War movements in Virginia.
The New York Herald publishes a long account of what a traveller saw in
Virginia and other parts of the
South, on a recent journey.
It may interest our readers to know what he says, and we therefore copy a portion:
At
Williamsport there was a troop of cavalry to guard the ferry, and were moving up and down the river, in order to prevent a surprise at
Harper's Ferry.
At this last point there were 5,000 troops stationed in a very strong position on the heights, with artillery commanding the railroad and the gorge leading to
Harper's Ferry.
They have cannon in battery, and it will require a large force to dislodge them.
The ground on the other side of the river is higher, and the possession of that would enable the
Federal troops, with good batteries, to drive them away; or, by coming round above them by a circuitous march; the same effect might be accomplished.
The Virginians have pickets on the
Maryland side at
Harper's Ferry.
There is a great mistake about the arsenal being destroyed here.
It was only the two old workshops that were destroyed.
The new workshop and all that it contained were not touched by the fire.
From 7,000 to 8,000 of the best kind of small arms were obtained by the Virginians, and all the machinery for the manufacture of arms, which they were busily removing to a place of safety.
The property obtained at
Harper's Ferry is estimated as worth seven millions of dollars.
At this place, by order of
Governor Letcher, 5,000 barrels of flour were recently seized on the railroad, with a promise that it would be paid for by the
State.
I saw and heard of from reliable sources of twenty-five or twenty-six thousand troops under arms in
Virginia, with thirteen or fourteen thousand at
Raleigh, in North Carolina, making a total of about forty thousand, besides numerous troops on the way from the
South.
As to the statement about no
percussion caps being at
Richmond, it is untrue.
They were busy there altering the locks of muskets from flints to percussion.
At the Tredegar works they turned out three hundred muskets and rifles daily, besides three columbiads.
At the Fayetteville Arsenal, in
North Carolina, a quantity of excellent arms were seized — enough to arm that State, with some to spare for
Virginia.
It is estimated that in the whole
South there are 800,000 stand of arms of all kinds, with plenty of cannon, shot and shells.
What they are most likely to fall short of is powder.
Many of the troops had revolvers besides
bowie-knives, and they say that if they find the rifles of the
Northern forces deadly, they will rush in with the knives to close quarters.
The troops at
Raleigh, in North Carolina, appeared to be quite raw. It was expected that in a short time there would be thirty thousand, fully armed and equipped, in that State.
In several States there was dissatisfaction among militia officers of high rank at being superceded by officers of the Confederate army.
Beauregard was at
Charleston, by last accounts, and
Jefferson Davis still at
Montgomery.
There is great alarm about want of provisions.
In
North Carolina last week bacon went up three cents per pound, in consequence of Georgians coming to purchase, and flour went up from $4.50 to $9 per barrel.
In
Georgia corn cannot be purchased even at $2 per bushel, so short is the supply.
In
North Carolina butter is from 50 to 75 cents per pound, and salt is exceedingly scarce.
The crops are very promising in the
South.
In
South Carolina wheat was in bloom.
Such is the feeling in
Alabama and
South Carolina against
Lincoln, that several county courts have offered $100,000 reward for his head.
There is no such thing as backing down on the part of the
Southern troops.
In my opinion they will fight desperately and to the last.
Their intention was to move on
Washington this week, lest the action of
Maryland should have a dampening effect on the other Border States.
By a battle at or near
Washington, it is expected that
Maryland and all the
Border States will be precipitated into the revolution.
In
Virginia many of the people of both parties were fleeing to the mountains — the non- combatant secessionists from fear of the abolitionist hordes, and the
Union men from fear of the secessionists.
