Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-10-19
WEEKLY TELEGRAPH.
AS sHTAB BU A,
Saturday Morning, October ig,iss


The army in front OF Washington continues I
its, cau.ious but certain system Of advances
The right wing has worked nOrthward and west.
ward until il holds the river front as far as Great
Falls Lewinsville, which is occupied by Gen,
Smith, is point about miles west Of Chain |
Bridge, aud the same distance south from
Great Falls. Miners Hin two miles in advance
Of Townsville. Is Immediately upon the Leesburg
turnpike and not over two miles east Of Vienna
On the south, Heinlzelman's outposts extend to
Mount Vernon. Directly in the center, at Up
tons Hill, the 2lst New York is stationed.
Thus the straight line held by our troops last
week from Great Falls to Mount Vernon, is
now, detected ontwards by the advance from
Lewinsville and the position where fight
ing Is most likely TO occur.
The enemy lies in force at Fairfax station,
disecty IN front Of our center, but he has also
considerable body oftroops at Leesburg, intend
ed to oppose the crossing Of the Potomac by
Gen. Banks. This force is now menaced by
McClelen, and il must very soon fall back on
the main body or be ent of. The principal
communication between Fairfax and Leesburp
is via the Leesburg turnpike, already contrOll
ed by our forces at Miners Hill But branch
road leaves the pike little north of Miners
Hill, and passes westward through Vienna
The best maps danOt show any available road
west Of that, and should Smiths brigade be
pushed forward TO Vienna, as we hourly expect
to hear the rebel force at Leesburg will be in
abad corner, and must fight its way through to
the main body. We shall not be surprised to,
hear at any moment of an action near Vienna
unless the rebels have already left Leesburg for
Fairfax.
In any event the obstacles to the crossing of
the upper Potomac by Banks are now pretty
nearly obviated, and the great bulk of his COM
mand can soon join Nc Clellan in pressing
down upon the enemy. AT present, if fight
comes, it must be fair one, on pretty nearly
equal terms so far as the selection of ground is
concerned. The country iH front Of Lewins-
vile is quite level, and affords few chances for
the rebels favorite mode Of warfare. But
battle, even at Fairfax, is hardly to be expect
ed, although the following up of our troops and
attacking them wherever found outside of their
works, is well calculated to provoke it. The
young General has spent much Of his time for
more than week 10 front of his army. He
is advancing slowly, and giving the enemy am
pie opportunity to open the ball at pleasure.
The most casual aud unmilitary observer can
recognize the solidity and certainty of McClell-
ems policy. 1t does not permit the possibility
Of actual defeat it accuStoms bis inexperienced
troops to the presence of danger and stimu-
lates their courage by the absence of all failures
and the promise of speedy trump. Another
day or two will see the enemy withdrawn from
or driven out Of the region Of the Upper Po-
tomac, and then it will be but the work of
few weeks to reopen the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and establish free communications
with Rosencranz in Western Virginia. And
this grand advantage can be secured without
delaying the march on Richmond