The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-10-05
FROM THE POTOMAC.

THE ADVANCE OF THE FEDERALs-rHEIR TROOPS
FiRRISro EACH OTHER.
The Baltimore Sun. of the 3oth in alluding
to the " advance of the Federal army upou
Munsons and Mason's hills, says
The advance of Gen. Smith on Falls Church
from the Chain Bridge was accompanied by
events of the most deplorable Charac ter
Having passed Nandernerkiu's and Wander
berg's houses on their way to the former
place, and when about half a mile from it,
by some unaccOun able blunder Col. Owens 5
Irish regiment, of Philadelphia, in the dark
ness of the night, installing, for rebels, Capt.
Motifs battery, which WAS in the advance,
sustained by Col. Bakers California regi-
ment, Baxter's Philadelphia Zouaves, and
Col. Freedman cavalry, fired Il fuil yolles
into the troops last mentioned, killing and
wounding a large num- her.
The Californ il regiment, not knowing from
marked effect. The horses attached TO Mott 5
battery became unmanageable, and the
tongues of the caissons We're broken, owing
TO The narrowness of the road.
Lieut.. Bryant, having command of the
first section, ordered the guns TO be loaded
with grape and canister, and soon had them
in range to rake the supposed enemy, when
word was sent 10 him that he in the
company OF friends.
All WAS excitement. and q long time els pSpd
before the actual cCnditIon OF affairs was as
certained and confidence ra-esta blishe ed
Many confused stories prevail The par
Smith Immediately ordered Col. Owens's regi-
ment back TO camp.
THE DESTRUCTION OF PRIVATE PROPERTY.
The Suns account continues:
The conduct OF the Federal troonS TO. d:ir
while occupying the grounds recen tly vacated
by the rebels, resulted in the burning of
property to the amount Of from thirty 10
forty thousand dollars. including houses with
their contents, but which Were unoccupied,
no distinction being made As 10 the political
character of their owners.
The wanton acts will doubtless undergo
investigation by the military authorities, as
they We're strongly condemned by Gen. Mc-
Clellan, who went over TO the Virginia side
at an early hour to day, visiting the various
localities recently vacated by the rebels. A
private was summarily shot by his superior
officer for insu bordlnanon in refusing 10 per
form duty.
sINKISa OF STEAMER IN THE PoroSAc.
The steamer SINK By our batteries on the
Potomac = few days ago was the Planet The
Federals maintain that he was sunk by col
liGing with the Delaware. The Sun gives the
following account from one of the officers:
The steamer Planet, Captain Henry VIII
son left, Washington on Wednesday, Sep.
TENDER 18th, At II NJ, and proceeded
down the Potomac river. When opposite
Ucccquan Point she was fred 1t from bat
terry erected on said lciut; twelve shot were
two Immediately forward of the pilot.house,
and three between the foremost and main
mast, none of which took effect. We escaped
their shot only to meet with a worse fate, for
ut y z. NJ, when below Cedar Point, We
were run into by the steamer Delaware,
Capt. Cannon, and sunk i'll ten minutes aftel'
the collision. The Planet had II light On her
bow and another at the mas head, and was
setting the side-lightS when the Della ware
came i'll contact with u.s. ana cut nearly in
twain. All hands were knocked down by the
blow, and one man, who was the top OF
the pi lot house setting the side light, WAS
knocked off, an fell Il distance OF fifteen feet
TO tie lower deck, escaping, however with
only Il sprained ankle.
The Delaware (her officers say) supposed
we were laying at anchor, and bore away to-
wards us to speak us, and underworld to cross
orr bow and 1T the same time the Planet en- =
deavored to keep away from her by putting
the helm to port, and blowing the wits tie to
notify the approaching steamer that we were
under way, and in tende 10 go TO the right Of
her, according to law. The Delaware struck
us when under full Roadway, she having
barely stopped her engine when sha struck
us. The Planet sunk in ten minutes after she
was struck, III Ave fathoms water. We had
ed nothing, only what we had on. We re-
manned on board the Delaware all night and
arrived at Washington city at Il III. on
Thursday, after being fired at on our return
by the rebels at Occoquan. They fired sew
eral shots at the Delaware, some OF which
crossed her deck, but none struck her.