New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-01
TEE OCCUPATION OF ALEXANDRIA.
Particulars Of the Envasien-Tho Eneamp-
ments.
From Our Special Correspondent.


A few details of the taking of Alexandria may en
be received with interest, although, perhaps, before
this letter reaches you the progress Of more important
events will have diverted attention from the incidents
of the occupation We are quite uncertain here in re-
gard to the future and have no niimaton OF what is
expected by the commanding officers beyond what we
can gather from the facts that our troops are under
arms might und day. aud that the defensive works are
pushing forward with restless energy. Al the same
time many circumstances render it improbable that the
rebels will hazard speedy advance in this direction
Until they do So or naugurs.;e some movement equally
bold the affairs of Alexaudlia will continue prominent
Ii appears plain enough that this city has not been
considered in lself post of especial consequence by
either SIDE and that s possession by our forces looks
toward the defense of the Capital, to future COM
bination with other lines rather than to the opening Of
positive attack from this quarter 1t seems evident
that the Rebels Lad litlle intention of attempting TO
hold il. Once, certainly and believe twice before the
actual occupation they had stampeded by night, at the
mere rumor of an armed approach from Washington.
1t is natural question why, with the determination to
vacate at the flint whisper of danger, they were ever
stationed here at AL have no doubt tia, it was to
exercise an influence upon the election Of last week.
and it also may be to terify the few psssengers who
IfaNcrctu Tue IOulc DttNcOu hANAanu''""'N ''"''"o
ton into the belief that even this uDcuablc outpost was
ferociously guarded with view to exaggerated re-
suits of what they nigh. report reaching the Capt.
tai. The citizens now declare that they knew the
orier was imperative from the Rebel headquarters &c
eyacuate at the earliest signal Of assault. /
presume this order, # such did exist, would
not have been strictly observed had any inferior num-
Der Of troops invested the place Indeed it is true
| ,elau, li,r ~ n a
wss made by tie officers and few of the Of the
rebel cavalry until the appearance Of the body of COL
Wilcoxs con nand upset all hope of But this
plan OF sudden evacuation could not have been known
to our officers AID the scrupulous secrecy with which
the particulars Of TIE attack laid out makes it
manifest that surprise intended, probably with
view TO the capture of all the rebel forces within the
city, Il this consideration which makes the conduct
of the Pswnee wholly ineomplehensble, excepting by
course of reasoning which it is very unpleasant TO
adopt. know that the officer upon whom the COM
mand deyolyed after the occupation had been told that
the Pawnee would be in readiness 10 Gsss his attack
in Gaze Of necessiiytlat is her guns would he at bis
service if he wanted the town destroyed There ap-
pears to be no reason for believing that the Pawnee
was justified in taking any responsibility 10 the matter
and yet at O'Clock in the morning. or very near that
| hour-perhaps earlier-a boat sent shore CIV
ing full warning, and allowing certain time for the
departure Of the troops. Whether the rebels
| relied upon this understanding for immunity
| from attack up TO the specified hour, or
| whether all Of them did not share alike the
advantages Of the Pawnses communication, cannot
say; but it is certain that time before the hour
arrived the rebel cavalry were startled from sleepy
security by the appearance Of detachment of Zouaves,
which, presenting il did appearance Of very nsig
nifcant numbers they bunging7 endeavoredto oppose.
| The good Offices Of the Pawnee carried even
further Wbep the steamboats,, containing the Zouave
regiment and the detachment Of the New York 7lst,
arrived OF the wharves, at the moment That the panic
stricken sentnels fired their muskes in the air and ran,
d messenger, with a flag of truce, crossed from the
Pawnee landed in advance of Col. Elsworth's forces,
and preceded them up the street little way displaying
the white colors with all prominence. Now, nether
Col Ellsworth nor Col. Wilcox knew anything before
hand Of this interference Of the Pawnee. Col Elis
worth went down from the head Of his regiment as is
was forming and asked explanation, upon which lie
was informed Of what have told you. The city was,
therefore, under flag of truce by the action OF tho
Pawnee in order TO afford the rebels opportunity for
escape At the same time the naval officer suggested
dsarrangement of the railway for no other perceP-
tble purpose than the very Of preventing an es
cape. This last counsel Col. Ellsworth acted upon.
He detached Company f, Of his regiment, under Capt
John b. Levench, with directions to follow the track
10 the depot and up rails the further side OF
| it, 80 that no trains could start southwark We
know, however, that at about this preoise period q
train filed with rebel troops was started OF, 10 ihs
excepting far remnant of tie troop OF cavalry
was concerned, the Pawnees original alniable nten-
| tons were accomplished
| 1t was probably about the time when Capt
| Leverich started his miseion, that Col. Wilcox
entered Alexandris from the road. Their me citing w:s
an unexpected coincidence and came near producing
disastrous results. will endeavor by and by, 10 sup
ply by rough plan, clearer index Of the position
than the description may give. At double-quck march
Capt. Leverch followed the railway, which runs
along the side Of the river for distance and then
shoots NJ through the outskirts Of the city until il
reaches the depot which is almost in the suburbs.
Upon crouis route he had thus separated himself
by dangero1 distance from the body Of his regiment.
He had 10 sooner reached the depot than he saw tie
hustle of the surprised cavalry who quartercd in
the slave market on Duke street. only short distance
from him. But ar Col Ellsworth had instructed him
70 open no attack at any part Of the town. but rather
TO await hosiies from the rebels should Lo encounter
auy, and rs there ut first indications Of any
thing but pelmol terror on the part Of tho few horse
men who emerged, he went quietly to work
sttearpg up rails taking the precauon Of choosing On
elevated ernbankment for bis TO work on, where
they would De more from cavalry charge han
upon Fat ground. lie stationed corporal 10 watch the
movements Of the alarmed troop, who presently cane
running with the intelligence that after much cOniu-
sion and the scamperng away of good number at full