Year: 1861


Correspondence Of the Upton Advertiser.
WASHINGTON D. C., Sept. 5, lsol.
FRIEND DANIELS:


We are having wet and cloudy day,
and perhaps my letter may be little
cloudy, but since l wrote you last We
have had some bright days of natures
make and few made bright by passing
events. There was no disputing the
fact that all friends of the tnon " had
many gloomy days prior to last Sunday
morning. Then we, of this city, were
cheered by the news of the taking of
Forts llattcras and Clark off the east of
North Carolina You have, probably,
had particulars, by telegraph, before now.
This was glorious achievement, censd-
ering the gain of access to the rebel coast
and the means it will afford us to operate
against the rebel p,ivatecrs and their
illicit commerce, which will be greater
gain than the guns, arms, munitions and
provisions taken, and all this without the
loss of a man on our side This is good
beginning for our coast operations and,
although the navy has not won many
laurels yet, think, that as the weather
becomes suitable for the movement of
troops South, we shall have a good ac-
count Of the expenditures for the block
"de and transport service. You know, |
have great faith in the efficiency of this
arm Of the service. | therefore antici.
pate, after the cquinoctual storms are
over, active operations dong the coast in
conjunction with our land forces. la
the meantime many more vessels will be
ready to participate in these expeditions,
among them the steamer Pensacola, now
being fitted out at the navy yard here.


The Coumandcr.in Chief of the army
Of the Potomac does not "uow" keep a
reporter for the benefit Of the public and
! it is difficult for me to inform you before
hand what his Intentions are. But some
times we judge of the depth of water by
surface indications, and we may guess at
the intentions Of General by the move,
ments Of detachu,cnts sometimes. But
we must remember the conditions of the
conclusions and not be too certain \
movement in military tactics may have
double Interpretation, and in fact good
general is careful that this should be SO,
and then man will sometimes come to
wrong conclusions when his premises are
good. With these prclminarics | will
give you my opinion, as to movements
here, based on surface indications.


We have daily reports of skirmishes
and fights across the Potomac, but we are
not allowed reliable information as no cne
! is allowed to visit the divisions that are
on the opposite side Of the river But
day before yesterday we could hear heavy
guns and see smoke and night before last
a strong column, said to be Is, 900 strong,
moved up the river on this side through
Georgetown towards the chain bridge. -
Early yesterday morning there was more
gun music on that side of the river and
last night another movement OF troops
from this side. To me these movements
indicate fsint attack, on tie enemy i'm
medlately opposite to this city, to cover
the real movement OF strong force
against the enemy, who are in force,
about Leesburg, up the river thirty miles.
| know that a messenger was sent to
Gen. Banks yesterday morning, which
may, also, indicate a united move in that
quarter. From all this | expect to hear
and perhaps see some sharp work along
the Potomac in few days, and you may
know for certainty what they do por-
tend, before this reaches you, by tele-
graph reports. Were it not SC | should
not feel at liberty to give the above par
tculars.


1t is reported that the rebels are in
strong force in this neighborbood, but
we feel confident in the ability of our
troops composing the army of the Poto
mac as their efficiency has been greatly
increased, rithin short time, by the
addition of men and material of war
Under the present organization, we ex-
pect the next grand movement will not
BE- Bull Run affair.


LoRZo.