Year: 1861

From Our Special Correspondent


CAHP AT ALExASDRIA, June &, 1861.


have delayed writing in reference to the position q
our troos here and their supposed destination, lest
sudden movement in adv Anoe should anticipate conec
ture and transfer the OF interest to point fI
beyond us. Our constant expectations Of march dur
ing the past four or five days have not been without
reason. On Monday, the Sd, the camp preparations
were ofa nature clearly indicate that soourn
nearly at an end. The hospitals were made ready foi
breaking up at the shortest notice; the troops were
kept more than usually active in drill, and were con-
tinually under arms the Government telegraph opera
tors received notice to be hand to proceed in haste
and the Notifications tie nights commanding the a
prosch to the city as well as the city ITSELF hur
ried toward completion Col. Heintzelman had OBJ
tanned the Reinforcement be required, and, for while
everything seemed ready for the departure
! Upless / am wholly msinformed, the order was
as good as given TO march on Monday night
or early on Tuesday morning. in the direction Of Fair.
fax Court House, the village where Lieut. Tompkins
had performed his daring but uDmporant exploit few
nights before. The troops now at Aexandris were to
take possession and hold themselves in readiness for
further advance toward Manassas Junction. This plan
was not carried out for reasons which, Of coue are





dent. however, that lack Of ammunition bad someti ing
10 do with it as best regiments had nothing beyond
the supply they brought with them TO the seizure Of
Alexandra, and since Monday, an abundant stock has
been dispatched hber. Possibly tho report, to which
some weight was attached at headquarters, that tie
Rebels medilated a strong attack upon Arlington
on Monday night, was another argument toward the
postponement Of the expedition. 1T is certain that after
nghtfal the attention Of officers stationed here was
turned from Fairfax TO Arlington, and that the same
| rigorous watchfulness WIS exercised as If the
original intention had been carried ont. On Tuesday


there was less sgn of activity, and the establishment
of the Zouave encampment in new and more shell
tered position gave rise to belief that they had taken
up quarters for a long time. The fact was, that
they moved only becanse they in the line OF the
intrenchments which could not be perfected while
they held their old ground On Wednesday there
seemed to be more hope for the impatient, and il was
no groundess fancy TO suppose that to-day or tonor
row at the latest would see us in occupation of Fair.
fax Court House; but again we were disappointed, and
at this moment, although there s dminuiion Of in
dustry at the camps the indications of immediate pro
gress are less posve than they last Monday. 1t
is impossible to doubt however that the march will
begin without much further delay. The preparations
are too manifest.


Our destination is 30 plain now, that it would be
merely repetition to announce and describe it. /
mean our immediate destination, for beyond that no.
body would like 10 hazard predictions. We take Fair
fax Court House, probably with very little opposition
but at any rate we take it, Even if the Rebel troops
remain there to await the approach, they will it il
presumed, at arrival, they did Alex
andra, and fall back upon their force at Manassas
junction. As this latter ia post Of importance TO
them and they have certainly taken pains to
centrate considerable body there, and to strengthen
their podton by eahworks, conflict Of rome kind is
looked for as unavoidable. If it turn out that the
Rebels are really equal to a resolute and powerful
sstance. simultaneous attacks will be made upon them
by other columns and in different directions fi0m ouis
1t s of course, understood how slight breath of acc
dent may blow away military schemes that are even
cote upon maturity and this little advance upon Alex
and-ia may have its abrupt termination before step is
taken but the intention is as have told you and the
only wonder s that part Of it has not already been
executed.


Everybody will be glad 10 be relieved from the
monotony of Alexandria. The city remains now as il
was the second day after the occupationdu morose,
overawed and deeply discontented suggish, and half
deserted. The citizens such linger near their homes
shy and retcent, avoiding, far they can all
association with their invaders but quietly accedng
TO whatever is demanded Of them. Sometimes these
demands are unreasonable, and have no doubt that
many of the complaints urged against the rudeness and
wantonness Of our men perfectly well founded. IL
is certainly pity that plumbers Of the unoendng in
babitans should be dealt with barshy they have
BEEN but how it is to be absolutely prevented cannot
zee. The officers in command punish every case that
comes 10 their knowledge, and Col Heintzelman has
personally endeavored to bring recent offenders ac
count; but among 80 large body Of men there must
be certain proportion of the lwess whose misde.
meanor it is next 10 impossible to provide against.
The citizens hesitae TO communicate their grievances
TO headquarters, which makes detection still more diff
cult. We hear only of complaints 80 universal that
they must be well founded but which are never made
specific enough 10 lead TO exposure. The case at
Clouds Mill was one Of the most fragrant Clouds
stock Of -four necessarily confscaed and his mill
occupied by our soldiers to prevent its being Get in
operation again, for the benefit Of the dsuonsts but
ali thsthe owner quietly accepted as q hard condition
Of Ii was not 20 easy TO reconcile himself the
oss of his money his papers, bis books and his clothes
which were stolen wherever they could be found The
conduct of the soldiers was moreover, violent that
ne felt oaid to offer any remonsrance, or to apply to
headquarters for the protection Of bis property.
lever saw more striking example Of uncompaining
,rief than this old man presented. lie claimed TO be
Jnionist, but even if this were untrue, nothing could
ustify the reckless pillage which practced upon
i'm. The of his family were in grea, terror for
ays after the arrival Of the soldiers aud all that Cloud