Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-10-14
OUR MILITARY BUDGET.
THE SITUATION.


regards force, consisting Of at least thre. reyi-
Dens In sight, made their appearance near Minors
Hill, a considerable eminsncs about two miles
from Lewinsville, in the direction Of Falls Church
Our pickets bad been driven in from that point
on the night before, and such demonstrations had
been discovered Tin the way Of increased picket
gusrds, &c.) In that vicinity In the of the
tsatufdayS) forenoon, AZ caused dispatches to be
sent he:e that induced Gen. Mcclellan to hasten
over there somewhat earlier In the day than usual
These demonstrations were the discovery by
scouts from the respective commands Of Gen
Smith and Gen. Fitz John Porter, Of signs Of
three or four strong bodies CT the enemy, stretch
Ing along line mostly concealed by woods, only
four miles distant from our advanced entrench-
nents, from Lewinsville on the right to nearly
opposite Munson's Hill on the left The body
seen about Minors and Prospect Hill were por-
lion Of this force thrown further forward than the
rest. portion OF this force was cavalry, and
another portion artillery, consisting Of battery
OF six heavy pieces that had evidently been
wheeled Into position as though about to open
upon the Union forces opposite them. 1t was
however plain, from the efforts OF the enemy to
hide themselves as much as possible, that no at
tack Was designed by Beauregard that afternoon,
while me signs indicated that he might venture
Prince de Joinville, by-ths-bye, remained Sat-
urday night over the river with the staff Of Gen
Mcclellan, at Smoot's house, a point between
Lewinsville and Prospect Hill
We hear that Gen. Mcclellan at 2 a. m yester-
day morning tslegraPhed to the President that b.
seemed disposed to open the ball In few hours,
and that ne (McC was entirely prepared to defeat
him, in whatever force he might essay the ex-
pertinent.
To that end our whole army on the other side
Of the river laid upon their arms on Saturday
night, ready to spring into line at the rst tap Of
the lorz roll.
At3a m various columns of troops on this side
of the river were pat In notion, among them were
some dfty pieces Of artillery, and perhaps four
thousand cavalry All thsse reserves proceeded
across the river TO position from which they
could instantly move In any direction to the i'm
mediate front line, wherever the exigencies of
the anticipated engagement might possibly re-
quire them.
BY daybreak, however, the different detach-
ments Of Beeuregard, previously seen In front Of
cur lines, had disappeared. 1t soon became evil
dent that they had retired from close juItspo
sluon to any part of our position.
Orders were then sent to our artillery and cav.
airy reserves to return to the several positions on
hours before. Before noon Yesterday they retraced
their steps and were again quietly In camp.
IL 10 evident that Beauregard's movement of the
day before was a mere Reconnaissance in some
force, to ascertain our precise position on the
recent extension Of our front line. It, however,
made extensive aud prompt movements Of our
whole army necessary, al precaution, which
were executed In a manner calculated to give our
general ofacers increased confidence In their
troops.
For thirty six hours the city has been full Of the
widest imaginable rumors of battles, movements
&c; the ground for them being simply the cir
cumstances We narrate above.
Our belief 10 that at six a. m to-day, body OF
our troops, accompanied by some six hundred
sappes and miners, proceeded to lay Minors hill
bare with the Ak, that by ightfal II will have
ceased 10 afford opportunities for concealed recon.
noissances Of our positions on the right, or for
possible attack upon those positions from the
cover Of dense woods.
In the course Of the day yesterday a commence.
ment was made in the work Of clearing Minor,
hill Of possible future cover for an attac king force
BY the time we go to press to-day 10 will hav.
been finished, and an U MON force so posted upor
II hat no more Of the enemy's scouts will ventur,
upon II. Its occupation by Gen. Mcclellan, al
ment Of his advance of perhaps two miles. A
one time yesterday forenoon Generals Mcclellan
Barry, Stonemsn, Fitz John Porter, Butterfeld
and Morell-six general offcers-wete together or
that hill
HELD IN CUSTODY
The man Byrd who net long since deserted hi,
post as auditor Of railroad accounts for the W al
Department, and vamosed to Richmond, continue,
In h. helA In ia.
deserves bis punishment for his treachery to hi,
country.
Most Of our fellow. citizens Of the Federal Me
tropolis will remem Der a man named Martin. from
Mississippi, who, whilom, was Secretary Jacot
ThOmpson's right hand man in affairs Of the In
terror Department. He is known to the country
at large e the person sent by Secretary Thomp.
son 70 Kansas in the times of the candle DO,
troubles there, TO report on the then existing con-
dillon OF things in the Territory He took the
oath OF cnhce as clerk in the Interior Department
SINCE the advent Of the present administration 10
power, nut was subsequently, removed from hI,
cefkshiP Shortly after that occurred, he went
10 hlchmond, Intending, a. be alleged to take
PaH win Jen Davis L. Co. On his arrival there
however, he was arrested and thrown into prison
on account OF having taken the oath Of Office here
Al the Subsequent efforts of his friends 20 efY.c
his release are said TO have been In vain; Dayi,
snfhatically refusing to lis'en to the proposition
NOT so.
As We 60 70 press to-day a story floats over the
city, saying that on Saturday Gen. Banks threw
nnsen thousand and yesterday eleven thousand
troops over the river. They were all linen In
oscfram." He made no movement to cross the
river whatever.
NAVY YARD.
There have been no arrivals Of impoT lance al
the Yard since Saturday. The propeller A. C
Powell arrived from New York day before ysster
day. but with no news. Yesterday the r. b
Forbes went down, and this morning the Noun,
Vernon and Pusey left
President Lincoln visited the Yard on Saturday
afternoon, and inspected the progress Of the work
going on.
Sill 8 c. Burns, Of the telegraph line, has been
made member Of the U. 5. r. c., and is sta
toned at the Navy Yard, In place Of Stephen
Covell, removed.
There "" now news from the aotilla this morn
Ing.