Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-09-04
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELE q II A Z III
TO THE WORCESTER DAILY SPY
THE SITUATION AT WASHINGTON.
THE OPERATIONS IN FRONT

THE OPERATIONS IN FRONT.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 2-Egenlng.- city
tonight was in state of great excitement,
and not without the most substantial cause.
Crowds were gathered at all the hotels, and
on the streets, discussing and specializing on
the future. 1t may here be said that while
the more timid of our citizens apprehend dan
ger from the rebel movements, there are stout
hearts that are not inundated. Last night
there was a series of skirmishes along
the whole front, during which we lost two of
our best generals, and other valuable officers.
According to prevalent reports, it was Hook
er's division which was mainly if not altogeth-
er engaged in driving back the rebels, but the
one mile of skirmishing was attended with
much loss of life
At four o'clock this morning, train Of one
hundred wagons with commissary stores, was
intercepted by the enemy between Fairfax and
Centreville, and driven off towards Manassas
before the party could be overtaken. They
secured the entire train. So soon as this raid
in the rear of our army at Centreville was
known, the necessity of guarding that direc-
ton became apparent, and at noon the whole
army of Virginia had abandoned Centreville,
and was massed this side of Fairfax Court
House.
This noon they again took up the line of
march, and this evening the advance was in
sight of MunsOn's Hill. The enemyS caval-
ny followed them in the distance, but made no
attack, and the entire movement was being
accomplished in excellent order. AT noon to-
day, Gen. Mcclellan rode out to meet the re-
turning column, and was received with great
demonstrations of qualification and pleasure
by the army.
The works for the defence of Washington
are all in an excellent condition, and they are
strongly manned by experienced artillerists.
The gunboats now lining the Potomac are
doubtless designed to prevent any attempt to
interrupt the navigation of that river. The
cabinet meeting to-day was long continued,
and the guess is no doubt true that it had ref
erence to our present condition. The gov
eminent, it is apparent, is eXerting every en-
ergy for the citys defence. 1t may be safely
repeated that there is no panic here, but, of
course, there is naturally generally ex-
pressed anxiety regarding the future.
WASHINGTON, Sept. -Epening.-Eleven
hundred paroled prisoners, some of whom
Thursday, at Manassas, arrived late this eve
ming at the Acqueduct Bridge, Georgetown,
and report that Gen. Lee has established his
headquarters three miles beyond Bull Run,
on the Warrenton Turnpike. The only force
at Fairfax was Stuart's cavalry, he being
there in person. The rebels assisted the men
in the burial of our dead, last night whom
they stripped of their clothing with the ex-
ception of their pants. Our men say that the
enemy at the time were so hungry that they
rushed for the haversacks of our killed and
wounded. Our men saw the soldiers of the
enemy marching to the rear on the Warren
ton Turnpike toward Thoroughfare Gap.
Washington is comparatively quiet, the ex-
element of the last two days having subsidized.
Such disposition has been made of the troops
within the last twenty-four hours as to restore
confidence.
Reports have reached here from time to
time of certain regiments having been ''nearly
annihilated," when, after the lapse of a few
days, the rumors prove groundless, the reap
pearance of stragglers being the best refuta-
ton of the eXaggerations.
Yesterday afternoon at o'clock there was
considerable diminishing between Fairfax
Court House and the intermediate space to-
ward Washington. The rear guard consist
ed, it is said of Hooker's and Fitz John
Porter's commands, who did effectual SER
vice in keeping the rebels in check as our
troops were moving into the Notifications
protecting this city on the Virginia side.
As to the report of the chain bridge being
destroyed, it is sufficient to say that several
days ago the planks were removed by our
authorities as preventive measure. There
are a very few stragglers in the city, and the
city to-day is comparatively free from excite
ment.
The reports of the rebels having crossed
into Maryland find believers, but nothing to-
day was reliably known of such proceedings.
1t does not seem probable, as the troops lin
ing the upper Potomac shores are sufficient
to check the progress of any forces making
such an attempt. The weak points of de-
fence have been or are being considerably
strengthened.
1t is reported to-day that firing has been
heard in the vicinity of Leesburg, but there is
no means of ascertaining the truth of the
rumor.
Later.
Information has reached here that the re-
bells are making demonstration up the river,
and that some of them have already reached
Leesburg, and are also spread between there
and the Cham Bridge, as if designing to cross
the ferry connecting with Montgomery coun-
ty, somewhere in the neighborhood of Pooles-
vile.
The fords are doubtless properly guarded,
additional cavalry and artillery having left
here this morning for that purpose.
LATEST FROM CINCINNATI.