The New York herald., 1864-07-14

Holdiss states. But this opinion fnds few advocates
However Tho case may bs, facts, as far ~ known arc
simply these
TN Monday morning small force Of the enemy was
discovered In the vicinity or Rockville and skirmshng
began 1t that point, and continued throughout tns
day The Casualties few side, aud the opy
forces then displayed by the enemy were dsmounted
cavalry which pressed back their horses by our
administers would mount and retire. Towards evening
the eRemys line OF skirmshers had been pushed east.
ward along line Of she northern de'euces far as
the Seventh street road leading out from the centre Of
the city. Tho fortcaIion upon this road 70
Fort Stevens, formerly called Fort Massachusetts,,
strong work and amply garrisoned. When the enemy
nrst began 10 show themselves In the vicinity OF our
line OF defences the renorcemsnts expected had not yet
arrived, but commenced in during the day, and
were Immediately assigned positions In the defences
During the afternoon the rebel skrmishers took ed
vantage OF several houses situated the defences for
the protection OF their sharpshooters and it was found
necessary dsodge them. This was done, either by
shells from the forts or by The advance OF our skir
mshers Several OF those houses were thus set on fire
and burned Among them the residences OF Richard
Botts W. Bell, j. H. McChesney, Abncr Shoemaker and
the late W, NJ Morrison.
On Monday night the left or the enemy's line rested
tina west side OF the Seventh street road out mile
and Q half.
On Tuesday morning II was found that the enemy had
moved farther to the eastwafd their left extending about
half mile Of the Seventh street road, and their
skirmish line had considerably strengthened by In
fantry Their sharpshooters had fouid coverts In the
immediate vicinity Of Fort Stevens and during the morn
Ing two men were killed by their missiles while standing
on the parapet OF the fort
little before heavy clouds Of dust moving east
ward dissolved the fact that considerable cavalry force
was moving in the direction OF Badensburg An hour or
two afterwards the telegraph wire running along the
railroad ceased TO work. and subsequently, It was ascer
taned that attack had been made upon the raroad
eight miles OF which had been torn up and two or
three small bridges destroyed. Thus Washington was
for tho time being completely cut OF from oil communities
tion with the North excep, by watcr.
During day were rife that the rebels had
bockaded the Potomac by planting battery at Matthias
Point and that the pirate Florida blockadng tho
mouth Of the Chesapeake. These statements wcre how
ever, everywhere rdiculed. and counter CIR
culated that Secretary OF the Navy Wecs had taken
10 the safety OF tho capital by locking
the gates CT the Navy Yard and sinking innumerabc
topedoes in the mouth OF Goose creek, the honey
OF the high Sounding classically known the
Tiber, which meanders along the foot Of Capitol Hill
Meanwhile number OF the expected reinforcemen.s
had arrived, and others constantly coming In.
General Augur commanding the defences, was prepar
ing Tor offensive operations which were pesun IN tue
afternoon by charge of brigade Of veteran infantry
along tho line Of the Seventh street road to drive IN the
rebel skrmish line and possession OF the promi
nent points, one tho left aud the other on the
right o, the road, where the enemy we're
apparently preparing TO erect works and plant batteries
Tnis calamity cone. The veterans went forward at
the double quick. cleared the positions Indicate and
sued tho retreatns rebel skrmshers for . milo and
half.
The prisoners taken in this charge belonged TO Brocn
ridges command. that had been recently operating In
the Shenandoah valley.
This closed operations for tho day.
Last night picket firing kept up, gradually siacken
ing until midnight, when IL csEsed atngother. THIS
moyu'n nj CO .shS os sese " DO found In from
Of tho works AZ nrst Il was supposed tha, the main
body mad moved upon Annapolis but cavalry, which
sent out reports that tho guard left Silver
Spring, tho residence OF Francis Blair, Sr aud went
towards the Potomac. s therefore, believed that Tho
rebels whatever their strength, havc FASTENED TO get
away to the south side OF the Potomac TO avoid being
caneht IN their own trap.
Preparations being made for Immediate pursuit.
but our want OF efficient cavalry force sufficient
counter brigade Of the enemy Will probably prevent
overtakng the narauders.