New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-10-01

acteristic work. In appearance il was somewbsk
more imposing than the mud-mound ON Mupsons.
having embrasures, and something like ditch.
nearer approach, however, reduced ia air of conaa
quence. IL WAS undoubtedly erected as a nIace of
refuge, in case Munsons Hill should be siorm.d IN
be held with artillery. IL stands upon nearly Level
with the other work, and is, consequently, not yil
bic from any of our old positions. It is not an in
closure, although its present incompetence NAV
misead one to what It's ultimate aspect might have
been. Three sides are finished. They are composed
of barrels and hogsheads filled with loose sand and
thisly overspread with sacred soil. The everlasting
helpless and toi-ovading Virginia spirit prominent
at every angle and embrasure am astonsbed that
the Rebels were not ashamed to leave 80 sp-sbOd
and contemplate work behind them. They might,
at least have spared Themselves rdicule by destroy
ing it-only that too, would have Compelled
a certain amount Of labor There Is
ditch outside the ratification" which is
positively comca ditch which, apart from it' gen
orally droll appearance is calculated above ali t0ogs
to help an attacking party over the rampsrs There
are dozen more embrasures, which are 80 cut
that they afford les5 protection than If the guns were
used en- 6arGette There is nothing like the ncompe-
tency Of this " fort" The rear is entirely open, al
though there indications of intention to closs t
at some time, which never YVES carried out. rifle
pit, eighteen inches high, struggles down for dir
lance at side, and, growing less at every yard,
finally mingles with the ordinary dirt Of the road.
The only agreeable object connected with the affair
is the newt y-raiscd Flag Of the Union, which flaps
saiutations to its neighbor over upon Mun5ons Hill
all the day long.
short distance beyond this second int.enchmcnt
N =. G,c
a merely technical sense, and not because tis Rebel
defenseS merit any such serious desgnaton arc tho
crossroads where the Connecticut regiments under
Gen. Tyler were formerly encamped. II ia piea.ant
70 recognize familiar place after having 90 long
been impeded in the approach TO it. Your CORE
spondent was once taken into custody here by the
Connecticut men, after a long ride the Coincide
rate lines upon suspicion Of being Rebel SPY, he
naturally enerelins touching membranes oftha To-
caity. Just beyond ia the old camping ground Of
Capt. Harrison and Lieut.. TompklDs, famed
leaders Of cavalry charged and tde sb'J-
ing place of Capt. Vsria.'J battery, which
did no, fight at Bull Run. Bat there is here an ex-
element more immediate than even tb"s? lively re.
mepJraI5ss A lari n The road rsYcelg th5 Que
welcome house of Webster, the wholesome enter
midst OF the perilouJ contaminatiors which Bur
rounded him. Wejsters house was, eight weeks
ago, tie Surea haven for traveller soldier aud now
It is not only deserted but the place s at Tie point Oh
destruction Some reckless aud wicked stiaggl,Is
from our troops have penetrated every dwelling
place they could find unoccuped, and Get fire b, each
one. Even Webs,er's has not escaped. Smoke and
fame are pouring out Of every door and window.
We mus. make at least al effort to save 1t. My
companion runs into the first floor. and sweeps out
piles OF blazing straw. Only Que room has been
seriously damaged; the others merely scorcDei
and stained with smoke. Chaplain Wiley o! tho
Sd Connecticut Regiment would not recognize his
old comfortable chamber, and my own is quite im-
penetrable from the binding smoke. Bs; Htic
labor saves this house for the time, although does
not seem likely to long escape.
Il is a shameful fact that, Sunday al smoon, at
least a score of houses in the neghborhoodoi Fals
Church were wantonly destroyed by watering
mischief-doers from camps. The whole air was
red and black by turns with their flame and smoke
MANY residences of sound Union citizens were sacr
feed with the rest. Through little by-lasss, the
modssty of which should have made themsac7ed
from intrusion these fellows had passed, level;ns
everything on their way. Tie officers made no
effort 30 far A | could see to check them, AMI the
nearest approach 70 a remonstrance came from The
lima Of a gentleman in co.onels uniform who mildly
wondered what could be tle object in setting iiTe
To these buildings" Even under the very eyes and
nose Of authority, within twenty rods Of the earth
work n Munsons Hill, the destruction was caEssd
on without any apparent objection
Our forces extend through Falls Church, beyond
which no attempt to advance has been made ms
old toIgate keeper is still at his post s the entrance
Of the village He acknOw edges that since Bull
Run he mas been good Secessionist and thai he
now proposes TO 10 sound Uni0nist 81 long IA
interest demands. On both sides Of tue tenfs he
SAWS chat 3 the way to catch the fox Beyond
this point il is not possible 20 pass but further biSG
70 the left of Munsons Hill there ia still something
worthy of examination. The Masons Hill works,
on the Columbia Turnpike arc odder spec'-
mems of Southern engineering than any OF INC
rest. They surround Murray Mason's house
one of those fno old Virginia msnSoaS OF
which the Old Dominion Is vastly proud,
one fine young New-England mansion bong, as
every body knows, worth dozen OF tho best OF
them The works literally not moro than two
feet high at the important points. enay eKto0d
for altogether, about l0O yards, being terminated by
a dozen rods of rae-pt precisely ten inches above
the level sod. | do not exaggerate the ridiculous
ness of these defenses one particle. Aud it Is not
possible to suppose that, as many would visa to
suppose, these works are shams an6deOeptioRs,
never intended for use. Here at Masons there are
pits within pits, and series Of interior works, all
Of Liliputan dimensions but all erected with aview
to strategic retreats and gradual withdrawals IL
han al