Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-10-19
To Capt. J L. Larduer COmmading .. S S. Susq1e
hanna, eff Cape Hatteras, y. g.
The SFiuatiou

From the New York Herald, Oct. 8.
The position of the rebel army il front Of Wash
ington since the sudden retirement Of their a1vanc-
ed posts at Munson's hill Falls Church and other
point, has been satisfactorily ascertained. Ma
nssas now forms the base Of their operations their
lines extending from OccCquan creek. through
Fairfax Court House to LeesbuTg. No large body
of their forces have been sent to the Upper P0to-
mac. Il will probably be remembered that the
advance and retire movement Of the rebels re
Gently, s but repetition OF their course which
they adopted about five six weeks ago, after
the affair at Bull Run. At that time they pushed
their outposts FIR towards Gen MCClellan's lines
and subsequently fell back just as they have done
now. These movements we're undoubtedly feints 10
draw out Gen Mcclellan and ascertain whether he
was ready for battle. In the first instance he was
not ready to accept the challenge, and her2e he
permitted them to return and occupy their former
position, and even foTti lMun5ons hill and mount
guns there which commanded BIiley's Gross Roads
and Arlington Heights. This time, however. Nc
Clean was prepared TO avail himself of their with
drawal, and has consequently followed them up,
and now occupies the recent position Of the enemy
as far as Falls Church This is a curious coinci-
dence. Nor is it less Iemlrkable that as far back
as une and July, before the advance of Mcdowell
on Bull Run, the rebels made the same show of adj
vaEcing to wards the banks of the Upper PotOmsc
that they have been making for the past few days.
threatening to cross the rivera feat which; owing
to the eQunoctiel season. having raised the waters
ity of accomplishing.
Dispatches received at Washington yesterday
from Generals Banks and Stone report everything
quiet in front of their lines. attack Of the enemy
being expected. 1t is certain that General Johston
Is st LeesbGrg with large rebel force.
A guuboat reconnaissance down the Potomac re-
suits IN the report that the whole line Of the river
fro n Occoqusn TO Matthias Point, is defended by
rebel batteries, which completely command the rIVer
but il is supposed that they have been erected to pre-
h rio hmm thot6 Al
ten, and the they do not modest our vessels for
fear of provoking that attack which they were
erected to prevent 1t it thus concluded that they
consider Fredericksburg one of their weakest
points
Fugitives from the resel camps have been srriv-
ing in Washington for some days past, bringing
good deal of information concerning the position of
the enemy. Two negroes report having heard con-
versations among the officers and General Beaure-
gard while waiting at table, to the effect that the
intention of the latter to draw Gen. Mcclellan
into action if possible and they gathered that the
strength of the rebels before Washington was
one hundred thousand men, General John
BtOn they knew had left Manassas, but for
what point they were ignorant urtil they
heard in Washington that he WIS report
ed to be at Leesburg, which they say Is very proba
bly, true. Among other fugitives was Mr. Davis
formerly policeman at Charleston who says that he
was sent in charge of prisoner to Nashville, snd
took the opportunity to escape BY way OF Kentucky
to Washington. He states that the battle of Bull
Run is considered by the rebel officers 4 dearly
bought victory, I'd confirms the reports from 9th
er quarters that the rebel army were beaten, and
were in full retreat at half past four the after
noon of the Zlst Of July. Nor csn they account to
this day for the panic and fight OF our army. He
epresents tn condition of the rebels in Tennessee
ard Kentucky as far as he has seen them to by very
miserable as regards clothing and arms, and says
that among the white working people OF the South
even rhcsa who are serving the rebel Government
there Is q strong desire for peace and the recon-
ruc,iGn Of the Union if they were only insured the
orthe United States Government.