Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-07-12

Enemy Attempt to Plant a Battery, bu
are shelled Away-Policemen and Othe
Citizens Take a Hand In the Fighting.
The heavy diminishing in front of For
Stevens, in the vicinity of the Seventh stree
road, yesterday afternoon, continued unit
after dark.
The rebels held a position in the woods, IRON
which they threw out skirmishers, VINO crep
along the ground or fired from behind trees
At one time they succeeded IN getting within
range OF the fort, and their sharpshooters wer'
enabled to pick off our gunners, TWO OF whom
were wounded. The rebels used no artillery
but their movements indicated that they wer,
endeavoring to plant battery to bear on For
Stevens, (lately known as Fort Massachusetts
and In order to Illustrate their designs the tor
rarew shells occasionally amongst them
About half-past six our cavalry charged upor
them, which had the effect Of driving them
back some distance. The skirmishing was still
kept up, however, and q little after seven
O'Clock our infantry was brought up and placed
In line In front of Fort Stevens, while the cav.
airy deployed to the right. The object Of this
movement, or its results, was not known when
we left the vicinity Of the scene Of action Ias'
night
The house Of F. P. Blair has not been burned
as reported yesterday, the rebels appear to be
using IL as hospital, as they were seen to carry
some Of their wounded into it. The houses of
Mrs Reeves and Mrs. Carbery, on either side
OF the Seventh street road, were occupied by
reoei sharpshooters, who annoyed our troops
somewhat. During the afternoon they picked
on three OF our sergeants, shooting them through
the head
1t was found necessary to destroy quite q
number Of houses on either side of the Seventh
street road to prevent them being occupied by
the rebel sharpshooters. Among the houses
destroyed were Messrs. Richard Butts, VIM
Bells, J. II. McChesney's, MIR. Shoemaker's
and the house occupied by the family Of the
late VIM. M. Morrison. Time, however, was
allowed the owners Of these to remove the fur
nlture, and the road leading to this city was
lined with wagons conveying it to place Of
safety.
The farmers in the vicinity lost the most OF
their stock, owing, as they say, to our pickets
refusing to let the drivers pass through the
lines with ont permit. The farmers had taken
the precaution to drive their stock towards the
city as the rebels advanced; but, not being al
lowed to enter, it fell into the hands OF the en-.
envy.
Several citizens, policemen and others took
active part in the engagement, prominent
among whom were Augustus Norton, P.
McChesney, and Officers Boose and Beale.
A number of our soldiers were overcome nv
the heat as were also several citizens, who
had walked out to the scene OF action to wit.
ness the engagement.
Early in the evening thousands Of persons
could be seen passing out Seventh street by
every conceivable means of conveyance while
The road was literally lined with pedestrians
Inc hills, trees and fences within sight Of Fort
stevens were covered with human beings
quite number OF whom were ladies, @ uistIy
sssted In carriage, at a commanding point,
was Secretary Seward viewing the progress
OF affairs.
Railroad Communication Open to Balti.
more-Rebels Leaving the Vicinity of
Baltimore and Coming in this Direc.
ton. 81.
This morning, the two early trains from Bal
timore, which carry the through passengers
did not run, the earliest train arriving being
the one at s45, which came through safely
Trains leaving Baltimore at 3A5 and a. m. are
discontinued for the present on account Of
there being no connection north of Baltimore,
but 1t is expected that arrangements will be
made to-day TO carry the mails and passen-
gers from baltimore to Hayre de-Grace by
boat, when the trains will be run again as
usual. The two trains leaving here At $50 and
2.3O this morning left on time, but carried very
few passengers. There was no train from
here at II o'clock to-day.
Passengers who arrived at S.45 report that
there are no rebels around Baltimore, they
having gone down through Howard and
Montgomery counties, apparently making
their way to reinforce those on our Seventh
street front.
The nearest point to the railroad Washing
ton Branch) where there is any considerable
number is about twelve miles west of Laurel,
although yesterday stray horseman was cap
tured about one mile from Beltsyille, he hay
ing Lost his way.
LATER
Particulars OF the Fighting this NJ orning
in the vicinity of Fort De Russey and
Fort Steyens-The Rebel line of Skir-
mishers Pushed Back-The Forts Shell
the Rebels in Carberry's w Gods, on Rock
Greek, making the Place too Hot to Hold
Them-A Rebel Group badly cut up by
shell-The Enemy Pushed Back Half a
Mile on the Tenallytown Road.
Early this morning there was considerable
skirmishing in the vicinity OF Fort Stevens, on
9TH street road, and Fort De Russey, on Rock
Greek. The rebel snirmishers worked up to
within three hundred yards of the forts, and
were dIslodged by heavy liRe Of skirmishers
sent out by us. Subsequently the rebels ap-
peared IN Carberry's woods, high ground,) on
Rock Greek, between Clagett's place and Fort
De Russey. They showed themselves here in
squads of fifteen and twenty, but q we'll aimed
fire of shells from Forts Stevens and De Rus
sey caused them to get speedily under cover,
and afterwards they showed more caution in
exposing themselves to view.
One Of these shells was seen 10 explode
amidst group of rebels as 1t fell, doing great
execution. There were a number of casualties
this morning in this vicinity, and nineteen
wounded (some of them severely were
brought down the Piney Branch road in am
balances to the hospitals.
On the Tenallytown road, the rebels were
driven back this morning about half a mile
towards Rockville, and our skirmishers occupy
me ground.
THE DISTRICT MILITIA CALLED OUT.
Below we give the notification by the Gov
eminent calling out the militia OF the District