The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-09-13
War News of the Week.
EaaM WAsHIxCroN.

ne Vei0&rSpnE OeSpatcueS lTOM =" asH-
ington have been more remarkable for
"Reminiscences during the week, than Tor
the amount OF news they certain.
On Monday Gen Mcclellan was again
re-ipststed in full command of the army
in Virginia, to the great joy of all the
officers and men, whose enthusiasm on the
announcement of the fact appears to have
been unbounded.
Gen. Pope was relieved at his own re-
quest, and Immediately preferred charges
against franklin, Porter and Griffin. He
has been assigned to command il. the
Northwest
On Wednesday, General Mcclellan left
Washington, whittier to 60 to was not an
neunced; but Gen Banks was placed in
command of the Notifications ia his alb
sence.
Our army at Washington is being very
rapidly augmented by the arrival of the
new regiments, and they are being rapidly
attributed among the old brigades. wash
ington is now regarded as safe against any
attacking force.
The movements of the rebels have been
most mysterious Up to the latter part of
last week they appeared to lie massed at
and around Centreville, in front OF Wash
ington, occupying Fall Church, Munsons
Hill, &c. Later. they appeared to be NOV
ing westward along the Potomac. and
finally, on Friday morning, they sent
small cavalry force across at Point of Rocks
or Nolan's Ford, apparently to reconnoiter
They remained but short time and re-
turned; but in the evening they sent
across q larger force, estimated at SOOO
consisting of cavalry, artillery, and infantry
4 small federal cavalry force detained
them . short time at Poolsville, but were
overberne, and the rebels pressed on to-
wards Frederick, arriving in the outskirts
Of that city in the night, where they en-
eanped. They Immediately sent foraging
parties in all directions, driving in beef,
sheep, &c, SO that for once, at least, they
naast have had good supper. Next day
they pushed on to Frederick, which our
small force there had abandoned the day
before, after removing about a third of our
stores and destl Dying the rest. Since then
the rebels appear to have been pushing
re-inforeensnts into Maryland, So that
there are said to be from $1,000 10 10000
in the vicinity Of Frederick. From that
point, after destroying the railroad and
telegraph lines, they appear to be pushing
small parties in all directions, revidently
intent on gathering up provisions and for
age, large trains having crossed the Poto.
mac at different points apparently to hau
them of, although no trains have yet at
tempted to return These foraging partie:
have gone northEasd as far as Hagerstown
and reports even say as far as Gettysburg
and Hanover, in Pennsylvania.
The great mystery is the ultimate design
of the rebels. To divide their force, hal
in Maryland and half in Virginia. is Ger
tainy too dangerous an operation for Gen
erals of their shrewdness. Still, the move
ment does not look like an attempt eithe
against Baltimore or Washing
Mcclellan, as we have said, has lef
Washington, and yesterdays despatche
say he has advanced with a large army a
far a. Damascus, l6 miles from Frederick
but it is not known whether his object
to offer battle. Poolesville has been re
taken at his order, by Col. Farnsworth'
cavalry, and forces placed to at the fords
SO that, on Tuesday night, when Stewart
cavalry attempted to reeross the Potomac
at Edwards Ferry, they were driven bacl
by Gen. Keys. The rebels appear to b.
in command of Gen. Lee, who has issued
proclamation to the people of Maryland
saying he has come among them to ali
them in throwing off I" foreign yoke,
yet that they will be allowed to decid
their swn destiny freely without re
straint"
Rexass4Sanis, as may be imagined, i
immensely excited at the close proximit
of the rebel armies to her borders, an,
Gov. Curtain has called out on extra militi
force of $4,000 men to aid in repelling tn
invaders