Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1862-10-01
FROM THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

i''~>""'N'''
to q newspaper correspondent, 'A1iQulet aol1E
the Potomac, it might be taken az intending
TO ]ull the minds OF those at home y olrc12Ia-
ting report shat III was quiet, when SUCH, IA
iacJ was not the c:se. But, for the Life o. me-:
I cannot see how I can define better rh7 posi-
ton Of atIairs along the Ej12es than By using The
aforesaid sentence. Both armies aro now ''!y-
Ing on their oars On each side OF J}aa placid
Potomac, and The eagle never Haroisa.i It's
prey with more intensity than the commanders
Of the Union and Confederate forces watch the
movements Of each other
An occasional skirn1ish between scouting
narties and the firing OF pickets is really the
only thing we have TO vary the monotony as
it were, OF camp lite And yetlt is not SO lool-
otonotis after all The constant 1nanceuyerng
Of troops the thousands Of recruits daily 81
irving, the continual rambling Of the wagon
wheels bringing ammunition and provisions:
the new arrival Of horses, and their being drill
ed 20 the batteries TO accustoln them 10 the
work they are intended to ,ltc---keap I'D q ob1l
slant hum and activity around camp, and
though not SO exciting as the roar CT hundreds
Of cannon and the clash Of hattie, yet tar more
nleasanj to those who are DOW battling III rtolr
country's cause. But when one thinks Of
What al this hustle and activity IS ae prelude
70, it makes the human frame tren1bje and
shrink when he thinks tElat those scenes Of the
last few weeks are TO be enacted over again.
From the observation from Lowe 5 balloon,
from Maryland Heights, and what Is cleaned
from spies and desorters the Inference is pref
tv conclusive that the ContaIerates intend 30
make desperate stand first IN GIAo vicinity OF
Falling Waters and harrisburg, and Il de-
foatei there az Winchester. The principal
body of their army is encarnped at the former
place, bl1t | vet see 10 reasons 50 change the
opinion expressed in former letter, that the
most desperate struggle will be in the vicinity
Of Winchester. They may leave Strong force
at Martinsburg and Charleston TO retard the
Federal advance, and probably 8 battle will oc-
cur, but they will fall lack on the town already
made famous by Shields and Banks. 1t IS the
key TO what is commonly known rs the Valley
OF Virginia, and it is not probable that II Will
be given I'D by the Conf3derate5 without {:
desperate struggle.
tits already fortified on the south slde--l)u5
It is now stated that the Confederates are
building earthworks and mounting guns III the
vicinity Of Stevenson Station OH the IaIl-
road, four miles north Of the town Steyen-
sonss station is composed Of three or four
houses and takes it's name from; q Mr.. Steyen-
son who kept store there previous to Gen.
Bank famous retreat, but being a strong
Union man, and the headquarters Of the 9Th
New York cavalry having been established
there the Confederates destroyed the premises,
and when saw it last June it Was nothing but
a heap O: ruins
The country here is easily defended, being
rather hiIly aud the woods in the vicinity being
a secure place for masked batteries. II they
are defeated here, and are not captured, they
can easily RETREAT to the Soutn SIZE OF c4ga
present fartifcations and the nature OF the
country make it also formidable line Of &C.