Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1861-09-24
THEIR PLAN OF ATTACK.
SECRETARY CHASE Upon THR Law
OF CONFIsCATION.
ATTEMPT TO DESTROY A RAILRoAI
TRAIN
This Mornings Report.
FROM WASHINGTON.

NEW AOkAi oepI zEs
Special to Herald:
From developments made to-day am
satisfied the statement forwarded last night
purpOrting to come from man just from
Manassas, concerning the strength and
condition Of the rebels, was garbled, COM
ing through third party. To-day have
seen him, and his statement is very clear
and is confirmed by numerous other state
ments made by other reliable parties. His
position Of late at Richmond, Manassas,
Winchester, HarpeFs Ferry, Munson's
Hill, and Fairfax, ct various periods, and
his extensive acquaintance with men and
things, have enabled him to judge we'll Of
the condition and movements Of the rebels.
he says the number Of troops from Rich
moRd 10 the Potomac, ct Leesburg in one
direction and Acquia and Matthias Point in
another, may safely be etdoWn at 175,0 900;
1900 Of them were at Richmond three
days ago, another $4,000 at Msnassas, and
the eemaining 75, 900 are scattered along
from that point to Munson's Hill, and from
the vicinity Of hollands Ferry to Harper's
Ferry, and on the Potomac south Of Alex
andria from the vicinity Of Aequis Greek
and Matthias Point.
The troops ct Leesburg number about
5000, and there are also 5000 in the Eicin-
ity of Nolsnd's Ferry.
The force ct Fairfax Court House is quite
small Generals Beauregard and johnson
make this place their headquarters. -l7
The main battery on Munson's Hill con-
sists Of three % Founders. A little in the
rear Of this is another battery more secure,
containing guns
The men are generally well clad, but not
with Woolen clothing, and are beginning
10 suffer for the want Of them, especially
those from the extreme Southern States.
Blankets are very much needed at night,
and il is considered impossible to supply
the want The troops have no shoes but
those they brought from home and most Of
them are about used up and there is no
possible means for supplying the article
They cannot he manufactured, as leather is
scarce; and there being no neats-foOt oil
TO be had, hides cannot be cured for the
manufacture Of leather.
The cotton crop, which has been pledged
for the Confederate loan, is not to be re-
moved to the sesbOsrd cities until ready
for shipment for fear of seizure.
There has been pressed into the confed
| crate service nearly all the teams and
horses in the valley of Virginia. Farmers
are thus deprived of the usual advantages
for tilling the ground preparatory to SOW
/ ing their next wheat and corn clops.. For
age for horses is being rapidly bought up,
showing that q speedy move is about to
take place.
Between Aqua Greek and Alexandria
| two new batteries, one i've and the other
ten miles above have been erected. The
work upon these has been done during dark
Dights. The intention seems to be the
further erection Of similar defenses along
the Potomac up to point as near to Alex
I sndria as practicable.
He says the rebels feel safe in regard to
the protection Of the Potomac between 40.
] Quis Creek and Matthias Point, and that
this feeling Of security has probably arisen
| from the fact that contracts and goods have
in several instances been carried across
from the counties of Carlos and St. Marys
into Virginia. On the Maryland side in
these two counties signal lights have been
noticed giving the rebels timely warning
of the passage at night Of any Of our sail.
ing vessels.
Ny informant learned before leaving
Manassas that the anticipated advance
will be made simultaneously st Noland'
Ferry, Alexandra, and at point between
Acquia Creek and Matthias Point. The
movement at Alexandria will probably be
3 feint- They have made every attempt to
induce Major General Mcclellan TO attack
their masked batteries, but are now salts.
fed that be win not
My informant vas asked If he ever
hesrd Of q plan to assassinate Major Gene
raj Mcclellan. he said he never did, but
he had heard something about assassinat.
ing President Lincoln, whom they assert tC
be the head and front Of all their trouble
He says they regret that Gen. Mcclellan Is
in command, and express the hope that
Gen. Scott viii assume command. He says
jeff Davis, although not dead, Was quite
feeble, when his death was announced, and
that his health is declining fast
The gentleman from whom the above in
formation is obtained, had high position
in the rebel army, and had the conhdenc,
Of Besuregsrd. BE is native Of Virgins
A Union woman residing at LeWinsVillC
arrived here to-day. She reports that ther,
4 sre not more than 5000 or 10000 rebell
in Fairfax 1t Was their inteL ton to at
tempt crossing somewhere on the uppel
Potomac. They had moved q large portion
Of their army in that vicinity. They hopet
70 cross, and then BY q flank movement Gu
of Banks division. They swear vengeance
against him and his gallant army, sns
seem more anxious for an engagement Will
him than with Gen. Mcclellan.
FROM MISSOURI
JEFFERSON GITT, Sept PIP N.
} A dispatch received here tonight say