The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1863-10-20
nv LAsr NIGHTS MAIL,

WASHINGTON, Oct 19.-The informa-
tion from the Army of the Potomac to-
day is to the effect that reports came in
from our cavalry yesterday evening that
the enemy had mAssed force at Manas-
cas-. There were vague reports that the
enemy was Strengthened for supplies, and
having signally failed to secure them
from Gen. Meade, has again turned his
attention and faced towards the Lower
Shenandoah Valley, and to our position
on the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Appearances last night in the vicinity Of
|. Ghantilly indicated the presence of a
heavy rebel force, but Gen. Sedgewick
drove them back to Frying Pan from his
front rto1 r+ruo1 ]
Later information up 10 noon says our
cavalry reconnaissance went out as far
as one mile from Briatow's but found
nothing but few rebel scouts. oiT 1
Rumors continue to multiply to the
effect that rebel column was moving
towards Point of Rocks or Harper's
Ferry, but after careful inquiry by
private parties no information has been
obtained 10 confirm these reports. a .
The following was received TO. day ut
headquarters Of the army: 0rr
CLARKsBURG, Va, Oct, 17.-Gen. Sulli-
van reports that his cavalry scouts from
MArtinsburg yesterday encountered q
detachment of Gilmore's rebel cavalry
and captured the whole force, thirty-nine
in number, with horses, equipments, Sc
(Signed) b. +. KELLY, Brig. Gen.
1t would seem that general engage
ment is considered probable, from the
fact that army surgeons have received
orders to hold themselves in readiness 10
proceed TO the army.
The following is the copy of letter
from Mr.. Mason 10 JEFF Davis, found
among the intercepted correspondence of
the latter. II shows the reasonable pur-
pose of the writer at the time
SELMA, VA, NEAR WNCHEsTEn,)
u fe aa September 80 1866.
My Dear Sir:--I have a letter from
Wise, of the 25th, which is full OF spirit.
He says the Governors of North CARROLL
ma, South Carolina, and Louisiana, have
already agreed 10 the rendezvous at Ra-
leigh, and others Will---this in your most
private ear. He says further that you are
TO exchange with Virginia, in fair terms
of difference, percussion for flint-lock
muskets. l don't know the usages or
power OF the department in such cases,
but il il can be done, even by liberal
construction, I hope you will accede.
Was there not an appropriation at the
last session for converting flint into per
cussiOn armsp If 80, would il not fur
nish good season for extending such IA
oilities 10 the States9 Virginia proba-
bly, has more arms than the other south
ern States, and would divide In case Of
need. In letter, yesterday, TO a com.
mittee in South OArOlinA, gave il as my
judgment, that, In case Of Fremont's
election, the South should not pause,
but proceed At once 10 an immediate, alb
solute, and eternal separation. So am
a candidate for the first halter. Wise
says his accounts from Philadelphia are
cheering for old Buck in Pennsylvania.
hope they are not delusive.
lSigned) j. NJ. MASON.
WASHINGTON, Oct 8.-ThrOughoul
the whole day rumors have prevailed
that the rebel amy had crossed the Pc
iomAc, sud was marching on Washington
y The Frequency Of such rumorI has osus-