The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-10-04
FROM THE SEAT OF WAR.
Condensed by the Salem Gazette.
WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.

WASHINGTON AND VICINITY.
The rebel forces have evacuated Munsons
Hill and Others Of their advance posts in front
Of Washington, and these positions have been
occupied by the Federal troops. While on
the march from Chain Bridge, above Wash.
ington, towards Falls Church, Philadel'
phia regiment by mistake fred into another
body Of Union troops, killing and wounding
a considerable number. Some deplorable e1-
cesses are reported to have been committed
by the troops. in their advanceto occupy the
deserted outposts Of the rebels.
The works of the enemy at the place they
have abandoned were in military point oil
view almos. worthless, being nothing more
than rifle pits Of very common construction.
The positions on Murray and Munson' q Hills
Afforded the rebels an unobstructed view oil
all our Notifications and other dcfences.-
The appearance of the ground deserted by
them indicated that they were deficient in
those arrangements which serve to make
camp life comfortable, having no tents. but
merely shelters rudely constructed. There
were no signs to show that they had ever
mounted any guns. Our troops are now 80
employed as to show that they do not mere.
~ intend temporarily to occupy their present
position. :, a.,
Various spcculations are rife as to the
whereabouts of the rebel army, as no trace
of them can be discovered in large force, theil
usual pickcts of infantry and cavalry being
discernible at different points, lowering us II
for the purpose Of observation. The most
probable theory is from what can be gather
cd, the rebels are making feints of retreat
Us they did previous to the battle OF Bull Run
with view Of drawing our troops into am
buscades.
Aspccial dispatch from Washington to the
Boston Journal says: ar.l
Everything in this vicinity indicates thai
the present will be week Of military activ
ity. A large number of troops who wert
quartcrcd here disappeared during Sunday
night. E ."
Special dispatches from Washington state
that our troops are in fine spirits. Large bod
les of our troops occupy Munson's and othei
hills, and field works are being thrown up.
The advance of our army Is slow and eau
tious. 1t is believed that the rebels are con-
centrating between Aqua Greek and Manas
sas, with their right wing on the Potomac.
A messenger from Chain Bridge states thai
tho rebels are in strong force at Lcesburg
and their entire army Is divided, one division
above, another below Washington. Doubt
full. H4....
Tho gunboat Yankee yesterday rcconnoit
cred Freestone Point, and found the batteries
there deserted.
TIE POTOMAC.
The rebels despairing of cfIecting anything
on the Upper Potomac, where the impossible
ity of crossing into Maryland is sufficiently
demonstrated, seem lately to have turned
their attention moro especially to the Lower
Potomac, where they perhaps hope to b
more fortunate in their operations. There II
little doubt, from information received, thai
they now have chain of strong battere,
between Freestone Point and Aqua Creek
and perhaps extending still further along the
river bank. These batteries--or most Of
them-arc at present concealed by the woods
skirting the river. Nothing was known Of
the one Mt Freestone Point until vessels pass
ing were fred upon; but since its location
has been discovered, II is found to be quite a
formidable one, and now Haunts the rebel
flag prominently. The number OF rebel
troops in the vicinity is not known, but II
has been reliably ascertained that they are be-
tween Occoquan and Aqua Creek in consid'
erabe iorce-sufhcicnt, indeed, to warrant
the supposition that they mediate an attempt
to cross the river. Yesterdays telegram
state that the steam transport Albany. al
New York from Washington, reports that she
was detained at Indian Head by the Potomac
hotilla to await darkness to pass the rebel
battery at Cockpit Point, ON the Virginia
shore, which fires into all passing vessels.
MISSOURI.
1t should be remembered that there are 9
Generals in Missouri. who answer to the name
of Price one is Gen Thomas l.. Price, DO.
longing to tho Union army, whose bcadquar-
tiers are now in Jefferson City and the other
is Gen. Sterling Price, Of the rebel forces,
who commanded tho army which captured
Lexington. The latter has published an OFF,
cial report of the battle Of Lexington, OF
which the following are the closing para.
graphs:
sour entire loss in this series of engage
ucnts amounts to 25 killed and ~ wounded.
The encmy's loss was much greater. Visible
fruits of this almost boodless victory are
great. There are about $500 prisoners among
whom are Coils. Mulligau Marshall, Peabody,
Whittigroyer, Mai. Van Horn, and ! Ii other
commissioned officers, pieces OF artillery D
mortars, over 80, 900 stand Of infantry arms,
a large number Of sibrcs, about $50 horses,
many sets of cavalry equipments, wagons.
teams, ammunition, more than SlOO,OOO
worth OF commissary storesand u large amount
Of property.
In addition to this obtained tho restora-
ton of the great seal Of the State and the
public records which had been stolen from
their proper custodian, and about 5000, 900
In money in which the. bank OF this place
had been robbed and which have caused TO
DO returned to it." r.r H-s
Col. Vaugan, prominent citizen Of Lex
ington, who witnessed the entire battle and
who was at one time prisoner Of the rebels,
asserts positively that fully five hundred OF
Prices army were killed. The money men
TONED by Price was placed in Mulligan's
hands for safe keeping. fr
The rebels are greatly encouraged, and
declare that St. Louis is as good as in their
ID u