Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-24
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
THE BATTLE BEFORE LEK.suRs.

The letter Of the correspondent OF the Associated
Pres, and others written by wonder.mongers on
osnear the spot, exaggerate the Union loss, very
evidently. Gen. Baker had, in all, only 1920 men
under bis command on the Virginia nde Of the
river. Ii Ia understood al the War Department
that half Of them were certainly in their respec-
tive camps, unwounded, on the next day, and
that they carried of the field nearly all their dead
and wounded. The swapping Of boat increased
our loss about sixty, from drowning.
Thoeewho remember the exaggerated accounts
OF our loss at Bull Run, that grew out of the tenn
porary absence Of thousands Of our men who re-
turned within our lines within two or three DAYS
after that engagement, must realize that the fact
thatmen are missing for some days after an engage
ment Ii no valid reason for regarding them killed
or wounded. Our own belief 10 that within a
week Ii will be found that five hundred, If not
iess, will cover actual loss In killed wounded
and missing growing out of the brave but rash
Bakers failure 70 obey Gen. stones order to fall
back without fighting IL encountering the enemy
In superior force.
That the enemy suffered more than our force
did, In evident In Gen. Smiths failure to persist
In EFFORTS to defeat the accomplishment Of General
stones strategy-his purpose Of taking and hold
Ing the Virginia bank Of the river, This he
(Smith) made no attempt TO do on the next dav
DNN oASoPPCoicu WIN us "QOlc force teXceDt
picket lines) from the immediate front of stones
command. He (smith) was thus left after the
engagement In no condition to renew II, or to
persevere In his effort to prevent our whole army
nom occupying position on the Virginia shore
which we held last evening for miles above and
below Edwards' Ferry, and for mile and half
osck nom the river, towards Leesburg; including
the bridge over Goose creek, a point of great
importance to Us In future military movements in
that quarter.
st midnight last night Gen. Mcclellan ex-
pressed himself (by telegrsph) entirely satisfied
with the general success Of stones important
movement and with tie new position for the
mass o. the two divisions Of the ARMY of the
upper Potomac, which had been won by 1T
IMPORTANT RIVER NEWS.
yIts george Page Crosses the Potomae-C onrnuHi-
ca'.on bef'ress shs Sh0reS Of Maryland and Wv
The tug Murray, Capt. Parks, has arrived at the
neyy-yard from Indian Head. Capt Parks re-
Porn that the George Page was seen In the Po-
tomac between Shipping Point and Evansport
yesterday at noon. IL is supposed she ran out of
Aqua Creek, screened by the darkness and fog
during the prevalence Of the storm night before
last Yesterday afternoon she was observed TO
cross over to the Maryland side, and Capt. Parks
with his glaze could zee that she was crowded
with men. She was only observed to make one
TIP. She crossed at Budds Ferry, between
EvensPort and shipping Point,) where the river
- about 4 miles wide. She 10 covered ard pro-
see'ed by the Confederate batteries, which have
recently thrown balls from their rined guns across
fhe river and to distance Of two miles into
Maryland
Several small boats have been observed cross
ing at or near the same point. schooner with
wood, which ran the blockade Yesterday, beard
the nring between the Island Belle and Freedom
and tho Matthias Point batteries quite distinctly
night before last.
There were lying at Indian Head Yesterday the
Harriet Lane, Yankee, Hale, Wyandank, Her.
bert, and Murray, (Which last has come up
The wood schooner mentioned, reports that all
the Government transports at Smiths Point have
gone around to Annapolis.
The Page yesterday afternoon ran near TO the
Maryland shore, and fred three shots inland II
In supposed that she was firing shells at the Third
Regiment Of sickles' Brigade, which is stationed
In that vicinity
The tug Herbert came up to the Navy Yard
this morning, and will probably go down this
afternoon. The Dana has steam up, but it Ia not
haown II she will join the fotilla today.
ANOTHER ARRIVAL FROM DOWN RIVER
-Four oyster boats have arrived this morning,
two Of which left Patuxent River (Hin Creek, on
Saturday, p. m. AS they came up the river, they
saw no batteries at Matthias Point but saw several
hundred soldiers Oh the Point, armed with mus
fea. Passed Aqua Greek. Saw the George Page
firing up and come down to the end OF the old
steamboat wharf, as IL she was coming out after
night. Proceeding up the river, passed the bat.
teries at Quantico, who fred twice at each vessel
N they passed, but did not strike eithsr The
Confederates were seen building battery at Cock
Pit Point They had cut all the woods down
behind, and LEFT the front trees to cover the bat
terry TILL ready to open. At Quantico they saw the
Fairfax, which the enemy appeared to be uu-
loading They also saw the schooner Mary Viz
ginia, Of Washington, loaded with wood also
taken by the Confederates The upper feet was
laying at Indian Head. The enemy has fishing
boat anchored under Cock Pit Point, moun:ed
with two small guns; also. the schooner Blossom,
mounted with two guns, lays In Aqua Creek
AsrRIcI WATCH NEEDED.
We understand that last week the schooner
George Emily, Capt Shreve, was taken possession
of In the Patuxent by force Of men near D o, who
compelled Capt. Shreve to carry them to st
Mays, Md from which point they expected to
proceed down TO Point Lookout to make their
-ay mum sncro ins0 Virginia, Join the army
Ihsy gave him up his vessel good many Of
tnem were from Baltimore and the county. A
oo'erhnens vessel Is needed there badly-and
men that are not asleep either.
NOT TO BE SERVED.
we learn that the President, Yesterday, In
stucted the U. 8. Marshal for this District. in
respect TO the rule placed In his hands by the
Circuit Court to be served upon the Provost Mar.
snai (oen. Porter for bis appearance before that
court not to serve the rule but TO return Il to the
court with the Information that he 1.-THE Pres,.
dent) had for the present suspended the privilege
OF The wit OF habsas eOrpxs In cases relating to
the military.
THE CASE OF oEN. FREMONT.
The New York Tribune Is incorrect I'm SAVING
that on the day before yesterday, or, rather. on
the night before last, the removal of Gen. Pre-
mont from his command, was finally determined
On, In Cabinet council. We know that no such
determination bad been reached up to II O'Clock
isa night. The subject matter is, however, un-
der'tcod to be still under consideration.