The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-11-28
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
tOUR OWN COPRESP ONDENT.

Four miles By water and five by land from
the town OF Dumfries Is Evansport, where
our batteries begin. Just above the bay formed
by the entrance OF the Quantico in to the Po-
tomac, Is Triplet's Hill. an elevation from
which an admirable visw of the country and
the river can be Obtained. Just below this is
the Evansport point, where battery No. is
placed, and still further down Others that
have been unmasked. The river is visible
up and down for a distance OF fifteen or
TWEEN ty miles, borjered by the shores of Vir-
ginia and Maryland, between which tie
river, running through some bold headiands,
curves ont of sight. Immediately at the bat
teries the distance across is n mile and seven
eights, but above and below it grows wider,
the channel a. so running nearer to the Mary.
land shore. The batteries are still under the
Immediate charge Of Capt. Chatard, OF the
Navy, but General French, the successor OF
Gen. Trimble, is commander OF the post As
regards the blockade, believe ii to be com
piete, provided all the batteries open fire
upon any vessel, but up TO this time
tho firing has been slow, from three or
four guns, and seemingly AT random -
NO steamer has run By without injury unless
done under the cover OF some dark and
stormy night. A few evenings ago schooner
passed the batteries and succeeded IN getting
up the river, although injured IN several
places. The batteries fired heavily, sending
Only an occasional shot from each. Stand
ing upon q hill above Dumfrles one coni0 see,
with glass everything going on and watch
every sho as 1t struck. Some OF lhelC were very
Wiid but few rIcocnst shots went into the
schooner, without making any alteration III
her course. When the MGryiand 4 batteries
replied To- our shots and sent she'll this side
we could see beautiful ring CT smoke hoat
into the air as each shell exploded. The
ankees fire with great accuracy, their shell
exploding exactly q the mark. One day last
Week three men in battery No. we're struck,
one OF them severely wounded his physi.
C an thinks he VIII recover althoas sh the wound
is Il bad one.
Gen. W. H. French, the euccess0r Of Oon
Trimble, is said TO be by his brother officers
Il man of decided military genius. but ! have
no personal acquaintance With him. He was
born in Maryland, but was appointed III the
United States army from the District of Co.
ium bia, July lst 1857. He entered the service
as brevet End 1t. 7th Infantry. He was bre-
vetted Captain, and afterwards, August 20,
lsi7, Major. In lo4S, Sept 22nd, he received
4 full Captains com mission. II l am cor
rectiy Informed, he en- tered our service with
the maryland Volunteers. and has since been
promoted to his present position. Engineer
ing is the science in which he particularly
exceis
Next 10 Gen. French comes Brig. q en-.
Wigfal1, of Texas, VINO has his headquarters
in Dumfries. The personal appearance OF
Gen. Wigfali is too well known TO the people
Of the South TO need a description. For many
years prominent fepressntati' 6 of the people
OF Texas in the United states Congress, and
rights, his name mas almost become house
hold word throughout the Confederate States.
All the fire OF genius ana the indOmitabl
energy he carried into legislation, he has
brought into his new profession, and it f.
frequent remark that he has too much good,
hard sense to fail rs :. General iii the Held
He ell tered the army az Colonel Of the First
Texas Regiment OF yolunt teers, and has since
been promoted to the command 'of a brigade
com posed OF Texans, Arkansians, and Ala
bamians, the latter, (;he ith' Alabama, which
fought SO bravely on the 2ist,) having
been lately transfer from Gen. whiting
The motto Of Gen. Wigtall seems to be :. If
you want a thing we'll done-dO 1t yourself"
Since coming here have rarely seen him in
his office, and when there buSily engaged
with accounts, reqUis sitions, official or person
al correspondence. In the saddle from morn.
ing until night, he has studied every foot of
ground between himself and the enemy and
has made himselffamiliar with every lane aud
byWay, as we'll rs with every bog and
tncket. His restless energy Is remark ble
and should the enemy ever come against him
they will lind man 10 deal with who can
give entire satisfaction and send Them back
witt receipt in their pocket for ali dem nds.
Unless the present Indications prove false /
shall have more to say OF Gen. Wigfali be-
fore the present month closes.
Life ia Dumfries is by no means interesting
9t any time, and the past few DAYS have
proved unaccountably dull There is moth.
ing in the world tor one to do but to lounge
around the corners. The mails come in but
q
books are exceedingly scarce; strange sights
are rare. and after one has done up the an
tiuuiti of The TO Wn and stared sufficien ty AT
dilapidated houses, little remains but to enjoy
writing and sleeping as much as possible
Willing away between hours with retrospec-
ton and anticipation. Occasionally rumor
from the enemy produces q Tiutter of excite
ment, which soon subsidies. and few shots
from the batteries eraw a crowd upon the
hills. The days are long, taa nights are very
long; and one can hardly wonder that the
ola inhabi tants have gone into more cheerful
groves, sought other and better homes.
The few guests who rem ain 1T The hotel are
sadly troubled for amusement. Standing be-
side \" the Princess" ;" said 10 her, Can vou
not devise some plan TO make these long win
ter rnigh hts bearabier' Her black ewes sparkled
with delight. How would YOU like {.
dancer admirable :" said | and TWO
hours later an invitation was sent me- to a
small private party at the house of our mu-
tusi friend, Mrs G.
The rustic Preparations for the evening
were amusing to those who knew the diff nj.
ties of the undertaking. shoulder of nut.
ton, few boxes of sardines, some fresh fish.
nd other meagre ct ce,eras, constituted the
entertainment, while the orchestra consisted
of a good natured volunteer who PLAYED the
fiddle. But, IS ude as every thinY appeared
the evening passed pleasantly enough for
fresh, young hearts and youthful spirits are
not hard TO please.
"Does this not rem ind you OF Brussels be-
fore the battle of Waterloo 80 said "the Prin-
cess"
We are indeed dancing in the face OF the
enemy. What would YOU do Shonld we hear
the sound of his guDs2'
81 would stay TO see our victory; for have
too much confidence in the brave men be
tween me and the enemy TO believe they can
be driven back was her earnest reply.
The gaities 0f the nie h passed without in
tarrupuon, and morning found me III the
saddle route for Occcquon. Upon the hill
above the town l could but turn back to wish
every kind friend good bye, hoping they
might have many more happy nights before
the long winter is over, although be nor
there to enjoy them.
Close by the town, lyihg under .'Rose Hill,''
and almost in the shadow OF the haunted
house, is the camp of Capt. Imboden, whose
battery did such good service in the battle of
Manassas Plains. The gallant soldier is now
very busy with Gen. Wigfali in examining
the country around him, and in selectidg To-
cations where his guns could be used should
the enemy advance / have already spoken
OF Rn erroneous map OF the battle field, upon
which Gen. Eweli has a false position. 1t was
even worse with Capt. Inboden, for in places
where he fought like tiger, and where his
battery did the best service, the credit is
given to another corps OF artillery. frer
quently on the 2lst / saw his battery work.
ing as we'll as the best General could wish,
were, or who the gallant officer was who
aimed them. Capt Imboden is now under
Gen. Wigfali, and viii have q prominent
place in the fight by the Dceoquon, should
one occur.
The road from Dumfries 10 the village Of
Occcquon is over a succession OF hills and val
leys, and runs through a tract of country coy
cred with woods, but with here and there II
small cultivated patch. few miles above
the 4 Quantico, the Neabseo, stream very sim
liar to the Quan,ico, runs tnto the Potomac.
Opposite its mouth is Indian Level, on the
Maryland shore, of which the Federal fotilia