The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1861-11-23
War News of the Week.
Ii AND ABOUT WAsHINGToS.

IN AND ABOUT w ASHiNtItcS-
The great event of the week, that has
ruffied the usual quietness at Washington,
has been the arrest of Mason and Slidell.
We give the particulars in another column
There is no doubt but our government will
stand up fully to the act. even if II causes
q war with England This, however, Is
NOT regarded as probable, the case being
too clear in our favor The stories that
Lord Lyon, the British Minister, had ex
pressed himself almost insolently on the
subject, assuming that our government
would back down of course, are contra
dicted The foreign ministers at Wash
inglop generally appear to concede the
point that England will have no right to
complain.
There are no army movements Of in-
portance to report about Washington. On
the 18th foraging party from General
Wadsworth's division went out beyond
Falls Church and gathered alarge lot OF
corn &c. On their way back, six wagons
halted in the road near the church, the
men laying down their arms and going to
. private house to get something to eat.
While there, a party Oh secession cavalry
got between their arms and the house,
took the wagons, and IL of the men pri-
scners The others-sorne 20-escaped
The movements of Gen. Kelly, eastward
from Romney, has alarmed the rebels for
the safety of Winchester, and they have
been moving large forces in that direction
from Centreville The main body Of the
rebel army is still at Centreville. The be-
lief, at latest accounts, was that large
portion of their forces on the lower Poto-
mac had been Withdrawn, leaving only
their pickets and sufficient men to man
their batteries. 1t is not believed, how
ever, that any portion of the rebel forces
in front of Washington, beyond few
South Carolina regiments, have been sent
south in consequence of the naval opera
tions at Beaufort Beauregard is certainly
still at Centreville.
There are no positive indications of a
forward movement on the part Of McClel
Ian, beyond an effort to open the navi ga
ton of the Potomac. This, however, is
fully determined on. 1t will be a COM
bined operation by land and water, and in
furtherance Of it, Heintzelman's division
is gradually feeling its way down the
river, his pickets now reaching Acotink
Creek Still, there is no preparation for
winter quarter, and the higher officers
laugh at the idea of wintering near Wash
lngton 1t is also noted that none but the
newer and inferior regiments are allowed
to leave Washington among the expedi
tionery forces.
On Wednesday there was an immense
military review near Balls Cross Roads.
Gen. Mcclellan and his full staff were out,
the President and Cabinet, foreign lega-
tons, &c. Gen. Mcclellan was escored 3y
body Of cavalry miles long, and as he
passed up the line was saluted by 20 bat
ries. $4,000 infantry passed in review be-
fore him. and received the highest enco-
miums for their appearance.
1t is announced that before the meet
ing Of Congress the full quota of 100000
men authorized by the extra session will
be in the field.
Ex-senator Gwin and Calhoun Beni,am,
of California, noted secessionists. arrested
by Gen. Summer at Panama on his way
home from California, have been sent to
Fort Warren