Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-05-31
TuE wAR

mOTS VI wv
gives rise to the most extravagant reports, anu
therefore the press whose highest ambition 1t
ebould be to lay before its readers an impartial
and truthful epitone of the news OF the day.
finds itself sadly puzzled. This being the case,
vc have to omit much that reaches US, ana
often find ourselves. unable to discriminate be
t,veen truth and fiction. We suhjoin such
notters of interest as We deem worthy OF re-
cord The following items are copied from the
washington "Star" of Saturday afternoon:
W.surscrox, May 25.-An account just re-
co;ved from Virginia, which seems to oe truth
FIJI. saws the cause OF the alarm was that inc
Federal picket guard at Little Falls Churcn'
neor Arlington, were attacked and driven IN
BY the seccssionists.
The Fedora! troops rallied and the SECESSION
lists were soon put TO flight
The 69th New York regiment LETT their "orHs
a. the entrenchment, and are now drawn up IN
line on the brow OF the hill.
the troops which hastily left the CITY inns
afternoon are hating within q mile OF the CITY
The artillery and cavalry passed on IN the
direction of Alexandria.
The bridges on the Leesburg Railroad IN
Virginia have been destroyed by the govern,
mcnt forces, in order to prevent the march OF
the Southern forces from llarpcr's Ferry IN the
direction of Washington. This line of railway
communication connects the cities OF Leesourg
md Alexandria, running in q no:th.weSterly
direction along the Northern boundary OF Fir-
ginis 1t is the direct line between liarper's
Ferry and Alexandria,
D,..t, 1rou, 4tayup6rin To IinV state thai
everything is quiet there. 1t is expected that
the Government forco will soon advance into
the interior Of Virginia by way Of the Orange
and Alexandria Railroad, Which is uow held
by our troops.
Alexandria and Arlington Heights gre Row
so thoroughly fortified as TO be entirely safe
against any attack.
Two monster Columbiads are 10 be sent from
this city to Fortress Monroe.
The War Department hal taken Official inca
surcs to improve the conuIissariat of the army
and intends that the troops shall have no fur.
ther cause Of compliant Oh that score.
AFFAIRS on Tu2 POTOMAC.
The Washington Sunday Chronicle has the
following:
The commander Of the Mount Vernon re.
ports that n telegraph, by nlgs, has been es'
iablished from the mouth Of the Rappahannock
river 10 Fredericksburg, o distance OF 100
miles. The river is fortified at Bolas rocks, 40
miles up, and again TO miles up. The steamer
Pocahontas is blockading the mouth of the
river. On shore every man is reported Il
fighting secessionist, and no Union man is safe
in the vicinity. The volunteers cf Rappahar-
mock county were Ill ordered to DC mustered
into service on Wednesday,.
At Aqua creek q battery has been esla.
blished, consisting of guns and howilzers,
brought down from Fredericksburg. The CON-
mandcr OF the Mount Vernon went within
three quarters of a mile Of the enemy, but the
guns Of the battery did not open fire, and de-
clining himself to FIRE the first gun, he returned
and went on his course.
The steamer Page, seized at Alexandria by
secessionisls, lies under the guns at the battery
at Aqua creek.
LATER FROM OLD POINT COMFORT.
The steamer Adelaide, Capt. Cannon, reach.
ed her wharf Saturday morning from Old Point
Comfort. Every thing. appeared to be perfect.
ly quiet in that vicinity. 4 steamer arrived
on Friday from New York, having on board
about six hunered troops frem Troy, n. Y.
Commodore S,ringham had released five
schooners bound to Baltimore ard held by the
blockading squadron. Two Of them ran ashore
on Hampton bar, and The tug Live Yankee was
sent to haul them of, but failed They got of,
however, on the flood tide, and proceeded on
their course.
There was no further talk Of an attempt to
march against Norfolk without reinforcement
to nuke an army Of twelve thousand men.
General Butler, with 4 force of one thousand
men, moved towards Ham ptcn on Frida", but
did not ehtuF he village, rs i, vas thought sd
visab!e for !,i,u net !" do -.
The steamer Miairsn;a had ~ tr TIE coast,
and il was said ii;Ai her i',t!rltiom T.s eli the
harb.r "f Charleston.
Col. Van Ness, PATtnast"r Of IA. Federal
army, calnr ny on the Adelaide. Inc!e seem
ed no disposition 1T Fortress Mcnrce 10 march
against the Virginia forces, who are said to be
very strong, and ready fsr 81 attack from any
poin, leading to Norfolk.
sTILL LATER.
The Georgianna, Captain pierson, reach
cd her wharf yesterterday morning from Old
Point. On Friday night the Eirginians burn
ed the Hampton bridge, thus cutting of the
communication between Fortress Monroe and
Hampton.
Gen. Butler, with about two thousand men,
had encanped on the farm of Col. Segar, and
he was said 10 DO preparing for an offensive
movement.
On Saturday there were two arrivals Of
troops from The North at Fortress Monroe-on
aggregate Of about two thousand men.
No further demonstration had been made
against Sewell's point, the ratification on
which is said to be completed.
The passengers by the Gcorgianlia were not
permitted to land, and they returned on her 10
ibis city. The blockade will nov be rigldiy
enforced against all vessels. There will be no
boat up FROM Old Point this morning, and it is
doubtful! if one will be sent down this after
noon.
TIE CoMMASpER AT HAMPERS FERRY.
Gen. Johnston, (late Col. Johnston, C.. S.
Al who commands the Southern troops at
Harper's Ferry, resigned in California, April
18th. He is a Kentuckian by birth, born 1909,
but all his interests are in Texas. lie gradua-
ted at West Point in 1926 as Lieutenant in the
9th infantry. He served in the Black Hawk
war, and then in 1896 he emisrated to Texas.
He entered the Texan army MS q private SOL
der and was soon promoted to succeed Gen.
Felix Houston in the chief command, which
led to o duel between them, and Gen. Johnston
was wounded. In $40 he retired from Office
he had been senior Brigadicr General and
Secretary Of War-and settled on his plsn,a-
ton.
In ls4s, at the request Of Gen. Taylor, he
took command Of n volunteer Texan rifle re-
eirnent, and served in that capacity for six
months. AS acting Inspector General to Gen.
Butler ut the siege Of Monterey, he received
the thanks of bis commander. In lS49, Pre-
sideut Taylor appointed him Postmaster. In
1857 he was given the command Of the Uni
ted States forces sent to teach the Mormons
manners. lie commanded the Utah Military
District, and on the death Of Gen. Clarke, US.
snrned the command Of the Department Of the
Pacific.
SEIZURE OF PRIZE VESSELS.
III. United States District Attorney in New
York has received communications from the
fag oficcT Of the hlockadiug squadron, dated