The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-18

about six miles from Fairfax Court House, at ten O'Clock
this morning The first barricade Of trees feled
and thrown across the road delayed the head of the d
vision only few minutes This encountered about
three miles from the Court House. II was cautiously ex.
amined by the skirmshers but sign Of rebel force
was discovered The pioneers soon cleared the
| road with their axes. The barricade was erect
ed at the foot Of long hill, the top Of
| which was covered with a dense thicket az
fording an excellent covert for sharp shooters The
second barricade Of similar character, and was
cleared in similar manner, occasioning only few
minutes delay in the march The third barricade was
more formidable at the entrance Of deep cut in
tho road, commencing about half way up steep Hill
crowned on side with thick woods end on the other
by an open field. To pass this road made through
| the field, enabling tho army 10 pass around H.
AT this point there were stationed two hundred rebel
cavalry, who without waiting TO ascertain the strength
Of the advancing FORCE fed upon tho first appearance Of
our skirmshers firing at them one rife shot, which did
no harm
Up 10 this point, about mile from tho Court House.
the people living upon the roadside were at home quietly
pursuing their usual The first house beyond
this third barrcado belonged TO man named Goodwin
who had hastily left the premises when the rebel cavalry
retreated.
It was here asccrtained that tho had reached
neighborhood thcky populated with the most rabid re-
bells in the county pyomipcut aopo ho 10 ono E,orr
Broadwater county magistrate and also that about half
mile ahead the rebels had fertilization erected and
battery planted which was defended by force of two
thousand men, and that the rebel force in and around Fair
fax Court House, guarding the different approaches
amounted 70 from ten 10 fifteen thousand men.
mile from the Court House. II consisted Of a
simple intrenchment, extending for about four hun
bred yards each side Of the road II was pierced for
eight guns The embrazures formed Of sand bags
and so placed command the road The fertilization
was at the top Of steep hill at the foot Of which mean
dered small muddy creek The trees upon tho hill side for
distance Of eighth Of mile had been cut down no az
to allow no cover from the guns Of fort This
had been occupied for three weeks by the Second
and Third sou'h Carolina regiments, under Gen. NJ L.
Bonnam the successor in Congress Of the notorious
Brooks and the commandant Of the advance guard Of tho
Potomac In approaching this point our skirishcrs had
brush with those Of the rebels in which corporal Of
the Second Rhsde Island regiment received flesh, wound
in We thigh, and rebel officer was csptrsd BY Cart
Dyer. e't-'-a. 2-*~F
The advance Of Burnses brigade reached the fortifca
ton in time to make prisoner South Carolina efcer
who surrendered to Major Mission Paymaster Of the
Second Rhode Island regiment. The inside Of the FORTH
cation presented abundant evidences Of tho haste
occupants Sacks of -four, meat clothing, arms,
equipments and camp utensils, were everywhere
scattered over the ground, and the camp fires,
probably prepared for the meal were still bright
ly burning The main body of this force had left with
haste only about two hours before the arrival Of the head
Of our column. The fertilization itself was rudey con-
structed It bears comparison the splendid works.
scientifically planned and erected by the Union yolun
teers on the banks of the Potomac could have been
easily taken by flank movement, for which there was
abundant opportunity without exposing the assaants to
the Ere of the guns in position behind the entertainments
As the head of the division approaching the en-
trenchment sharp firing heard on the left which was
afterwards ascertaned to have been occasoned by a
skirmsh between the advance of Col Miles division and
the Alabamians who in position there about two
miles frsm the Court House.
The ntrenchment encountered by Colonel Hunters d.
vision erected upon the farm Of Mr. Seegur an emf
grant to Virginia from New York. When it was fret
discovered halt was called, and tho advance
brigade, under Colonel Burnside was formed in
close column and ordered to load This was
done with ~aacrity and the men, when ordered for
ward, pressed eagerly, singing "Dixic" and "The
Star Spanged Banner" It was cheering to observe
the enthusiasm exhibited by these volunteers
and quite amusing to hear their remarks such as 1--WE
going open mail route from Washington to Rich
mond' 'we have Virginia to find place to set
tle owe mean to bag Bcauregard and JEFF Davs' '1we
are the pacihcators" 'Tley wont wait for U.S." &c.
From the inside Of this fertilization the village of
Fairfax Court House plainly in sight, thither the
command proceeded At the outskirts Of the village a
small American nag, used as guide mark by the
Fourteenth New York regiment, had been planted It
salued with cheers by the passing regiments The
rebel flag was still flying at the Court House when
the advance Of the division, with tho band
of the First Rhode Island regiment playing
national airs, entered the village II was taken down by
some of the of the Second Rhode Island regiment
and handed to Governor Sprague, who with the br-
gadc. 1t was transmitted by him to General Mcdowell
a legitimate trophy.
Seen afterwards Colonel Marston, at the suggestion Of
one of the correspondents Of the HERALD detail of
the Second New Hampshre regiment, with their regi