Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-12-29

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Yankee akirmishesi ana Less aIeng the
Esotomac-Ths Plan OF the winter Gam
rpH1gn, aN SO 20 n
The Washington correspondent of the New York
Times writes in enc of his recent letters as follows:
The readers of the Times are, no doubt, anxious
to have some explanation Of the numerous and Sc
rious skrmishes across the river near washington,
which, commencing on the day OF the great RENEW
of the 50090 troops. have been kept up at intervals
Of Rday or two ever since. TINS now proceed
70 give: $500,
The Confederates were perfectly well spprised
that this great review Was going 20 take pace.
They even knew the number OF the troops that
we9ld be on the ground, and that they nae Deen
ordered TO take forty rounds of ball cartridge TO
each man. They supposed that the review was put
the imn1ediate preluoe to general engagement
to be brought on by stack on their lines by zen
Mcclellan. Their troops therefore, were not
only put in readiness along their whole line, but
reinforcements were Immediately sent for to Rich-
mopd These reinforcements have been coming in
ever since; and there Ii little doubt that Beaure-
CARDS force is now much stronger than ever be-
fore.
There is COED reason to believe that it is 1750O0
strong and come prisoners, very intelligent men,
within few days, aver that the whole Confederate
force, from Leesburg to Fredericksburg including
the regiments advanced to winchester and James
town. is 200, 900 strong. This is not at all mproS
bable.
Ever since the great review Beauregard has been
pushing up detachments toward various points on
the line of General McClellan's army, and number
of "Reminiscences and forRgiug expeditions nave
also been made upon our side The result has been
these skirmishes, which have been the consequence
of the collision of these advanced parties No de-
cisiye advantage has been gained by them, on either
side Beauregard knew already the exact locality
of each division of our army; and Mcclellan has
learned that the Confedgrates have moved up closer
to him on several points. All Of these skirmishes
have resulted dsastrous to US, so far as loss OF
men is concerned
taken prisoners but it is impossible to tell how
many In one of the earliest of these sklrmlshes
Yves assured that we had not lost any in killed. and
only two wounded, and three taken prisoners TWO
DAYS afterwards asceTtainsd that four men had
been killed and fourteen badly wounded. kept
memorandum of the occurrence, and few days
ago l succeeded in getting late Richmond paper
in which were the Names residence and regiment
of thirtyStwo prisoners taken by the Confeoerates
in the same skirmish. SO much Tor the accuracy
of the information which is sometimes furnished to
newspaper correspondents here on the spot.
The experience of every succeeding day con-
vinces me That the theory in one of my recent let
ters that there will be no general engagement here
soon. ia correct 1t seems that neither Mcclellan
nor Beauregard is wi ling to give up the decided
advantage of which both now enjoy of acting on
the defensive. Beth armies will probably go into
winter quSrters on the ground they now occupy.
This being done, the question will then be, "How
many men can each side spare for operations else
whereof The Confederates will not send away any
of their force first. But, if $4,000 of MCClellan's
troops are withdrawn for service ct any other
point, Beauregard will be made aware of that fact
Immediately, nor any measure on the part OF
Gen, Mcclellan prevent that knowledge from reach
ing Besuregard. Mcclellan knows this, and, it is
SAID has admitted it. Beauregsrd then will either
attack Washington, las he will then have superb
orityof numbcrs,) or be will send $4,000 OF his
troops to kentucky, some other point, where they
can be actively employed. Such you may rely
uponit, will be the general features of the wiEter
campaign here.