The New York herald., 1864-07-16

4 "A.
| Of the rebes 90 the Upper Potomac
WAsuHGTON DURING the EXCITEMENT.
wAsHiS0Iox, July ~. 1894.
Now that matters more quiet viii give you few
details Of the in this city during the early part Of
the raid The excitement born q Wild conossning
the force and designs Of tho euemy Maryland abated
surprising degree during Monday, snd alarm what.
ever existed a night Our cavalry sent out in small
detachments, which found similar squads OF rebels
prowIlng through the country and brisk little skir-
mishes were had 10 dozen places, Of which
suited In anything except the loss In killed and wounded
Of about twenty-five. Some fear entertained BY the
military authorities that the enemy might attack
Had they done 10 any force Sunday night there Ii
little doubt that the assault upoa works would have
been successful. there being only small number Of
troops available for defence. That difficulty. however
Is now edectualiy removed. and while n may be i'm
proper 70 specify details or mii ary there
abundant that the organization defensive
and offensive operations b osnP,ets could be
desired.
w0RKs
Probably ignorant Of tho formidable character
OF the defcnoes OF washington. Immense forts, gasr
soned By experienced troops and mounting tho heaviest
guns. sncrcie the city with belt impreguabe TO assauk
unless by vastly overwhelming force.
North Of the District OF Columbia the country very
rugged. Precpitous hills, deep ravines fringod with
chapparel. that biAe bitches end running streams.
and almost impenstrable thicksts or tangled wid
wood, with here aud there o pleasant land
scaps OF cottages. harvest fields and meadows,
constitute the topography Of that section. From
the elevated positions occupied BY forts wide
vistas OF pleasant country visbie commanded By
our guns and uncnabe by considerable force Of the
enemy. Through this extended panorama the turupkes
from Washington can be traced from the heights for
many miles, enabling signal officers 10 descry with
their glasses anything that may Tanspre the extreme
front.
THs GARRISON.
For time past the forces occupying ths fortinoa-
Tons had been very small. Even when the advance
made BY the rebels Maryland very little provision
seemed 70 be necessary fos the protection Of
ton, and nothing than the prscautiesary
against . cavalry raid were adopted.
DESIGNS OF TnR REsELs
are believed 10 be we'll understood. This force,
composed Of Ewes corps formerly Stonswaii Jacksons
Brecknrdge's troops and tho anorganized commands
hitherto prowing 10 the Shenandoah, amounting 10 ali
about thirty thousand, evidently intended 10 visit Mary
land create great fright which might lead to tho with
drawa1 Of forces from before Petersburg and finally
decamp with plumber stolen the rich farming dis
trlcts. Early 10 command and hoped 10 catch
military Authorities mapping.
Brscklnrldgs sent across ths Potomac above Her
psrs Ferry 70 operate ieisurely west u Frederick,
Ara1 icoops thAs dsssoA and saabss Rssy,
with the main force. to up b rear via dwasdS
Ferry tho M0uocacy This little scheue happily
frustratsd and the enemy csmpsHsA sdoes plan
d operations. Cosceasrassss bis force a Rockville. he
sent out cavalry expeditions 70 cut the railroads. Intend
ss Is bslisved, 70 return again iaso Virginia .nams
alately upon the return Of the rading parties.
GEsssAL AuoUE's rRcxpIxRss
This the condition Of Affairs on Monday morning.
TIE preparations the part General Augur for the
defence washingtou by theIr promrtness and vgor
gave rise for brief 70 \ belief thai Warrington
was ia immineas danger.
All the able bodied troops were placed in tho dseucss
every auxiliary employed TO insure the safety OF tho
capital Colsns wise ~e. Chief Of the Veteran Reserve
corps and Military Governor Of tho rstrso sent all the
troops al his disposal into the trenches and TO the sur
prise every oue organized from among the guards a.
tendans and convaesccuts a tne hospitals an elective
force Of three shousand BY means OF patrols
he also gathered up all the officers 10 Washington d for
duty In less than twelve hours bad fitted out his new
command aud sent u 70 front under experienced and
reliable commanders. Colonel Greene, Chief Quarter.
Of the department, notinsd at midnight that
his clerks and laborers world - needed. In
two hours as effective regiment was organized
and on ms way che trenches. General Ruckee also
received notice Saturday prepare his clerks for
military duty and by night he led Into the fortihcatons
auoshsr formidable force. Dismounted cava,ry were
formed into infantry regiments teastcre were trans
formed into mounted infantry aad the messengers OF the
several departments paood guard duty. With muskes
70 relieve ecient Meanwhile veteran trccps
were hastenmg city, tbe movements uren the
reminding quite OF the scenes o( 1881
During all this time analrs south Of thc Potomac
rsmarkabiy Quot. nosby, with regiment o. cavalry
and few gune annoyed or cavalry for few hours aad
then suddenly disappenrsd leaving nothing to engage
ftent tioni a a
cAvALRr OPERATIONS
10 se 20 ,ns ensmy and eouud lhsm about
twelve miles from the city. Colonel lowell command
ing the cavalry d,s.s' gave The 'sss battle on sas
strong force Of infantry, sith artillery The lighting
the day was quite ;As n:ss ne s.es sSs
attained except the certainty that The rebels we're e,ili
IN strong force near our defenses and tnrestcang 90
renewed early hour, the eneny prsssag Us more
visorousy asd snalIy driving cavalry back 70 The
pistes but remaining only short time, whsc they bur
isdy withdrew Our ouiposts Immediately re.estab.
Sy ,hs enemy. The principal part Of this nsh.iOs was
done part By .he second reansy,sssis cavalry.
twenty nvc killed ana wounded
About eight O'Clock ncuday mcrsise the twenty.
afih New York cavalry, uuder MAYOR Mcphersos. ad
ana found rebel sharpshoossr occupying the houses
and bushes within asy yards q shs forts Thee we're
skirmshsg maintained tha nne throughout The
day. the enemy using nothing but dismoupted cavalry
Towards sundnwl the rweuty Afth rceved By The
Ninth regiment Veteran Ressrve corTs who ksps up
the Hrng until dark. When all beoams QuleA The opera
tious throughout Ne aAy however, we're usulcstsnt
Nothing but dsmounted rebel cavalry ooua be ound and
only occupied iine Of less tnsn hsf mte 10 length
number Of houses we're burned ~ our eoscs TO prevent
them being used ~ rebel eburrshootsrs, and all
| trees obstructiug The range q the gunstsiied
\ peACWuI 2ynENs-pkvAx1AToN.
largo number q civilians 6ocksd 10 The front, and
throughout tbs day occupied oil eevsiious from which
l view or the operations csad bs had number de.
tnsussd themselves By THAR eagsrnesa 10 participate
.ns ,srs rrts, nrht S|o~s ssc.s ,rcrcd,b,s A.
Il may appear we're two wssoieston policemen
I Tho race course s,s w. "a1ssormsu ssc ssvs.. .s