Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-17
washington Correspondence.
WASHINGTON, September IL. 1861.

The Union cavalry would have failed at
Balaklaya. Excepting some few United
States Dragons, more worthless (I must
say it) collection of men, or rather boys, and
horses, never saw-verdant as the pastures
they must have recently left. This branch
Of the service should be highly prized by
young men of spirit and pluck, and the
Sonthrons rush into it with zeal and conf
dtnce. They are fine riders with fine
horses--not the $l25 nRgs scraped up from
all the kennels of the West. An immense
expense, it is feared, will have no counter
balancing good-they may do to guard a
baggage train if il is never attacked.
The majority Of the troops are yet quite
green. Officers are too often in the same
condition. To get into the city, notwith-
standing all that has been said, seems to be
the hight of their ambition. As to any
paternal care over their commands,
personal inspection of the supplies seldom
or ever are they thought of. Too often the
men are treated with shameful severity.
Colonel Gordon, of one of the Massachusetts,
Regiments, had soldier tied up to tree by
his thumbs, his feet just resting on the
ground, three mornings in succession. This
was the second brutal correction for some
trivial otfense, which kind word spoken in
season might have rendered unnecessary.
How often the question is asked "Is an
engagement imminent" Why, certainly,
at any hour. General McClellan's policy IS
to avoid any collision until ready to strike
home a blow that will settle the question.
The defeat of the army in Virginia he re.
CARDS as virtual defeat of the rebellion,
and hence that no power of the Government
should be wanting to make the army here
complete in every respect. For this he
steadily labors. 1t is not his policy then to
attack, but to be armed at all points to re.
sst any movement of the enemy from what
ever point it may come. When thus pre-
pared he can advance. If disaster should
come, the Capital would still be safe-the
reserve so strong as to act on the offensive,
even if necessary. In word, that defeat
under any circumstances, weuld not compro-
mise the cause. Remember, the troops are
mainly, almost altogether, untried. The
skillful general trusts nothing to chance that
foresight can prevent.
JEFF. Davis is, no doubt, shrewd enough to
surmise all this. Every day was and is
literally aloss--the earliest advance the safest
advance for him. The fates, however, wer
not propitious. In the FIRST place, the river,
generally shallow stream at this season,
has been Aood-high. More fatal still has
been the camp diseases which even now fill
every available hospital at his command.
The advices this myrning, both public and
private, leave no doubt Of this. Some regi-
| ments are mere skeletons of commands
one-hslf, and often more, on the sick list
Small. poX and camp measles have been
frightful in their ravsges. Every town o.
any size has its hospitals-even North Caro-
lima receives its quota Of the sick. Wherever
railroads 60 hospital cars may be fouud-s
sad picture truly as though the bRyonet and
gunpoIwder could not clain1,, us victims las
enough.
Yet after all, there is no hour some move
| "a onf foA 81
scarce, an advance by the rebels seems un
avoidable. Mcclellan, therefore, steadily
advances his field. works-takes q balloon
airing to note his neighbours positions
throws out regiment when they are dis
posed to be too familiar, and occasionally
warns them up with few shells, Just to keeI
up visiting acquaintance.
The rebels don't understood, as reported
his object in not being drawn into their am
buscades, which, after all, are the steady re
lance of their great captain. Every effor
has been made to induce Mcclellan to ad
vance, but they should understand that thu
| game OF spies, at which they are 80 expert
can be practiced quite as well by others. The
| whole country from the bank of the Potomac
| to the Manassas Junction has been indus
triodsly worked, and all sorts of earthworks
pits and ambuscades, made for the entertain.
mept of their former friends. This is kind, to
be sure, but Mcclellan is not appreciative Of
Southern liberality.
AS lclosed the preceding paragraph, my eal
caught the heavy boom of distant artillery
On the top of the house pretty good view O.
the Virginia shore can be had for many
miles. The firing was heavy. Far and neal
| on the housetops were grouped anxious spec
tators. To the South, near the location o
the Ohio camp, dense columns of smoke
| aTose-but gun practice and brush burning
were the sole disturbing causes. AS ont
after another dropped down the hatch way
| it was evident the battle was not yet bu
| then this is !" a specimen brick of the daily
excitemepts. There is constant and steady
undercurrent of Secession feeling here
which a reverse to our arms would kiudle
into flame.
The yearly visitor to the Capital knows
well the cause. There are many citizens il
| the District who have made "their pile
| from Government contracts. An ambition
to move in the first society was much lik
that OF the moth in the gas-light. Decsye
families in Virginia sent their young cadet
here ready for any marital contract backe
by tho requisite "tin." Thus you find s
many families with Southern connection!
Baltimore has shared largely in the same in
teresting relations. Indeed, wherever i'm
pudence, with a requisite outfit from som
cOnfding tailor, could make its way, the
were always on hand, ready for the sacrifice
There was hurrying to and fro at vii
lard's this evening-the greatest excitemen
since the Bull Run adventure. The crow
was almost mpenetrable-"two batterie
taken and three completely demolished
rebels giving away at all pOints-fght to b
renewed in the morning" This was repor
No. l, varied by each successive narrator
As McClellen had been at Fort Corcoran in
spectiDg batteries, and the salute mentioned
above had been in his honor, knew. vel
enough this was pure fiction. How they
| get currency surpasses my comprehen
| sion. The crowd was wild with excite
ment. Passing along to ofisial quarters,
learned quite free fight had taken place op
| posite the Chain Bridge, which your reader
may have forgotten ere this. 1t was, how
ever, quite a spirited little action, and ou
troops faced the music with a will tina
augurs well for the future.
between Fairfax Court. house and Leesburg
No doubt Davis has collected here all hi
ayilable troops-the largest in number b
can ever hope to see together again. Q
course there is great uncertainty as to exaC
numbers. So constantly on the move has b
kept the regiments it is difficult TO sscertai
the active force at his disposal. If his objec
as II must be, is TO draw Mcclellan out,
must wait some time. There is no one VIII
believes that Beauregard will meet the Unio
troops on any equal terms-military traT
seem to be the hight Of his ambition. You
readers must wait patiently for "ulterio
measures" HAMILTON.
ANOTHER INFAMOUS OUTRAGE AT ELIZA
II = 2 -