, 1861-10-23
Afternoon Dispatches.
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WASHINGTON, oct. R2-The Harriet Lane
arrived up from Indian Head last night. sha
reports t5at new batteries have been erected
At Matthias Point. Tbs frecborn and Island
Belle IL @ak9E asof 1T st a
woode, and the ire Was returned ky some new
batteries Of IL heavy guns. Immediately
thereupon tho woods and underbruBh Wera
cleared away, exposing the batteries to view.
Vessels In passing are obliged to hug the Viz
gInIa shore, and u1e exposed to the fire trom
distance Of some four or five miles In doub-
ling the point.
10 vessel passed down the river last night,
and it Is not known that any came up. River
men report that The rebels have number OF
seine boats and long boats concealed IN the
crooks aud inlets between Acquia Creek and
Occoquan Bay, and that they are busy build
Ing lAnnches. either with view to cross into
Maryland, or seize veasels coming up. The
report needs confirmation. The rnmor that
number Of vessels bound down had oeen sa6en
By tho rebels, is unfounded. -.-
The Government sent down ths Potomac
last 'tht two steam tugs for the purpose Of
bringing I'D number Of vessels loaded with
Government stores. They iate1G to pass the
rebel batteries in the night. Ihe Navy De.
| rartment las notified the War Department
| and also nu1nbsr Of gentlemen who have
| vessels below the batteries and ara afraid to
t venture NJ, thar sitter tomorrow th.y will be
| sb1e to bring up all the vessels. HoH it is to
| be done the Department does not state.
A dispatch Was received from Gen Rose
crane, dated Camp Toupkius, near Gauleg
| bridge, where he has been encamped for soEe
| time. He reports everything quiet. The re-.
bella, il appears, are falling back from their pc
| sition, sud from the best information which
can be obtained Of their movements they are
| concentrating in very large force below to CO.
operate with Gen. Johnston, who has separa-
ted from BeauregaEd.
Rumors have prevailed that Fairfax Court
House has been evacuated, and 1t Is 80 an'
pounced in the Ssar, but information from ths
advanced lines show it to be incorrect. On thu
contrary, the Indications are that the rebel:
a'e in large force IN the rear Of Fairfnx Caur
House and are reinforcing the rebel army a
LeesbuEg.
Gen. Mcclellan Will move his headquarters
to-mcr7oW to Bartlett's Houee, near Fa.l|
Church. It is point whence easy commuM
lines. The Cameron rifles, Col. Desje, mo7ea
out to ApIaudele On the Little River t1rnpikt
yearly 10 milea west Of Alexandria, and tool
posst ssiun Ct the place. Our p1ekets had bees
ttationed there for ten dsys, and during TIL
time had encountered none Of the rebels.
4 writ Of habeas corpus WAS served last Sat
u1day by city lawyer, in behalf Of q prisoner
. Eaying Instructed the Marshal Of the Dis:ric
not to serve such wri!s, the District bei7E
practically Under M7rsiel la~, the l1WFe
YVES promptly arrested ard District Judg
Me,r1ck, before whom the writ WIS returns
Bile, has been placed under the Surveillance G
t the authorities and bis pay stopped Judg
Merriek to-day sent letter to his brutne
] arrest. Soldiers guard him in lis oHn houst
Il prisoner.