The New York herald., 1864-07-16

However the caso may bo the facts 80 FAR - known
are simply these. Oh Monday morning smAh force O
the enemy was discovered 10 the vicinity Of Kockyiile
and skirmishng begau at tha poiat and continued
throughout the day. Tue casualties were few cnsOui
ssde and the only forces thsa Displayed by tho enemy
were dismounted cavalry, which, whsa pressed back
their horses by our skrmshers, would mouut and 70
tire Towards evening The soemys ss Of skirmisnsrs
had beon pushed eastward along the ns Of the Nohcu
dssnces far The Seventh street road leading oul
from The centre Of city. Te ouermcst fertilization
upon this road 10 Fort Stevens formerly called Fort
Massachusetts, . strcng work. and amply gar
risousd when the enemy hrst begao to show
themselves In the vicinity of our lino o!
defenoes, the relnforcements expected had NOT
yet arrived, but commenced 10 come in dSRisg the
day and were immediately assigned positions In tho
defences During the afternoon the rebel strmishers
took advantage Of several houses situated near the
defences the protection Of their sharpshooers aad
found necessary to dslodge them. This was done
either BY shells from the forts by the advance OF
skrmshers Several Of these houses thus set On
arc and burned Among them were TIE residences u
Richard Butts, W. Bell G. n. McChesney Abner shos-
maker, and the late w. N. Morrison.
On Monday night the sef Of the enemys line rested or
the west eide OF the Seventh street road and tho line
extended westward abons mile and hale
TUESDAY.
On Tuesday morning \ WAS found that the enemy had
moved farther 10 tho eastward, their LETT extending
about half mile q the Seventh street road with
their skirmish line considerably strengthened By nan
immediate vicinity OF Fort Stevens, and during the
morning two killed by their Missiles, while
heavy clouds Of dust moving eastward disclosed Ibefsct
that considerable cavalry force was moving IN tho
direction OF B'adensburg An hour or two Afterwards
work. and subsequently, v that an attack
had been made upon the railroad, some eight miles Of
which had been torn up and two or three small bridges
destroyed.
Thus Washington was for tho time being completely
cut on from all communication with the Nortb except
by water. During the day were rife that tho
rebels had bl0ckaded the Potomac BY planting battery
saus ss
wero however, every whore rdicued and counter ru
mor was circulated that Secretary Of the Navy weles
had taken TO insure the safety OF tho capital by
ccng the gates OF the Navy Yard ard sinking Immune
rabe torpedoes 10 the mouth M Goose creek the homey
of the high sounding stesm classicaiy known as
the .Tbsr" which msandsrs aong the foot Of Capitol
Hin.
bad arrived. aad Others were constantly coming in
0snsrai Angsss cenuasdiog the Aefencss was prspar
inx for saeasive opsrai,oss .hloh .srs segao N !he
along the line Of street rosd 10 drive tho
reb skimish iaos and secure possession Of Two prom
the road whore tho enemy were apparently preparing
70 erect works and plant batteries lns calamity
cleared he positions indicated and pursued the
ing rebel skrmshers tor mile and half. Tho prison
ssn n a; charge :. aSs
This closed operations for ths day. Las, night picket
airing was kept up, gradually sackenog until midnight
when Il ceased altogether.
This mornug At daylight not rebet was TO % found IN
front Of tho works. Al nrst Was supposed that the
body had moved upon Annapolis but our cavalry,
silver spring. The residence Of Francis Ear sr ana
the Potomac. II Is therstore believed that
tss rebels whsese their have nss.soes to ges
caught In their own trap.
Preparations being made for Immediate pursuit,
encounter brigsde OF the enemy viii probably prevent
overtaking tho maraudore.
wAsMsGros, July 1912 H.
There is reliable news the strength Of the rebels
our 'front.' Their number is variousy. estimated, but
from what data does appear There seemns to be
doubt that The larger portion OF their force Is cavalry
aad that they 90 create thc impression that
they have ov whelming forces.
Il is certain that they operate fearessy movo with
celebrity and have far accomplished much mischief
Il Is represented thai the force which destroyed tho
railroad between this city and baltimore yesterday
vas from twelve TO ffteen hundred cavairymen.
The fact that they effected so much damage n short
space time renders this rercrt prsbase. but those
rho saw the rebels their work had nc time 10 make
IN accurate count, for they lett ihe sceue 10 the
n eatest possible haste.
Tho fighting demonstration has mainly been In the
c,ny OF Fort Stevens Eve six niles from this city.
The rebos there for the greater part copceaed 10 the
woods and such tenements as are scattered through
that part the country, and their shsrpshooiers operate
behind their temporary dcfcnces Yesterday some OF
their plans spoiled. The house formerly belonging
70 the late Mr.. Carberry and The property OF Mr.
Lay was seized by them as an observatory but shell
from one or our forts accurately aimed exploded 10 their
enpola ana thus terminated thst signal arrangement 10
m
yiduals was thus Inflicted.
20 far We have Iest from City hundred men by
the skirmlshiug Rockville 10 he front OF Washing.
ion and there has been noshng spproxmatng 10 agcne
rel engagement.
sensivs, with tho exception OF charge or Two, driving
the rebels . short distance
Troops consauiy going out to the 'front.' ana there
does not appear 60 be any loaoesSy Of warke material
the invsders vboes paas are not yet apparent
from ,Ss rcr,b Of Wsshus;on they would uuauss,oaasy
endeavor conceal from this fsc ana lor Ids reason
10 believed among many osssvvsrs !ost Their aomor
ovsvson while they operatc sssw here.
THIS shown IN lhss work yesterday, Destroying the
pssscss ~no have rscsasy returned from shs front
port that the rebel lines seem 70 he thinning ov a. AZ
;"s1, sns1 '0is Ts. ,ni sowss. Srs~y s,. spssaso
there no donbs The rebels speVate freely from Rocs
vile Va Laurel, or fer Sissancs u net less han swsa
reuorts we're ,u cheuiascs st night Of Asbtins IN the
vicinity of Fort Lincoln which about three miles north
The rebels In part, keep the line OF The Potomsc,
which owing the lownsss Of tbs river, now fodabe
~ macy placed
While tnsrs 70 naturally much secItude for ss safety
~ wsshnatop not few psrsons believe that TIE reoss
are ouly % evsud raid, snd would net venture upon
coming into washingtcu, uoess they ooud % 20 By
sudden movement st soue uusuGded rons fcr sns pu.
psss cf hasty nnictus damage upon the public bald.
ipee, and then retTins. -,
mere nos, however, n much apprehension on ibls
point now 40 there was on sunday. every arrival Of
iyoops tending 10 give assurance ef safety.
The militia and vousseevs and clerks ana emp'oyss 70
the various Departmental, are musseriug; bus ansso h
this thsre 10 no extraordinary excitement.
The traders and merchants here bsvs within toe ,as,
veek raised the prics Of -four from twsive totweWy
dollars ana other necessArles NE 10 the same propor
lion.
ORIGINAL DESIGNS o. THE REBIks>
wAssrworoS, July 10, 1884
The Maternal ireilicsrcey understands that Major o