The Local news. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1861-1862, 1861-10-23
Reconnaissance Toward Fairfax Court Aouse

Toward Fairfax Court Aouse '"
w. +ake from the New York Tribune. the :"
blowing de5ails of the late Federal icon ~
distance in the direction Of Fairfax Cour :,
louise: h
"At Anandale the plan Of operations was
,apidly formed. Skirmishers were sent OUT :
10 the right and left in due order; the nee
essary guards were stationed at the cross
roads and upon elevations commanding ais
tant views, and the body Of the battalion
was held compacty about one-elghth OF
mile behind the foremost scouts Wl'hih
the village of Anandale there was h5tie 70
cause detention. The Inhabitants were 10"
and had no information of value to ollef' al
though bitter co plants of treatment oy ehe
Copfederates were poured IN from NUMEROUS
families whose members had ventured TO
maintain their fidelity to the Union lnes0
families mad plainly suffered all sorts Oh o0p'
relations. and had, in some cases, been SUI
ieered to personal violence, while others "lio
had Welded their ready sympathies to the
last oecupiers. had apparently been shleiaeo
from molestation.
zone mile beyond Anandale, upon the
a brow of considerable elevation the n.s'
"a half was ordered. The road having oeen
E ultraviolet for many weeks by our troops
l.. and having been uninterruptedly IN the hands
b of the Confetlerates, it was necessary 10 take
n the most cautious observatlon VITA TUE
a aid Of glasses. party Of four horsemen was
,r discovered about two miles in advance, RID
t. mo SLOWLY toward us, whilst our ofhcefS
70 grouped together in az open HELD "a(cos'
n their movements. They appeared TO ca1e'
sirbt of us, for they suddenly turned aooo
and rode back with great speed. n nsGf'
r. who had lust walked IN from the CoaA
he House. volunteered the information thaf tue
ne composed scouting squad, which haa zee
OF lowering about the road all the morning. al
or assured us that there were no troops s'"ti'
IRE o7 onvwhere this side cf the COURT House
M Although the possesaor of q private COO
as nant which he showed with great PRIDE, q
cd. testing his services to Unlou soldiers as '
An ri0us times, his statements were reeeNeoWl
led tho incredulous oayales3ness which eve
ow well educated diminishing officer considers
r q his first duty 10 manifest, ard the recouno
re sance proceeded with the same caution
- before.
day son arnroaching the spot where the u
fsdarata scouts had showed themselves,
toss Of rough wigwaua hUts were discover
,.as peeping sus piciousy in rows above the CT
az hill. The presumption was that ID
,ack were ae8eree"' o'' 'ii' ''''.
- essary as if their occupation was matter
necessity. l was struck with the skill w
.oo,- which the German officers moved their 81
mishers forward at this point, taking auv
40 tage OF such inequality of Ule ground
,oft 50 disposing their men as not only to prev
,,;ve surprises, but also to provide Ter their
concentration in case of any sudden alta
But no such necessity arose. The huFS
ooris ali been abandoned, although the posi-
oin', was exceedingly strong, and atoroeo Y
e Po- advantages for defence. Two aged 'nh
tates tants tottered forth in great terror while
e be- exam ned this ground, and made deprecs
gestures but, being treasured, grew ga
lous, and gave asa marvellous ms GIT
Is on the cnemy's designs, by the statement
'oSi'e they had posted themselves just behind
y tug ton of the hill to draw us forward, and
nsiVe' us a second Bull Run affair; but when,
st the days ago, they heard of an impending u
thew retired without any ceremony, he
NJ. that Of abstracsing one turkey and an a
ment Of chickens from the aviary O.
at the
ice the 49, ,.'', .,o,o ,,o> hv
100000 - A''.' 80 Wv 49, as.an;.n.ns o;t
who emerging from Coyles Tavern :
,re ita ed the fact that Union sentiments had
on - been secretly deposited in their hearts
=. Be that they were Of ell things, anx.t
.,ss;cn know whether we came in force, or, 81
supposed, in &. feeble body for a easua
pose. The answers which these gent
sailed received were not sufficiently lucid
e num- valuable, the statements as TO oar lmn