The national Republican., 1861-10-31
BY TELEGRAPH.
From General Banks Division.

Edpards's Ferry, Oct. 26.-An remained
quiet during the night. No pickets were
thrown over tho river, but those on this side
heard the Confederates on the opposite side all
night, and saw their Ares thiokly scattered in
the woods along the shore. Their centralizing
point was clump Of trees on the bluff where
our troops had constructed a picket station,
and near the spot whore our artillery shelled
them during the skirmsh on Tuesday last.
When our troops we're withdrawn from the
Virginia side, on Wednesday night, tho Six.
teenth Indiana, occupying the most advanced
and exposed position, we're not aware of any
withdrawal until the rest had been successfully
ferried over. They lay upon the cold ground,
hands, every moment expecting furious and
overpowering assault from concealed and
reinforced enemy, whose numbers were known
to exceed our own by many thousands; yet
the only murmurs uttered by these hardy sons
of the Northwest were at the orders 10 retire
without disputing the ground inch by inch
with their adversaries. Slowly and mutter
ingly they retired to the place Of embarkation,
picking up and loading themselves down with
the knapsacks, canteens, guns and equipments
left there by others who had retired before
them.
This regiment, likewise, brought with them
two prisoners; the owner of the mill on Goose
Greek, with his son, who, II was charged, had
prepared Combustibles to nre the bridge over
Goose Greek, but were prevented from carry
ing their plan into execution by the sudden
descent upon the bridge by our skirmishers.
The officer of the night, Capt. Coils, of the
Zouaves D'Afrique, had prolonged conyersa
ton with u prisoner of war, a very intelligen,
gentleman and non. on.commissioned officer of one
If the Mississippi regiments. engaged in the
affair of Balls Bluff. He left Leesburg on Sun
| day night, when there we're but five regiments
| there. There we're no defensibe works al
Leesburg, but every approach was fortified
cannonading the river and land routes.
| This prisoner WAS astonished to learn thai
our army was not almost entirely composed O
our main object was other than to emancipate
slavery throughout the South He said II the
| fact were generally known to the working
people of the South that our sole object WAS t
sustain the Government and preserve tn
Union intact, there would be a revolution Il
the Confederate army and peace restored. HI
WAS surprised beyond measure to be assured
that Breckinridge Democrats constituted large
component Of the army.
Captain Vaughan, of the Rhode Island bat
| terry, who went over with flag of truce, ha
returned. He was captured by a party VIII,
did not understand the law Of nations, but wa
released by the military authorities when tn,
fact became KIN ,wn to them.
Ddrnesto,on, October ~, ls6l.-Three brig
AIDES of General Banks's division left Edwards
Ferry yesterday forenoon, and arrived In this vi
ointy last night. A sufficient force remains q
and near the Ferry to insure safety against an
attempt of the Confederates to GROSS or moles
us.
Before leaving, yesterday forenoon, the Cor
federate pickets thickly lined the oppost
shore, aud taunted our men with their "at
tempt to invade Virginia." and begging ther
to come over and pay them smother visit.
The division will remain here over the Sal
bath. OF its future movements, nothing
known except to the Staff.