The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-10-19

camrs around Fairfax station when rising into another
current he took circuit TO Fairfax Court House, and
thence back 70 lines, landing at Gen. Blenker's
headquarters Although the morning had boeu cloudy
tho afternoon was clear, aiording the Profes
sor splendid opportunity for observation. Hc
had an excellent view OF tho enemy's posi-
on and could their cncampments at Manassas There
were no rebel forces except here there man. this
side OF Fairfax Court House, At the Court House hero
were only few companies and the appearance Of tho
bivouacs demonstrated that the position had been recent
y almost entirely evacuated AT Fairfax Station there
appeared TO be larger force Tho Professor obtained
some valuable information which he viii mpart 70 the
government When he was descending at Hunters Cha
pei several Of the soldiers seeing the balloon coming
from the direction Of tho enemys position thought tho
@ronaut must necessarily have been sent up the
bcls. They fired a number Of shots at him. Happily,
however, they missed the Professor but made holes
n his balloon. The troops In tho division mostly
Germans. When he neared tho ground hundreds
bed around him. II was with difficulty that he saved
his balloon from harm and permitted to land at ALL
II should be remembered in future that the rebels have
no balloons the advantages Of aeronautca rcccnnos
sance being enjoyed only by our army.
DISTINGUISHED vIslTERs AT MuNsoN's HILL
Secretary Seward, accompanied by the British, French
SIanlsn MlnstcIb, spent to-day III visiting
Hill and the Union outposts in that direction.
PROBABLE TRANSFER OF THE REBEL ARMY OF THE
POTOMAC TO KENTUCKY.
Considerable apprehension has been excited here by m
teligence from kentucky taken In connection with the
recent Of the rebel army the other side Of
the Potomac It has been positively asceraned that tho
rebels are greatly deoralized, and the from tho
extreme Southern States are murmuring at their inac
tivty and demand to be allowed 60 homo. They OBJ
ect TO going into winor quarters in Virginia. while the
federal government is fitting out expeditions Of for
mdabe character to operate on the Southern Atlantic
and Gulf coasts.
gentleman Of high standing just arrived from Ken
ucky states that in recent conversations with officers Of
the rebel army, with whom he had opportunities to COM
muncate they declared that their army could not be
subssted during the winter in Virginia. and that was
indispensable necessity for them TO winter either in
Maryland or Kentucky.
There longer any prospect Of their efecting an
entrance into Maryland, and they must have Kentucky
at all hazards otherwise they will be obliged to disband
At the time there intelligence that Gen.
Buckncr Febe has from twenty to thirty thousand men
at Bowling Green, and the conclusion is that large
proportion Of tho force that was in Virginia
has been sent thither, while General Hardee, with
his Arkansas and Indian troops. had been added
TO Buckner's forces, with . view Of wrestling Ken
lucky from the Union men and seizing the immense
accumulation Of stores and provisions there to make them
snug for the winter All the information received shows
clearly that II the rebels kept Of Maryland and
Kentucky they will be compelled disband ther army
and abandon the menacng attitude they have for some
months maintained
AFFAIRS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC.
Quite number Of upward bound vessels the rebel
b.ocfa 10 last night and have arrived at the Navy Yard
and ut wharves. Among them is the government
steamboat Cuur de Lon which towcd the government
sloop Granite They passed the batteries shortly after
idnight.
The tugs Murray and Pusey were several times fred
upon they passed towing up couple Of schooners with
government stores, but were not touched.
The Cmur do Lion spoke the Pawnec in Chesapeake Bay
The Pawnee was disabled reported by the Shots
she received.
large number Of vessels arc waiting at Smiths Point
for an opportunity to come up
The tug Robert Leslie, while on her way down last
night into the Hugh Jenkins also bound down near
Mount Vernon.
The Jenkins struck the bow, and so crippled
that she was compelled to into shoa water where
she rests the mud bottom She had cavalry on board
OF her. The Leslie returned to the Navy Yard for scow
to take the horses of.
The Harriet Lane left the Navy Yard this morning.
Inc new TcDel DdttcTy ~ lHlUtT CTeek IuOuutS
guns.
disabled by the shots she received passing these
rebel batteries Most of them placed above the
Of the guns Of steamers and cannot be senced
cept by land attack
GATHERING OF THE REBELS ON THE LOWER POTOMAC
1t is said that the rebels have congregated in large
numbers at Aqua creek it is supposed with the nten-
tion Of attempting crossing If the attempt should be
made thoy will find their movements have been properly
anticipated.
RETURN OF GENERAL BANKS TO MS COMMAND.
After another interview with General Mcclellan, and
with tho President and Cabinet Banks returned
to-day to his headquarters at Jamestown.
BALLooN1NG IN THE ARMY.
The perfection Of tho organization of the army by
General Mcclellan since the Bull affair attracts the
attention Of every military who visits the city The
improvements cavalry and artillery wonderful and
in short time he will be ahead Of the great
Napoleon in his various preparations. His balooning
arrangements too, will eclipse anything Of the
sort ever recorded in military history. 1t only
the other day that We gave account Of La Mountains
having the rope which bound him to the earth and
hanging for half an hour over the cnemy's camp Now
we understand he has made night ascension and that
he has actually gone up midnight and view Of
everything in repose, and obtained valuable infor
respect to the numbers and of the
rebels, as seen by camp fires.
EFFECT OF ARCHBISHOP HUGHES RECENT PUBLICA.
TIoNs IN WASHINGTON.
The recent letter of Archbishop Hughes in reply to
Archbishop Lynch, Of Charleston, the rebellion, and
his recent article the slavery question: published in
the Metropolitan Record, has attracted great attention
hero and meets with the approval Of persons high
political circles. ia understood that Mr.. Seward has
written etter to the Archbishop in which he strongly
endorses his vews and is said that the President has
expressed himself much In favor of the sentiments con-
tanned in these documents.
EFFECT OF SECRETARY sEwARD's RECENT CIRCULAR.
The suggestion Of Secretary Seward regard to our
seaboard and lake shore defences has met with great
favor 1t is evidence that the government is wide
awake and intends to be prepared for every possible
contingency This evidence Of vigilance at all points is
not only gratifying but affords Of security the
people.
OUR RELATIONS WITH FOREIGN POWERS.
ACabnet meeting was held this morning The prin-
,...o .r