Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1861-09-20
Tbe 1l)ar Menus.
FROM THE SOUTH.


The Cincinnati Gazette contains ex-
tracts from Richmond papers of the 9th
and 9TH instant. We copy the following:
Confederate Camps on the Potomac.
Correspondence of the Richmond Examiner.
PASSES THROUGH THE LINES.
NEAR THE PoToMAo, Sept. 5.-Reach-
ing Manassas-n until past five o'clock
in the evening git became necessary even
for the returned soldiers, as we'll as the
civilians, to obtain passes through the
line. 1t was found impossible for civil
liahs, under recent order of General
Beauregard, to obtain passes to any of
the advanced regiments; but awaiting
ourselves of the intention of joining a
regiment for the particular occasion of
one battle at least, we are permitted to
pass forward in the direction of the Po-
tomac.
COUNTRY AROUND MANASSAS.
The whole country about here appears
to be one vast camp. The scenery at
Manassas, reaching across the broad
plains to the azure combs of the Blue
Ridge, is at any time extensive and plea
SAINT; but with the camps of the Lou
isiana and Georgia regiments dotting the
meadows, or showing through the vistas
of the beautiful woods of this section,
the effect is most decidedly picturesque.
Add to these quiet September night,
with the camp fires ranged on the low
hill sides, and the songs of the soldiers
coming slowly but regularly to the car
on the quiet air, and the scene is so d.
versifed and enlivened as to captivate the
dullest taste, and stimulate it with emo
tioDs of the beautiful
About mile up the road from the
junction is the headquarters of General
Johnson-a plain, yellow painted farm
house, with the old Virginia porch and
the indispensable shade trees. The &C.
neral himself looks like plain Virgil
MIA farmer. Of course there is no intel
ligence to be obtained here of the move
ments of the army, although it seems an
especial point with some Of the officers
at headquarters to persuade civilians that
there is no prospect whatever of battle
to crafty their curiosity, or whatever
propensity may have hurried them to the
theatre of war.
POSITION OF OUR LINES.
Whatever these intimations of officers
may be worth, it is very certain that the
present position of our lines is critical,
if it does not positively denote an in
tended engagement. OF course it is pro-
per, from prudent and circumspect con.
siderations, that | should give no infor.
nation | have obtained of the disposition
Of our forces beyond such general state
ments as may be innocent, and at the
same time possibly interest your readers
circumstances may occur at any time Il
throw off the restraints of secrecy anc
admit the readers of the Examiner t.
the full knowledge of the present move
ments.
There arc two opinions here as to thu
intention of advance movements which
have taken place all along our lines
Should the attack come from our enemy
we will not. you may rest assured, b.
unprepared to meet it. All our regi
ments have been under marching orders
for the past few days. Gen. Longstreet'i
command is in occupation of Munson'i
Hill. In other directions our lines arr
within three miles Of Alexandria. Thii
is all the enemy knows and is likely Il
know, Notwithstanding his persistent Of
forts, by the skirmishing of day or two
past, probably continued to-day } to ge
around Munson's Hill to discover wha
is in the rear of our extreme advance
This is not likely to be discovered with
out battle. aud when the enemy choos.
es to offer it, we may presume that hi
will not be declined.
sKIRMISHING ALONG OUR LINES.
The skirmishing between our lines al
any moment may bring on general ac-
ton. And again, such result may be
deferred for weeks. In the affair Of out
posts on Thursday last, at Falls church,
between a portion of Gen. Early's bri-
gade and the enemy, every preparation
had boon made for general action,
which, however, was declined by the
enemy. This affair resulted in the loss Of
two of our men, with repulse Of the de-
tachment Of the enemy, with fourteen
killed and some eight or ten prisoners in
our hands.
ACTION NEAR MUYsON's HILL.
A report, however, has reached here
the extreme right Of the advanced
lines--of heavy diminishing at Munson's
Hill. A large detachment of the enemy
is said to have been repulsed, with some
$50 killed. There is no doubt Of the
erection of battery by our forces at this
extreme position on our advanced lines
The extent Of the action and the loss
Of the enemy is variously reported. The
enemy were engaged at Halls Hill,
which is in advance Of Munson's Hill,
about a mile from Arlington Heights,
which position had been held by the enc
my for some days, and which they were
engaged in certifying. The enemy we're
repulsed, and Halls Hill is now occupi-
cd by our forces, under Gen Longstrcet.
The occupation Of this position by our
troops is positive, aud is now tho ex-
IRENE point Of the advance Of our lines.
SPIRIT OF THE SOLDIERS.
The bestspirit prevails IN our camps
Not a word Of discomfort is heard, or any
other anxiety than that Of engaging the
enemy. III health, the incubus Of mac
ton, the encroachments Of disease, the