Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-09-17
TIE EVENING STAR.
New. fr.m the Ssnih.


ExrEAcrs FROM LATE SOUTHERN PAPERS.
We find the following Items in the New Orleans
True Delta Of the sth:
On the Id, President Davis sent the following
reply TO a dispatch from Gov. Pettus, Of Misss-
1--WE shall probably need all the companies
you can furnish this fall !"
OUR ARMY AT MANASSAS.
From letter dated Camp Pickens, near Ma
nassas, Aug ~, !" and published In the Natchcz
Courier, we take the ASnsxed extract: 81. Sass.
Is said that nearly 200 900 Confederate troops
sleep within twenty miles Of this location. be-
lleve this somewhat OF exaggeration, but our
name Is legion certainly. Rations for $50 600 men
IL Is said daily issued from this point At any
rate we have the greatest army ever yet embed
on this continent, and feeling this. we look with
inpltience for onward movemens.n
ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.
We find the following In reference to the srmy
Of the Potomac In the Richmond Dispatch Of
the I'd:
For some days our army under Generals John
ston and Beauregsrd has been getting into close
have had sharp skirmishing, in which there has
been a considerable number killed and wounded
(fewer our side than on that Of the enemy,)
and we have few prisoners. ......
We have gained several important positions
especially one which Is understood TO command
Arlington. The enemy will soon have TO make
mp bis mind 70 Aght . serious battle or retreat
across the Potomac. We may, therefore, look
daily fer stirring events. We know what our
efices snd men can do, and we suppose there 10
nobody here who doubts what the result will be
when the exp ected collision takes place.
The enemy Is very restless and uneasy. The
impression prevails, beyond the Potomac, that
Johnston and Beauregard will move upon Wash
tngton soon; and, in consequence Of 10, the enemy
for the past Few days has been throwing out strong
scouting parties for the purpose Of feeling our
lines and ascertaning where the main body of
our forces posted. He wishes TO provoke us
to q development of our strength In order to as
m W. We araM kalv IN
This policy OF the adversary will fail. Such
officers as Johnson and Beauregard are not likely
to be thrown OF their guard in that way. They
understand the game too well TO suffer the enemy
70 trick them Into showing their hands before
they are ready. / do not say whether they will
move upon Washington or not; nor, indeed,
whether they will do so at all They keep their
own counsels But should they decide TO move
they will do 1t when they get ready, and Dot
before
regret to say there is great deal ofsicknes in
the army.
IMPORTANT MOVEMENTS.
correspondence Of the Atlanta ConfederacY,
dated Manassas, August 2s SAYS:
can only send you a short letter to-day In
deed, there Is but little to write about at this ad
vAnced pos--that is, but little that II would be
proper to communicate. There are collisions
every day or two between scouting parties result
ing sometimess In loss of life aud the capture of
one or more prisoners. An affair of this sort came
OF yesterday, Rear Falls Church, seven miles
northeast Of Fairfax Court House. In which three
or four Confederates were wounded We took
six or seven prisoners, and probably killed and
wounded some OF the enemy but, as he left the
teld, we could not ascertain the extent of his
casualties Colonel Stuart, Of the Virginia Cav
airy, was In command Of our forces The enemy
bad about 400 engaged, or rather present; for II
did not amount TO an engagement. IL Is expected
that a similar, though more important affair
would take place to-day.
The Lynchburg Republican Of the 9TH has the
following:
The intelligence received Yesterday from our
Army OF the Potomac, was of a highly interest
ing character, and indicates that general battle
- close Is at hand, that the Hessians will soon
have to ingloriously abandon ali their posts on
this side Of the river.
On "wednesday morning a considerable number
OF our troops were sent forward for the purpose of
taking possession Of a very important position
known as Halls Hill !" and which was strongly
guarded by the enemy. Arriving in close prox-
Unity to the hill, batteries Were opened on the
enemy, when a considerable conflict ensued, rt-
sultfng In the occupation Of the position by our
troops, and the killing Of upwards Of twenty Of
the HeSsians, while the loss on our side was COM
Paratively slight. The Hessians, IL is said, ran
HE sheep when they became convinced the posi-
ton would have to be abandoned.
"Halls Hill'' Is in Alexandria county, three
lilies In advance OF any post We have heretofore
occupied, and IL Is sad commands the batteries
on Arlington Heights, and Is but a short distance
from the Chain Bridge which crosses the Po-
tomac. II Is owned by a noted character Of
Washington City, and is represented as one of
the loveiest places in that section ofthe country
Several other important points below AMMAN
dale, In the direction Of Alexandria, have also
been possessed by our troops-the Hessfaps
making tracks ana but slig BIT show Of resist
anee on the approach Of our forces.