Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-15
SECOND DISPATCH.

I'D WAsHINGTON July "A.
The absurd and ridiculous, and yet dis
gracefulI siege of Washington is over.
Telegraphic communication withthe North
was renewed last night but the Govern
ment required the wires for its uses and
this morning is the earliest time at which
we can present a connected view of the
transactions since communications were
cut of on Suudoy night, dispatch from
Baltimore announced that the rebels We're
moving in this direction. Monday morning
a small force of them appeared in front Of
our for-tifications beyond Georgetown, and
near Silver Springs on the seventh, St at
road they took possion Of the houses IN
the vicinity,and established sharpshooters
and began picking off our exposed men
Substantially, this state of affairs was kept
up until Wednesday night, when they
deeauoped Early "Wednesday morning their
retreat was discovered but no pursuit Was
permi tied for several hours, It's
n der TODD Fl though not
definitely known that the whole Rebel force
crossed the Potomac at Poolesville and
Balls Bluff, about Sj miles up the River
from Washington, and that they are now
well on their way toward Richmond, witt
long. trains of wagons laden with supplies
and ,lroves of cattle and that large pro-
poI ton Of them are now mounted on horses
sto len through Maryland. The bulk Of
their force must have been concentrating
at Pool esville while their rear guard wa
besieg' .ng Washington. A critical inspcc
ton 0 f their camping ground will convinc
any one at ali accustomed to such matter
tina they never had more than eight hun
DIR ed or at the very outside one THOUSAND
n EN- on the Seventh Street road besiegin
this city.
| The following article from this morning
National Intelligeneer fairly represents tn
general understanding and feeling on tn
whole ridiculous subject:
The military demonstration on the out
| skirts of the National capital within the las
} four days, has come to an end. This dem
onstration did not take the form of anythin
like an attack on the city, except in fro
t effort Stevens, where some skirmishing f'
! disclosed the presence of a no :
\ On Monday and Tuesdaylast the number
the enemy's force at this point, or at an
/ other point, was utterly unknown to o,
' military authorities but It has been subs
IS quently developed that at this locality
never much if at all exceeded 500 or 6
men. We have received information to tn
: effect from officers who have traced t
e marks Of the encampment of the besiege
: since the night of their evacuation. D
: ring the night of Tuesday last, after the !
connoissanee which, late in the evening
that day was ordered by General Wrigl
: the purpose ofthe feeling strength ofenem
1t is moreover confirmed by testimony
= persons who have come into the city sine
s the siege was raised that some slight den
onstratiOns were made by the enemy
Z twoother points on our northern and nor
1T eastern front but the number engaged
e = them or in dashmade on railroad betwe,
e Washington and Baltimore on Tuesd'
: last IS of conrse, unknown, though fror
n the poverty of their achievements thei
cooperative detachuents must have be,
ID small. In the reconnaissance on Tuesdi
ct evening in front of Fort Stevens result
"a in a smart prush with the besieging par
- who were easily driven by the small bo,
a of our troops sent out on the scout un
darkness put an end to the pursuit.