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{Copyright oy American Preu* Aseocla
tion. 191L].
By JAMES A. EDGERTON.
URING the second week of Oc
tober, 1861, opctured a., for
ward movement of detach-,
ments of the 'Federal Armyof
the Potomac. It was not an, exten
sive movement, being little more than
an advance of the picket lines. After
the battle of Bull Run the Confeder
ates had drawn rather close ^al^out
Washington, placing troops ofob'sery a
tjonon several nearby, vifgtola milk
The occupancy of one of •these, iviun
•qnVhill, only eight .miles, frbm" Wash-
An incident at about this time
throws a rather luminous side light on
the situation and reveals something of
McClellan's military tactics. It was
reported that the Confederates were
again fortifying Matthias point, on the
Potomac, and were threatening navi
gation. To dislodge them a combined
naval and military movement was
planned. McCiellan agreed, to furnish
the troops, and the Potomac flotilla of
gunboats were to land these and' co
operate in the attack. All wasCm/ide
ready and the boats prepared for the
expedition. But no troops^ app.eaired
Inquiry at army headquarters elicited
the information that McClellan's en
gineers had reported against the plan
and said it would-be impracticable, to
land the troops in thp manner pro
posed. The navy- replied that it as-^
sumed all responsibility for landing
the troops. ..i.
Two Logs and a Stovepipe.
Another promise was thereupon
made that the land forces would be
ready the next night, and once
The Situation In Front of W ashingtonf- Advance of the
Federal Outposts—-Confederate Outposts Retire From
the Vicinity of* Alexandria to Fairfax Court House.
