The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-09-12

Captain Cresto attempted to escape after the
hriog put was caught His arms were taken from
MN and he was lodged in the Flushing Jail. The
men were marched back to the camp, but we do
not learn that any Of them were put under arrest.
/ From Special Cor Of the " y. Herald
| NV The Great Battle.
| " WASHINGTON, Sept. 10 From information re-
| ceiVed to day from most reliable source the en-
lire confederate army bad advanced in great force
as lar as taira Court House, and made that place
lis headquarters, the left wing extending up the
river as far as Great Falls, and the right resting in
'front.' OF alexandria, The main body is upon the
ieit indicating an intention to carry out the pro-
Er&mme previously mentioned, to attempt to cross
the river at some point above the CITY,
Inc information derived from the sources alluded
to IS, that the Confederate generals have no inten
tion ot attacking cur centre. They hope to cross
the Potomac, orerrun Maryland and obtain posses
sion Oh MashlngtHn 1t is very evident that if the
Information derived from this source is correct
great battle will soon be fought; and from the verv
nature OF things 1t being for the possession of the
national capital, it will be a severe STRUGGLE snch
as a modern history has not yet recorded. Look out
ior the battle of the Potomac.
The enemy have ceased to relv uno, tba onoo
ooasted individual superiority of Southern men
ana now resort to members, and hope by an over
mheiminS force, to secure the coveted success
That the strength of the Confederate amy has
neen greatly underrated by the people of ths lova
States, and even by prominent public men here
there can now bo little doubt Ii was stated sevc
raj DAYS ago. that reliable information had been
motomac was between $50, 900 to 300 600 stronr
TINS statement has been very recently corroborated
ny number of gentlemen of high reputation in
hehtucky, who have returned from visits to tho
seat OF war in Virginia within few days. They
all agree in the information that the C0nfaderate
army OF the Potomac is over two hundred and fifty
thousand in number.
Ihat an attack is imminent is apparent from va
rlous corroboratlDg circumstance Among others
Is the sudden preparations for the departure of la
u!eS OF known Confederate sympathies and associ.
atoms, who have perhaps better opportunities than
other people to obtain correct information of the
intentions of the Confederaes and who are getting
ready to leave without delay, under apprehepsions
OF an immediate attack upon the cty with such
force and such prospects of success as 10 render
dangerous to remain here even twenty-four hours
longer.
Three Confederate prisoners were CAPTURED bv
our plckets to-day. They say they never heard of
the death of jeff. Davis; that there is not much
sickness In the Confederate army; that they are
very strong, have plenty of bread aud meat and
confirm the report that the entire army has moved
forward from Manassas to Fairfax Court House.
ana that ten. Johnston and Gen. Beaurerard baye
estab heir headquarters there. They do not
deuy that tits the intention of the Conederates to
obtain possession of Washington by crossing the
Potomac abo7e this CITY at dav 10 on r,y os nroo
ticable.
Reconnaissance and Slxirmish
Brigadler General Smith and Lieutenant O Orlando
M. Poe, of General McClelan's staff, with two
companies of the Second Vermont Volunteers a
section ot the United States Light Battery under
the command of Captain Griffin, made an import
ant reconnaissance to-day near Falrs Church On
approaching the latter place they were met with
heavy tusilade of musketery. The artillery was
brought to bear the Confederates which had
dne IN effect to silence their fire and scatter them,
The object of the reconnaissance being effected
the party returned.
Gen Buffers New ExDeditiOn
General Butler arrived this morning, and has
Deen very busy all day engaged in interview with
the Secretary of War, General Scott and Secretsrv
Chase. He will make an early departure to enter
upon new expedition.
Affairs on the Potomac
- rqmor was circulated here to-day, that the
Goniedarate steamer George Page had escaped
from Aauia creek, and captured a number of
6arges, laden with provisions for the Potomac
fleet. BY the arrival of the steamer State of
Maine, from Boston, this morning, the rumor is
aScertalned to be entirely without foundation
Everything is quiet along the whole length Of the
Potomac, and the Page is still bIockaded in Aouia
creek by our fotilla. The State of Maine brought
tour hu "dred seamen, in charge of Lieut.. Nichols,
from the receiving ship Ohio, to man some of the
naval batteries of the Potomac.
Departure of Thirteen Confederate Regi-
mentS.
Yesterday detachment from Gen. Smiths br-
gade, winch occupies the advance across the Chain
Brlgde, attacked a picke: guard of the enemy
killing two and woundng several Others From
one OF the wounded men taken prisoner, it was as
certalned that since the affair at Hatteras Inlet
OF the Potomac and gone home.
Sudden Movements of the Enemy
Inc movements of the COntederates on the Upper
Potomac within the last forty-eight hours have
elected much speculation. Their pickets having
been withdrawn yesterday, it ascertained that
the whole body recently in that vicinity had moved
OF. From the information obtained, it is presumed
that the movement was for the purpose of concen.
trstlDg ali the available force in the neighborhood
OF the Chain Bridge They have suddenly retired
from all the points above.
Confederate Preparations Along the Lower
Mississippi
A correspondent Of the London Teleqropb, writ.
ing from Memphis, says:
"All along the line from Richmond to this place
distance of 67S miles, camps are dotted down
about every ten miles. At Greenvle, Tennessee
the residence of Senator johnson, now in Congress
OF the United States, and where the Union element
Is still sleeping, are biv0uacked 5000 men. At
Knoxville, where the celebrated Parson Brownlnw
resides (Lincon many are 5000 men; at Juka 5000;
Corinth 5000; Junction 1000. On the railway
between Nashville and Louisville. near the State
lines, are two encampments of 5000 each; in and
about Memphis 5,000 Humboldt 900; Trenton
5000; Union city II, 900; Randolph on the Misss-
sippi river, 600; Fort Pillow 800; Fort Harris
1000. On the Tennessee line of the Memphis and
Louisville Railways are 5000 Kentuckians, and
5000 at Cumberland Gap, to intercept johnson,
who Is organizing force to East Tennessee,
| he says, from military despotism.
THUS you see that over 60, 900 men are concen-
trated in Tennessee. This army is for the defence
| OF the Mississippi and for the assistance of Ken
| lucky when she makes move, and also for aiding
| Missouri.
| "Memphis has home guard of 1000 Itisnro
tected on the evee by two water batteries, mount
ing Y cannon, caibro from 81 to S4-pounders, and
| one 90 the hill of pieces, composed of mortars
| bowizers and an 81 FOUNDER. Fort Harris, four
miles above, commands the river, and has six pieces
| of weighty calbre. Randolph has two Qualifications
and third under construction, mounting in all "a
pieces OF cannon, weighty guns, among them three
OF the celebrated Columbiads Ga Founders, with
| any quantity OF field pieces, m0rtars, &c. Here
| they have thrown an immense chain across the
river, attached to boats which would hold in check
any guub0ats Discerning until they could be de.
stroved from the forts
| Fort Pillow is six miles above Randolph and
| mounts pieces-fr0m "a to 64-pounders. These
! deiences formidable, being situated en- the
bluffs stardng so feet above the river. Above this
point, at New Madrid Mo-, a fOrtifcati0n is under
construction to mount twelve pieces, and here are
also 1000 men. Hopevile, Arkansas, opposite
| Memphis, has a battery OF six guns and 500
men. All these Notifications SO constructed at
nihe respective points as to place enemy descend
fng, within from 200 to 800 yards of the guns, and
I they may rake the river up and down for miles"
Fight at Shelbina, MO.-DisgracefuI Conduct
| of General HurIbut.
A correspondent of the st. Louis Democrat
writing from Macon, Mo-, on the 5th, says:
Yesterday morning, the 4th inst, the Confeder.
ates made a display at Shelbina twentv-three
and one or two companies of the Iowa Sd, in all
some 600 strong, commanded by Colonel Williams.
| The C0ntederates numbered $500, commanded by
| Martin +. Green with two pieces of artillery
| Some twenty-five shots fired at our men, who
| waiting for reinforcemeuts from Hurlout.
| After standing the fire for two hours, our troops
retreated on board the and came to this place
| with wounded in the foot with cannon
| bali; he a Captain in the I'd Kansas They
| lost some horses, mules, wagons knapsacks, blank
cts, &c. At this place they found Gen. Hurlbut
| with 500 or 600 men, who had telegraphed then
| early in the engagement TO hold their ground on
hour and half; that he would be to their relief
The General had his men all aboard the train at
o'clock, A. NJ, at Brookfeld, and made the rapid
run of forty miles in eight hours, reaching thi
place at 4 P. NJ, when he stopped the train anc
found some secession whiskey, imbibed freely, a
usual, and stayed till the boys got in from Shel
bina.
} The Republican says:
1t is unpleasant to state, Gen. Hurlbut's condition
was such that he was unable to stand, and Coione
Williams ordered him under arrest.
Movements of the Comfedera' EFFECT o
Gen Fremont's Proclamation.
RoLLA, Mo-, Sept. 9.-Eight prisoners were sen
to st. Louis this morning. They were captured il
, skirmish between the Home Guard and the Cor
federates at Douglas Prairie, in Gasconda county
Two of the Confederates were killed, and i
another skrmish the same day ten
the Confederates were killed. and thirty two horse
captured st another place Cuba. Two scout
were taken with Provost Marshal McKinstry'
t passes in their pockets.
Advices from Springfield to Friday are to tn
effect that battle had been fought betwee
Montgomery and Rains up to Tuesday last.
t Ben. McCulioch was reported to be at For
B. Smith, and his troops route for Fort Wa
= ker, in Arkansas. Nothing dRfnite was known
= = his future movements, but it supposed that hi
force would remain near the line, ready to act
couceTt with the Missouri troops as occasion migl