The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-26
The March Of the Grand Army.
CON TO Richmond"

CON TO RICHMoND.
| Gen. MCDowELL's movement has thus
far been crowned with success. His force
marched from Alexandria on Tuesday, in
different columns, one of which reached
Fairfax Court House and the other Vienna,
on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, on
Wednesday. The advance had also pene.
trated as far towards Manassas as Centre
vile, where the enemy were in force. This
is about twenty miles from Alexandra, and
ten from Manassas. A battle, it was ex-
pected, would be fought there yesterday.
There can hardly be doubt of decisive
engagement before the close of the week.
We do not doubt the result. Manassas will
be occupied, if deemed necessary, by federal
troops. 1t is on the route-ninety seven
miles dstant-to Richmond, and in the oc-
cupancy OF the United States, cuts Vir-
GINA in two, so far as Railroad communica.
ton is concerned.
| The Herald, of Sunday last, published
the following, from its Washington cores
pondent:
| A thousand of the sturdy lumbermen of
Maine, selected from five regiments from that
| State, and composed of the we'll trained hew-
ers from the Aroostook, the Androscogin and
the Kennebec, supported by squadron of
| regular cavalry, are now in possession of Fair
fax Court House, which they occupied without
| contest They found the roads covered
| with distractions, felled trees, strong abatis
across the roads. and in some instances in
trenchments. The brawny arms of the Maine
| lumbermen, armed with axes. cleared the roads
from these distractions as they went along.
The rebels left the place twenty-fOur hours
before our forces entered. This is forward
march in good earnest.
This was denied the next day, and the ORR
gin of the statement ascribed to an adven-
ture of scouting party. So, there is no
doubt but that Gen. MCDowELL's advance
first occupied Fairfax Court House.
Gen. PATTERSON, at last dates, was on
the point of marching from Martinsburg, to
attack Gen. JOHNSTON, who was encamped
near Winchester, distant about thirty miles.
The Federal force consisted of about 10000
soldiers, including several squadrons of cav
airy and batteries of artillery, among them
one or two of riaed cannon. JOHNsToN's
force is inferior to that of PATTERsoN's, but
is entrenched. If the former does not give
battle, he will undoubtedly fall back on
Manassas, and effect junction with the
main rebel force under BEAUREGARD. Col.
STONE, who marched from Washington, via
the Potomac, effected junction with Gen.
PATTERSON on the Sth inst.
Gen. MCCLELLAN has at his command, in
Western Virginia, a force of probably 3d.
900 soldiers, but they are dispersed over a
great extent of country, portion of the
command being on the Kanawha, under
Gen. HILL, and others at Grafton, under
Gen. Cox At Beverly, and at the scene oil
the recent brilliant engagements, all in close
ccntiguity, there were on the 18th, upwards
of 10000 men, under the personal command
of Gen. MCCLELLAN, assisted by Gems. Ro-
sENCRANTZ and SCHLEIGH.
1t is undoubtedly intended that a juno.
tion shall be made between the forces oil
Gems. MCCLELLAN and PATTERSON, and
probably prior to the attack on JOHNSTON
at Winchester. This may account for the
dilatoriness of PATrERsoN's movements.
Beverly is about one hundred miles from
Winchester, and by rapid marches the joint
armies of MCCLELLAN and PATTERSON
could be united in an attack on the rebel
force at that point by the time MCDOWELL
reaches Manassas. Having defeated JOHN
sroN at Winchester, this western division OF
the grand army, so 900 strong, would have
choice of railroad routes to Richmond :
either by Manassas Junction, or, as is the
most probable route, vla. Stanton, Char
lottesvile or Lynchburg. This latter route
would bring them before Richmond in a
different direction from that of Gen. Nc
DowELL's force.