The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-08-19
CORR { POMDEMCE
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

W WASHINGTON, August Is, 1851.
When the Resoute went on the expedition which
resulted in the loss of her boats crew at Matthias
Point, her object, it is well understood, was
after making a reconnaissance, to return to the
Navy Yard and lead an expedition down the river
20 test if not to demolsh, the Confederate batteries
lour latest Intelligence shows you that this expe
dition did actually proceed according to the pro.
gramme, and being well equipped and well
differed, it regarded OF the most form.
idabe charaeter-sO formidable, indeed, as to
inspire officers ut the Navy Yard with a conf
dence which tempted them to announce to their
friends, very positively. on Friday, that Acquia
Creek and Matthias Point had been taken beyond a
peradventure, and that their batteries were ac-
tually in the possession OF the Government. 1t is
said that the plan to land the men at two
points, and by vigorous advance before dawn, to
surprise the batteries and take tn EN- in the rear
1t now appears that this attractive programme was
relinqulshed for the occasion, and another subst-
tuted, in consequence of the discovery, by the
Resoute OF the nest of sharp shooters at
Matthias Point and of the long range of
the Aqua Creek guns, which, commanding
the river from shore to shore, threatened to
cut of the expedition altogether The latter
was reason enough for postpOnng an enterprise
which we are now told is to be shortly reproduced
in irresistible form. Those batteries, it is con.
hdently asserted, must and shall be taken; and the
fleet which, We are told, is even now being fitted
out, will doubtless embrace the landing of consid-
uOtieS VI troops WIN the OBJECT OF clearing
out the batteries and spikiug the guns. There are
many who think that a laud-battery on Cedar
Point shore, opposite Matthias Point, will, with
guns OF the longest range, effectively cooperate
with the fleet.
1t is now almost beyond conjecture that two
squadr0ns, or full companies, of Federal Cavalry,
were captured on last Thursday afternoon, within
two miles of Alexandria, by two regiments Of Con-
tederates. The Cavalry had on some unknown pre-.
text made prisoners of several citizens of the
ty, and brought them into Alexandria: they then
returned to make more arrests. Meantime, one of
their prisoners escaped, and reaching the Confed-
crate scouts put them in possession of these facts;
the result was trap and capture
What might be regarded as sn extraordinary Ca
binet Council was held on Friday. Mr.. Chase hav-
ing returned, there was full Cabinet with the
exception of Mir. Smith, who is making speeches
in the North. 1t is the talk of the streets that the
danger and defence of the capital were discussed
earnestly and a: length. Decided appreheusions
are said to have been expressed q give legitimaely
the current rumOr Of ''the avenue") as to a Con-
tederae plan supposed to have bren terreted out by
the restless scrutiny of General Mcclellan.
According to this plan The Confederates, under
Beauregard and Johnston, are to cross twenty or
thirty miles up the river, perhaps as far as Point
of Rocks and by bautering Mcclellan, and at the
same time making demonstration upon Washing
ton, provoke him TO pitched battle before his
preparations complete.
Then, should he be defeated, having no defenses
to fall back upon, captulation will be necessary
eral officers who do not hesitate to say that the
General is making his combinations accordingly,
and that he is preparing several masked batteries
for the benefit of the Confederates 1t will at least
strike you that there is nothing in the suggestion
Inconsistent with the movements of Gen. Banks,
who is now east of Point Of Rocks, in a position
from ten TO twelve miles retrograde from that
which he lately occupied. This brings him within
days march Of Mccall, who is in command of
McCiellan's advance in that direction.
No one here believes for momeut that it is any
part OF the Confederate plan to attack the entrench
ments and detences opposite Washngton-least of
all to attack tho apital dirnotIy Thap annrania+a
too intelligenty the force of Northern sentiment
this point Such demonstration, if ever contem-
plated, has doubtless been long since abandoned.
Ioa remember the sneers of several of the lead
ing Republican journals of New York, at the "far-
ing sumptuously every day" of the Confederate
army at Manassa, and how much they had to tell,
con distinguished authority" of the melancholy
experience OF Prince Napoleon among the covers
and decanters of Beauregard.
Now this kH0C, that on the Prince return
from ManasSa, not only the officers of his suite but
the French Minister, frealy declared that his break
fast with beauregard was delghtful-the best ne
had in America. After breakfast he was invited
and their respective stats; and besides his general
pearance of the troops, manifested in a particular
explicitly declared to be equal, in men and horses,
to the best in Europe. Eighteen hundred passed
before him in body. SPECIAL.