The New York herald., 1862-01-03
AFFAIRS ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
PolsT on ROCKS. Jan. q.

AFFAIRS ON THE UPPER POTOMAC.
POINT OF ROCKS, Jan. 2, 1852
A skirmish occurred yesterday at Berlin. A rebel,
dressed female ATTIRE to the opposite shore with
flag Of truce and sgnalled that no wanted to be con-
veyed within the Union lines. suspectng trick party
Of Colonel Gearys regiment Of twenty men, went
together When their boat neared the Virginia shore
fifty rebel horsemen dashed from under and fired
upon party, woundng one Of them in the ear. Our
men returned the fire promptly and disabled several
and horses All in tho boat were chosen men" dead
shotsn The bearing the flag fred with the rest.
Three contrabands arrived here to-day.
copy Of Leesburg paper of tho 9th Ia also here but
~ contains nothing worth telegraphing.
All quiet, from McCalls pickets upwards.
have information to the effect that General Kelly Is
beseiging Winchester. He arrived here last evening
FREDERICK, Md, Dec. 80, 1861.
Tho commission for examining into the character, abb
y and qualifications Of officers Of this division Of the
my still continues its sttgs n ths city. Many Of
tho lower gradesof commissioned officers have been ex
amned ntoand reported upon TO the Commandern Chief
0hers, including Of high grades before the
Board. The final action in all the win not be d.
vuged until the rising of tho Board
Tho general court martial today takes up the Of
the murder by private Of the Fifth Connecticut reg
Dent, perpetrated while that regiment was on march
last fall from Pleasant Valley to Wlliamsport.
After disposng Of this, dcsertion will be brought
up is believed that several Of this class will be made
examples Of by the process laid down in the Artces Of
War;
John s. Clark late colonel or tho Nineteenth New York
has been appointed AiddeCamp to General Banks, with
the rank Of Colonel and reported this morning for duty
Last week fire broke out in dwelling General
Banks headquarters, adording his Body Guard, the
Zouaves d'Afrque, opportunity Of insting
new tactics into the Fire Department Before the alarm
lad hardly sounded these agile fellows had empted their
engine houses Of their machines attached hose scaled the
walls and extinguished the FIRE in an incredibly short
space OF timo saving large amount Of valuable property
Mrs. General Banks the ladies' of many Of the other
emcers OF TINS division are at present soournng here
giving metropolitan tone to society and increased
air Of refinement and elegance to the city On Saturday
General Banks Assistant Postmaster General Kasson and
g. Middleton Cashier Of the United States Treasury
ained at the mansion Of Frederick slye, ESQ., editor Of
the Efaminer
The Fifth Connecticut regiment has been ordered hher
from Hancock, and Will probably be hero by Thursday
The FIRST section Of Captain Bcsts regular battery
now on ito way here from the place.
man named James MoGraw. from Harper's Ferry,
was arrested here on the 27th he is charged with yo
sas 1s sas Zoo with large quantity "
On Christmas Day Gen. Banks, through the Judge Ad
vocate, Capt. Cos, discharged from custody number
Of prisoners under sentence by former court martial
very useful institution is the Ordnance Department
Of this division under charge Of Lieut. W. Thompson of
i
employed in repairing and issuing arms, which would
otherwise be condemned and returned TO Washington.
The same officer has charge Of the magazine and trophies
captured from tho rebels.
FREDERICK, Nd, Dec. 81, 1861.
Conirabands from counties adjacent to tho Potomac
continue 70 arrive daily, and after examination by
General Banks are forwarded to General McCelan's
headquarters TO be disposed Of stated that at least
third Of the slaves Of Loudon county have made their
escape and some from Fairfax, Fauquer and Culpepper
occasionally turn up in this vicinity. This morning
zen twelve, and four or Eve whe refugees des
patched by to Washington. Tho refugees represent
shat II forces to entor Loudon the white popula
zion there almost 10 man. would gladly their
allegiance TO the Union.
last accounts the rebel force at Leesbg had been
considerably augmented. The militia, however, showed
great disinclination 70 fight and were put work OH
fortifcatons, the precise location Of which is not
given, but Is probably well known TO military
is estimated at six thousand, including the militia
Advices from Dam No. this morning inform that
Srd several shot and shell At the dam and our men from
their twelve pounder rihed gun, doing no damage. On
Saturday they showed themselves at Falling watcr.
portion OF Colonel Le0nard's command, stationed there,
laid upon their arms all night, but discovered enemy
in the morning While the enemy Of late have only
shown gun (he twelve FOUNDER Parrot cannon) II
is known that they have the vicinity Of Mar
snsburg full field battery which is probably mask.
3D. in some place whore they anticipate TO pass
should an advance be made. number of tho enemy
are still engaged in taking up the track north OF Martins
burg, and their occasional appearances near Williams
port are probably only reccnnotering parties Thus far
OIL side have been hurt but Parrott battery
at the dam is known to have played some disastrous
at Bunkers Hill, which they intrenching and are
throwing up heavy fortifcations at Martnsburg
General Kell. Is men have opened tho railroad
mics south Of Hancock, and steadily progressing
wards Martinsburg, daily cii iicnmscribng the enomy's
river line As far the road has boen completed it is
strongly guarded against any attempt Of the rebels.
Tho tone OF Union sentiment In this part Of the State
endorses the release Of Mason and sde measure Of
wise policy In the present exigency.
The Maryland public are cautioned against the OK
change purchase Of horses in the hands Of persons
known TO hem as horse stealing by deserers and retired
tcamsters has been prevalent Of late The latest
the deserton and theft of cavalry man. from the
Pooesvilc division who exchanged his horse Eicotts
Mills. Both the man and horse are in custody.
FREDERICK, Nd, Jan. i. 1852.
The political prisoners who have been captured and
detained at wiamsport by Colonel Leonard during tho
past three months arrived hero yesterday under strong
guard and proceeded this morning Washington Among
the principal personages Of this group w. Shepard,
hate captain in the rebel scrvce Abraham shepard his
brother, member of q shepardstown volunteer corps,
and several civil officers who undertook to the
rebel laws in Morgan county. They all sent to Wash
ngon In conformity with the late general orders by the
Commander in Chief.
private despatch from wliamsport last night states
that at about three p NJ yesterday rebel force (num.
Der not given) with gum attacked the railroad work
between Paxton's cut and Chorry rum eleven miles
Of Hancock They repulsed and routed by tho
Union protective force, with loss OF twenty killed. Tho
assaiants protecting the rebel laborcrs who
engaged in taking up the track.
Colonel Baylor is said 10 rebel force of seventy
men few miles south Of Hanc ck
jackson, with his whole available force is said be
preparing TO against General Kelly, at Hancock
Later adviccs have been received from arpers Ferry.
Major Tyndae, OF tho Twenty eighth Pennsylvania is
keepng close guard upon the river that point Tho
people Of the Ferry nearly all Of whom women and
children are blockaded on all sides. The rebel pckets
extend across tho neck over Bolivar Heights TO Small
a Inn lho