The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-07-20

WASHINGTON, July Is.

brought up a number OF Ohio hundred
day troops belonging to the 155th Regi-
ment. These men are sick with fever.
The officers of the boat report that the
rebels having heard of the withdrawal of
some of our gunboats from James River
to the Potomac, near Washington, have
stationed a battery near Wilson's landing
on the James River, from which they fire
upon vessels passing. The steamers Uni
ted States and George Weems were fired
into yesterday, the first named vessel es-
capped without much damage, though
there were three shots passed through the
cabin. A portion of the stern of the
| Weems was torn off by a shot from the
battery.
Rebel cavalry were seen in large force
on the shore, a short distance below Will
cox's Landing.
Best informed persons believe the Con-
federate army is moving as fast as possible
towards Gordonsville, which they could
reach in three days easy march and with
no opposing army to obstruct them. The
Washington correspondent ofthe Tribune,
who, up to Sunday last ridiculed the idea
that the rebels were in any considerable
force, or that they intended a demonstra-
ton upon Washington, now attempts to
show that the Confederates were about
$4,000 strong.
From the best information obtained by
inauiring from the residents upon the
grounds where the rebels halted, north of
Fort Stevens, it would seem the number
of Confederates who actually threatened
the fort, was between 2 1000 and 5000,
the main body numbering 1900. They
did not show themselves in front, but en-
| camped a few miles north and in the rear
of their skirmishers, and their artillery /;
about 35 pieces were also kept in the
back ground, until they moved off when
it brought up the rear. Many rumors
are floating about the attack this morning
at various points within ten miles of
Washington. =
The report telegraphed to you yester-
day is confirmed, viz: that the rebels
were running the cars on the Manassas
Gap Railroad, and it is said also, that the
Orange and Alexandria Railroad.Ih las
been repaired, which, if true, will enable
the rebels to rapidly transport their plum
der to G ordonsville ; they estimated the
value of the property taken from Mary
land is near six millions of dollars.
The supporters of the Administration
and the rebel synpathizers have a dispute,
in which is exhibited q good deal of wrath
as to the number of rebels that mcnaced
Washington. The administration sup
porters up to Monday last ridiculed the
idea of the Confederates in any considera-
BILE force had marched or were marching
toward Washington, and now the big
scarce is over, the frightened Admins
tration men are bringing statistics to
prove the rebels appeared before this
city in immense force.
The Republican organ says, Gin fact it
is now safe to say, thai there were periods
between Saturday night aud Monday
noon, when the rebel force might have
dashed into the city, and have effected a
capture if not an occupation" All now
concur in the opinion expressed in my
communication of Wednesday, that for
several hours on Sunday and all Monday
last, Washington was at the mercy Of the
invaders who did not appear to be aware
of their opportunity.
The National LnteUigencer says it is
quite possible that the few hundred men
who held Washington under siege for
two days, on Monday and Tuesday last,
could, if they had sufficiently presumed
on tho resigning want of vigilance here,
have quietly ridden into the city under
cover of the darkness of night before any
alarm had been raised, seized the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet, blown up the Cap
itol, destroyed the public buildings, and
retired as mysteriously and unframed as
they came.
As we get all the facts of the late siege
of Washington it is difficult to determine
which excites the greater wonder, the
failure of the rebels to make a dash and
take the capital, or the heedlessness and
mismanagement of the Military Admin
i~stration that permitted about two thou
sand men to ensconce themselves before
and within the three hundred yards of
the strong forts of Washington for two
days, In The meantime cutting off all com.
munication with the capital of the nation
and quietly raising a siege, and clearing
out just when 1t suited their convenience.
Major Spencer of the Confederate ar
my in a letter to his relative in this city
says that the Confederates crossed the |
Potomac with 5000 men for the purpose
of obtaining horses and cattle and other
supplies, and that having accomplished
that purpose they were on their march
back to Virginia.
We have information, by letter, from
General Grants army up to 10 o'clock
yesterday. Quiet prevailed in front of
Petersburg. A good deal of annoyance
is occasioned by the presence of rebels on
the James river, and uneasiness is felt on
account of the absence of several of our
gunboats, which were withdrawn to Wash
ington. The mail-boat James Brooks,
just in from City Point, was not molested.
PHILADELPHIA, July 16.
The Inquirer has the following special
from Washington: A portion of Mosby's
command, about 200 strong passed near
Leesburg at an early hour Thursday night, |