Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-14
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
ANOTHER EXCITEMENT

general alarm or rather turnout In all the camps
on the other side Of the river II was occasioned
by news Of forward movement on the part Of
body of the enemy. variously estimated at from
IS 600 to 25 900 men, then apparentto our plckets
These troops were in motion from Fairfax Court
House and Flint i'll the road to the village OF
Falls Church.
They were preceded by bodies Of Infantry, cav.
airy and artillery, in parties Of few hundreds
only, and who attacked and drove In our pIckets
to Mount Olvet meeting. house, where the
advance Of them were reinforced From the
troops about our works in that vicinity, they
captured three members Of the Second Maine
Regiment Zone Of them lieutsnant), who were
forced to take refuge In house, so sudden
was the desh at them while on picket duty.
They also burned the houses Of Basil Hall, Mr..
Sweet, Samuel Birch, Mary Hall, and Il is said OF
Mr. Gilbert Vanderwerken, ere retiring, which
they did on perceiving that the advance of our
pickets that had been driven in were reinforced
with infantry and artillery sufficient to sweep the
maurading and incendlary party or parties If not
quickly falling back.
1t was believed last night that they had burned
the entire village Of Falls Church, and many
houses between that point and our camps, inclu-
ding the buildings at and around Baile:'s Gross
to-day, however.
Ii Is certain that after Proceeding some distance
in the direction of Falls Church, the heavy ad-
vancing force of the enemy seemed to change Its
mind and retire again. Many here believe these
movements to indicate real attempt TO cross the
river above.
UNION PRISONERS ESCAPED.
Yesterday evening ,Quartermaster C. Murphy,
3sth New York; Lieut.. w. n. Raynor, LIST Ohio !;
and Capt. Hurd, I'd Kentucky, reached this city,
In eight days from Richmond They were made
prisoners at the battle Of Bull Run, and escaped
most ingeniously How, we may not explain,
least thereby preventing others from making their
escape in the same way. They brought valuable
information to this point. They wandered through
the woods, had many narrow escapes of recapture,
and struck the Potomac about eight miles below
Washington, and crossed 1t in skf. They suf-
fered severely upon the trip, though arriving in
good health.
MILITARY APPOINTMENT.
Sergeant Major Francis A. Walker, Of the 18th
Massachusetts Volunteers, has been appointed an
Assistant Adjutant General of Volunteers, with
the rank Of Captain, 10 be attached to the staff of
B,igadier General Conch.
THE POSITIONS OCCUPIED By FLOYD Ard RosRcRANs
IN "EsTEHN VIRGINIA.
We are indebted to Mr. Ellet civil enoineer
for the following account Of the position occupied
by Floyd before and after his defeat by General
Rosecrans on the 10th instant. Mr.. Ellet has
made extensive surveys and explorations Of the
whole region occupied by the contendIng armies
nov on the Kanawha and its tributaries
Before the battle, FLOYD had established hi,
camp near the brink Of prscipics, on the north
ali de Of tha Garlat NIT
wood-covered country, along which Rosecrans
approached to attack him.
On the south side Of the Gauley, directly oppo.
site the site of Floyds camp, is the mouth of the
Meadow river, one of the principal tributaries o.
the Gauley.
Both the Meadow and GauIey rivers. at thi,
point, and for MANY miles above and below it.
flow with great rapidity, through deep chasms,
walled In by precipices of rock rising not less
than five hundred feet, and possibly much hi her
above the rivers
In the rear OF Floyd's position, and his only
means Of escape, is very narrow and very steep
road, which has been worked down the cliff TO the
level Of the Gauley. And it is along this narrow
road, since there 10 no other that bis retreat must
have been Effected the night following the attack
Gauley river Is crossed by ferry. known I'm this
region as Carnifex's Ferry; but II seems tina,
Floyd had managed to construct q Temporary
bridge over the torrent, Just below the ferry by
which he secured his retreat
The road on the south side OF the Gaulev nm
which the retiring army assembled is on the west
side Of the Meadow river-very steep and narrow
and so situated that handful Of men, with a few
guns, could successfully dispute the passage OF
the river by very strong force
The probability Is, that after crossing the rive,
and ascending 10 the level of the plain, between
the chasm of Meadow river on the east and that Of
the Gauiey on the north, Floyd took up another
defensive position; for, If he Is able to make a
stand anywhere in Western Virginia, be can
make 1t just there. He has an open country, and
good road behind him, and deep gorge with
violent torrent running through 1t, between him
and his pursuers, which he can defend from rnany
commanding points.
His position can possibly be turned by detour
up the Oauleyi but that can only be after very
dimcult and laborious march, and after crossing
both the deep ravlnes Of the Gauley and Meadow
rivers. 1t cannot be carried In front, IL defended
with any spirit or skill
The site first selected by FIoyd to receive the
attack OF Rosecrans, shows a total incapacity for
command. IL he had been defeated there his
defeat would have been utterly disastrous. II is
probable that he found this out during the action
and became over-anxious, as soon as the darkness
favored his escape, to put the deep chasm of the
Oauley between him and the eager regiments on
his track
The position which he reached as soon IN he
crossed the Gauley Is, however, an exceedingly
strong one. 1t places him, moreover, within a
days march, over good road, Of the position
supposed to be occupied by w ise in front of zen.
Cox, on the east bank Of New River, so that a
junction Of these two forces may be anticip ated
Assuming that his command is not too much
demoralized, 1t would be even possible for FIoyd,
If be knows the country well, and Is aware of the
military advantages Of his position, to leave a
regiment to dispute the passage of Rosecrans over
the Gauley, and by forced march Of only about
TWO days, cross to the west side of New Rive,
and throw himself on the flank and rear OF Cox,s
command at the Falls of the Great Kanawha.
Cox's position, at the conf uence of the Caulev
and New River, is very liable to be turned by an
enemy occupying the road on the west side of the
New River cliffs.
SUGGESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE DRESS Ann Rorrp
MENTs OF OUR SOLDIERS
Editor of the Star ADear Sir: VIII vop r,h
lish In your valuable paper the following sugge.
tn he nj