New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-01
THE NEW POSITION I'm VIRGINIA.
From Our Special Correspondent.

Masons Hills and the abandonment for whatever
purpose of the rebel posts near Washington; for 1t
has been repeatedly shown that neither the amount
of force employed by the dsunionistS nor the char
actor of their defenses was suited to any prolonged
demonstration in this neghborhoOd. The weakness
and neffciency of the Munson's Hill ard surround.
ing works were quite as well understood, fortnight
or three weeks ago, as now, when they are in our
possession. The absence Of any important body of
troops 80 near the Capital az these works were in
tended TO indicate, was a fact equally assured The
purpose Of their unwarned withdrawal az well as
the purpose of their ever Offering feint Of perma
nent occupation, remains as yet mystery; but it is
by no means amazing mystery, since, situated as
they were, and having advanced to such dangerous
proximity where it was impossible for them to
maintain themselves, there was really nothing left
for them to do but to retire.
The King Of France with forty thousand men,
Marched up the hill, and then marched down again"
Whether this movement of the rebels is adopted
as a cover to some impeuous attack upon another
and more remote portion of our lines, whether 1t
ia an unconditional falling back into the old position,
it is bard now to conjecture. am inclined to be-
lieve 1t is the former, for we know that the evacua-
t'Oh D'bhh hioL hIlddy OOlu lCouAlo "C'N
TO follow it, 1t is certainly time we heard something
Of them. A somewhat general surmi5e is to the
effect that we to be lured onward if possible,
after the old fashion Of the advance TO Bull Run by
seeming retreat, which i5 really but gathering
together Of forces; aud that when we have reached
the suitable position, we are to be duly annihilatei
according to precedent This, however, is a very
wild theory. and need alarm nobody We are not
the birds % be caught By the same chat twice in
succession and moreover, the circumstances OF this
rebel retirement wholly different from those Of the
retreat before McDowelIS army. Then the enemy
showed only in small bodies and al first sight Of our
advancing columns made of with symptoms Of great
terror, and certainly with most uadiguici haste.
Noy, the Rebels have voluntarily re!nquished
position which so far as they were able, they made
70 appear formidable to the last degree, and in which
there was no sign Of their being Immediately mo-
lestej Ii,,e time vii. probably disclose their in
tel.iaas ard .APE rece'7i74 sEa what !; to come Of
them. At present il is ,s!.j e5tIDs to overlook
the ground which they have LEFT, 10 review their
ae pos tion to Judge from i. in what their strength
lay, whether they really presented that formidable
front which has been complimentary attributed to
them, and what we really have had and may have,
10 fe,r from their apparently mos, vigorous demoa-
STATIONS.
rode over ,liJ morning directly 10 Mun5Ons Hill,
frUm the rccru: post Of observation, Daley'5 Cross
Roads TIE appearance Of the surrounding country
had vastly changed since my Last previous visit, only
twen.y-fyrr hours earlier. Then the fields were, to
all appearance, clear Of human presence, and the
only tokens Of ne were given by the sharp ringing
OF the rite-Justs here a,i ihere-otener tokens Of
death TIE p;cke's held their lines and our two lit
tie companies OF infantry were grouped about the
sheltered p rtioas Of the Cross Roads. There was
not A sign Of any sudden change. Toward afternoon,
/ am informed tie rebel p.csets were seen re,if.Eg.
Thcirhlg trmbed from is perch, aud even the slight
activity which the Virgins regiments bad been
accustomed u show totally suspended IL
was evident that the place was deserted. Soon
after il WA taken possession Of By our troops. / am
embarrassed as t. the particular regiment which
achieved the somewhat empty honor Of inst planting
itself within the eartawOyA, Du, believe II must
have been tie 9Th Michigan, which, | an st-e,
would have been even more eager than II was bad
tie hopOrs been more hazardous to attain, and more
noble b enjoy. But | have heard It loudly claimed
by members OF a5ou, tea different regiments, always
with circgm5tanta! pos!.!veaes5 that does credit to
their inventive ueads, rather than their elastic We
rscity. Certainly, the 9Th Michigan Col Terry, hold
the Hill now, and [ maze no doubt that they ilst
seized l.. They, together with the New-YosL 3jtl,
have been kop, a,.r! saoe the occupation lest some
gdrot eIJri q. resumption should be atiempelby tho
enemy.
At tie time passed up the hill, the road was filed
with troops pass:ng and repas'inS and WITH curious
visitors, seeking fof stray tokens Of the absent, but
not forgotten, Vir,inaGs. TIE little valley which
separated the lines Of the picaets was undergoing
rigid exploration To- bullets. The line Of the Rebel
r!ckets appeared to DO less attractive, but It was
assuredly interesting to observe with what cautious
instinct of seprcs.ryation those fellows had con
strucrd their little nut OF shelter. The number OF
logs that any bullet would have had to pierce not to
speak Of rnr number Of corners IL must have turned
before reaching them, ought to have made them per
tectlv at their ease while On duty. There was no
peril in their pcketng. Each OF their posts was
sort Of rough fors in ITSELF compared with which our
slight breastwOrds were utterly insignificant. DIS
covered what was never apparent from our own
lines that their picket position commanded ours al
soutely, and that every movement made by our
guards must have been perfectly apparent to them
Hence, undoubtedly their perpetual attempts to pick
of our men. The temptation was too strong for
them.
The scene at the top Of the hill, in the earthwork
itself, was think, one Of the most inspiring to be
imagined. Everybody was laughing. The utter
absnrdity of the works as means Of defense, their
,malness, meanuess, insignifcance, touched every
Of ,ha luicrou4. The Enclosure
nr.es about four acres around which earth is rough
ly thrown up to a hight of perhaps four iee'' VI
course there is no ditch, no gacs-nothng, IN fact,