Year: 1861

The Enemy on the Line Of She Potomac
Rapid Increase of the GOvernmen Forces.


The Washington correspondent Of the
New York Evening Post, under date of Au-
gust 2s, says;


There are fresh and unmistakable iudca-
tions of large concentration of rebel troops
at or near Leesburg and on line from there
to the Chain Bridge. Our scouts at the last
named place have noticed for several days q
steady increase of rebel troops back of the
bridge on the road on the Virginia side
leading to Great Falls From the best in
formation in the hands of our Generals il is
judged that twenty thousand rebel troops
are upon the banks of the Potomac from
Chain Bridge to Nolsn's Ford, near the
mouth of the Monocacy. Whether the great
body of the rebel force is advancing from
Manassas is a secret we have not yet peue-
trated. The presence of large rebel force
at or near Leesburg is not regarded with
suspicion in itself, but if il is the nucleus Of
an invading army it is worth attention, and
we may be sure will receive it at the hands
of General Banks and Colonel Gesry, the
latter of whom has charge of the river near
Nolans Ford. The river thus far has been
in a condition in which it could be safely
forded by large army. Boat loads Of rebel
scouts Fave crossed, however, and of late
they have exhibited o good deal of boldness
in their operations on the Maryland side of
the river, to the terror of the loyal citizens
of that region. Under such circumstances
the canal, now open to Cumberland, is worth
little or nothing, The boatmen fear deadly
attacks, and are liable to shots from the Vir-
ginia shore, as the canal follows close to the
river banks.


1t is within the bounds of possibility that
the rebels will cross the Potomac at Nolan's
Ford or Edwards Ferry in great force, and
bring on a conflict at or near Poolsville, but
! it is not probable they will risk so much for
| the chance of capturing Washington O1e
thing is certain-if they do not cross within
ten days from the present time they will not
do it at all, unless it be after they have won
| q victory, if they should ever do so. Ten
days hence the Government forces in this
vicinity will be so great that the rebels will
not dare to make an offensive movement,
but will rather require all their energies to
! defend themselves at Manassas The plans
of General Scott for the future are of course
kept secret, but all the indications are
against an immediate advance. 1t IS very
much doubted here if any thing important
| will be done before October. Our troops are
improving every hour Delay is strength tC
US at present, and is believed to be q source
of weakness to the enemy. 1t is possible
however, that this is mistake so far as the
rebels are concerned. They may be rec ut
ing as rapidly as ourselves, but it is mo-
probable.


The erection of new telegraph line from
! Washington to Hyattsvile in four days, &
distance of thirty or forty miles, was a great
feat, and the telegraph men are justly proud
of it. The Government gave notice to the
President, Mr. Sanford, few days ago, tina
such a line was needed. He telegraphed a.
once for all the spare "line-men" between
here and Boston. On they came, and il
four days a new line was put up to Hyatts
/ vile, and General Banks was put in direc
communication with the War Department