wadsworth'e
brigades, and also from Gen. franklin's
division, now occupy Munson's Hill, UNI
der command of Col. Ferry, of the Mich
igan 9th Regiment.
Early this morning, the pickets from
Gen. Smiths division advanced to aud
now occupy Falls Church. Neither this
nor the foregoing movement met with any
opposition whatever, as the rebel army
had on Friday night retired from the
whole line of their positions on the line
of Washington. Uptons Hill, this side
of Falls Church, is necessarily included
among the points now held by the Federal
forces,
The works Of the enemy at the places
they have abandoned, were, in military
point of view, almost worthless, being
nothing more than rife pits of very COM
mon construction. The positions on MUIR
rays and Munsou'S Hill afforded the reb-
els an unobstructed view of all our forth
fieations and other dcfenscs The APP
pearance Of the ground deserted by them
indicated that they were deficient in those
arrangements which serve to make camp
life comfortable, having no tents, but
merely shelters rude!y constructed. There
were no signs to show that they had ever
mounted any guns. Our troops are now
SO employed as to show that they do not
merely intend temporarily to occupy their
present position.
The advance of Gen. Smith on Falls
Church from the Chain Bridge was ac-
companied by events Of the moss deplor-
able character. Having passed Wander
werken's and Vanderberge's houses on
their way to the former place, and VIII II
about half a mile from it, by some uhac-
countable blunder, Col Owens l.ish
Philadelphia Regiment, in tae darkness
of the night, mistaking fer rebels Capt,
Motifs battery, which was in advance, sus-
tanned by Bakers California Regiment,
Bakers Philadelphia Zouavls, and Cvl-
Friedman's cavalry, fired fail vo.ley IN
to the troops last mentioned, killing and
wounding large number. The Calitor-
mia Regiment, not knowing from whence
the firing came returned it with marked
effect. The horses attached to Mott
battery became unmanageabe, and the
tongues of the caissons were broken, ow-
ing to the narrowncss of the road. Lieut..
Bryant having command of the first Sec
ton, ordered the guns to be loaded with
grape and canister, and soon had them
in range to rake the supposed enemy,
when word was sent to him that he was
n the company of friends. All was ex-
itement, and Il long time elapsed before
the actual condition of affairs was asccr-
tanned and confidence re-established.
Many conflicting stories prevail as to
the parties on whom the blame should
rest, but Gen. Smith Immediately ordered
Col. Owens regiment to faIl back to
camp.
NAruSGr5y, Sept Both.
Everything in this vicinity indicates
that the present Will be week of great
military activity. \ large number of
troops who were qaartered here disappear
ed during last night. CARLETON.
To TIE 1Ssociatea Press.
New YORK. Sept. 30th.
The ship Grotto was seized by the Gov
ernment to-day.
Special dispatches from Washington
state that our troops are in fue spirits
Large bodies of our troops occupy Mum
sons and other hills, and field works are
being thrown up.
The advance of our army is slow AMI
cautious. 1t is believed that the rebels
are concentrating between Aeluia CrceN
and Manassas with their right wing on
the Potomac.
y messenger from Chain Bride states
that the rebels are in strong force at Lees.
burg, and their entire army Is divided
one division above, another below Wash
ington. This is doubtful.
The gunboat Yankee Yesterday recon
noitered Frcestone Point aud found tn.
batteries there deserted.
The President gives assurances tA@i
there shall be no drafting at the " 81
until the Eastern States have sa3p.ir4
their quota.
A resident of Charleston says tn,
news from Hatteras struck panic throusI
South Carolina, and that the numbers O
the rebel troops are greatly exaggerated
Five more of the wounded Of last
nights blander were brought to the hos
pital to-day.
WASHINGTON, Both.
The accommodating rebel force which
appeared at Great Falls Church tn,
morning, and were scattered by siX
rounds of shot and shell, from battery
planted on the Maryland side BY Gen
Mccall, consisted of eight regiments.
Commissary General Gibson, who died
here to-day was about 50 years Of aga
and had long held that position. lie en-
tered the army in ls0S as Captain Of in
iantry frem Pennsylvania.
The position OF the Federal army i
about the same as yesterday. The daJ
before our forces occupied Falls Chuiel
the rebels evacuated with six regiments
and four pieces of artillery, The FEEDER
al pickets now occupy one end of the vii
lage and the rebel pickets the other, botl
positions being ON the Lecsburg turnpike
not more than quarter of mile apart
From Falls Church this morning wa.
seen a rebel infantry regiment drilling oil