From Montgomery.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch]
Montgomery, Ala., May 13, 1861.
A body of troops numbering at least five hundred men, passed through Montgomery on yesterday on route for Pensacola.
They are to be followed in a day or two, it is reliably stated, by a regiment of Georgians a thousand strong.
The almost daily additions to our army at Pensacola indicates that a decisive, and perhaps an unexpected, blow is soon to be struck by Gen. Bragg, or that the Department of War is apprehensive of some aggressive movement of the black foe, not dreamed of in the philosophy of the many.
A rumor is in active circulation this morning, that the proposition made to Congress by the Virginia Commissioners to remove the Government to Richmond has resulted in a determination by that body to do so about the 20th of next month.
Telegraphic dispatches from prominent citizens of Virginia continue to pour in upon the President, urging him to go to Richmond and announce the establishment of his headquarters in that city — declaring that his presence would exert an influence worth an army of 50,000 men. It is confidently asserted that he is making rapid preparations to comply with the urgent wishes of his countrymen, and in eight or ten days will assume the command of all the military forces in person, entrusting to the pure and able Vice-President the civil reins of Government.
It is believed here that the President has determined to give to the Border States, at an early day, one or more representatives in the Cabinet.
If only one, he will come from Virginia; --and what State of the Confederation is more deserving of the honors and offices of this Government than she — the bloody battle-ground of this war, upon whom will fall the brunt of the dreadful conflict?
Right and justice demand for some one of her tried and sagacious statement a place in the Cabinet Council, and our impartial Chief Magistrate will make a way for the appointment.
The most remarkable activity prevails in the War Department; its Secretary, Gen. Walker, performs an almost incredulous amount of labor — sufficient to overwhelm an ordinary man. He is in his office from an early hour in the morning until midnight, regularly, issuing orders and directing ements of the military, striving to peorganization, consulting with office ers from all portions of the Confe ction to their tenders of volunteers ng, with the advice of the President the merits of thousands of applications for army appointments, who, if induced to form themselves into regiments, would constitute a division of men as brave, disciplined and enthusiastic as ever swept a field under the eagle eye of the mighty Napoleon.
Nearly one thousand applications are on file from South Carolina, and nearly as many are said to have been already received from Virginia, proving that with the announcement by the Old Dominion of a farewell to peace, and a welcome to battle, her war voice became loud as the thunder's roar — swelling her every gale and cheering on her every freeman with a trumpet cry as proud as that which rang from the lips of Bozzaris to his Grecian band — striking like her own brave sons in freedom's holy battle. Montgomery.
[Later advices represent that Congress will probably adjourn to meet in Richmond in July. The announcement of a removal of the seat of Government is probably premature.
Eds. Dispatch.]
[Later advices represent that Congress will probably adjourn to meet in Richmond in July. The announcement of a removal of the seat of Government is probably premature.
Eds. Dispatch.]
Montgomery, May 15th, 1861.
The President, his lady, and the Secretary of the Navy, left Montgomery at 2 o'clock on yesterday, for Pensacola.
The object of the President's visit is to inspect, in person, the batteries, fortifications, and preparations of Gen. Bragg, previous to his departure for Virginia, which will occur in a very few days. The Vice-President was heard to declare, on yesterday, that His Excellency would go to Richmond, without doubt, early in next week.
Congress, it is asserted, will certainly adjourn in a very few days, to convene in Richmond, should the President deem a summer session expedient.
It seems to be understood that Montgomery will remain the temporary Capital of the Government.
Albeit, the Congress may be called together by the President, at Richmond.
Its public proceedings have been unimportant lately, embracing but little more than the mere forms of opening each day's proceedings.
On yesterday, a resolution was offered by Thos. R. R. Cobb, requesting the President to issue his proclamation appointing a day of fasting and prayer, which was unanimously adopted.
Its author, Hon. T. R. R. Cobb, is a gentleman of much piety and moral worth.
The Postmaster General has issued a proclamation announcing that on and after the 1st day of June he will assume the entire control and direction of the postal service.
He directs postmasters, route agents, &c., to continue in the discharge of their respective duties under the Postmaster General of the United States, unless in conflict with the laws and Constitution of this Government, and to render to the Post-Office Department at Washington, D. C., their final accounts, receipts and expenditures up to the last day of the present month, and other orders necessary to the proper adjustment of their accounts.
It concludes with a notification that until a postal treaty shall be made with the United States Government for the exchange of mails, postmasters will not be authorized to collect United States postage on mail matter sent to or received from those States, and requires all postages here to be paid in money until supplies of postage stamps and stamped envelopes are procured for pre-payment.
Judge Reagan has been almost lost to public view amid the arduous labors of his department; but is an amiable, laborious and untiring officer, whose administration will be signalized by indefatigable attention and conscientious ability.
The brave Ben McCulloch left the War Department on yesterday.
He has been recently promoted to the position of Brigadier General in the regular army, and will confine his operations principally to the frontier of Texas.
About fifty thousand dollars has been drawn by him for the pay, sustenance and expenses of organizing his volunteer forces.
The Empire State--Georgia--is said to be blazing with the fires of war. Exclusive of her first five regiments, Gov. Brown has received offers of service from 255 companies, and represents that they still continue to pour in.
The gallant volunteers of the Confederate States have more than filled all requisitions for twelve months troops; but the determination of the Government now is to receive troops only for the war. The Government is going to fight this controversy to the ‘"bitter end."’ Twelve months may be sufficient time to convince Lincoln's ruffians that raids upon the South can have no other effect than a John Brown termination.
But to make sure, the war authorities are receiving only for the war. Large pecuniary demands are now being made upon the Treasury from that source, the requisitions in one day amounting to half a million.
A warrant for seven hundred thousand dollars has been recently drawn by the Navy Department for the use of J. D. Bullock, and charged to the appropriation made by Congress, for the probable cost of ten steam gun-boats for coast defences, to be built or purchased as might be deemed most expedient.
$400,000 of the amount was paid in bills of exchange on London, and the remainder by letter of credit on the Bank of Liverpool.
Bullock is in England, the agent of the Government in the matter. 