The Daily Dispatch: February 7, 1862., [Electronic resource]

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Northern and Southern Affairs.

From our exchanges we make up the following summary of the latest news:

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Another Alarm in Greenbrier.

The Staunton Spectator says:

‘ During the past week a company of 250 of the enemy's cavalry were found to be advancing towards Lewisburg. They expected (so they said) to form a junction at Meadow Bluff with 1,000 infantry, who would reach that place by way of the wilderness road from Nicholas C. H. As we had but a small force at Lewisburg, not sufficient to meet such a force of the enemy as seemed to be advancing upon that place, there was a great deal of alarm there, and many were preparing to leave. Colonel Alex. W. Reynolds, with the Twenty-second regiment, about 300 strong, and the Greenbrier cavalry, and several hundred citizens who took up arms for that special occasion, marched from Lewisburg to give them battle. As the rise in the waters prevented the infantry of the enemy from getting over to Meadow Bluff, the Yankee cavalry considered ‘"discretion the better part of valor,"’ and retired before Col. Reynolds had an opportunity of paying his respects to them.--They were pursued for some distance by the Green brier cavalry, under command of Capt. B. F. Eakle.

’

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The North Carolina Arsenal.

Captain John C. Booth, Superintendent of the North Carolina Arsenal and Foundry, situated at Fayetteville, writes to the Baton Rouge Gazette as follows:

‘ My foundry will cover about three or four acres. My laboratory is shaping itself into a chej d'auvre, and I have the best chief in the world. I am getting out timber for one hundred field batteries and five hundred heavy gun carriages; the latter, however, will be made principally of iron. My rifle factory has just begun to work, and we ship to-morrow one hundred to Richmond. Then I am building a railroad connecting me with the road to the iron and coal mines, which also gives me communication with the river and steamboats. You will get a better idea of the magnitude of my establishment from the statement of the fact that the Government has contracted for ten thousand tons of pig iron to be delivered here, with the privilege of increasing the amount to twenty thousand tons.

’

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From Roanoke Island — no Burnside--Gov. Wise.

The Norfolk Day Book, of yesterday, contains the following:

‘ The steamer Arrow, Capt. Slocum, arrived here last night via Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal, in fourteen hours, having left Roanoke island on Wednesday morning at 9 o'clock.

By a gentleman who came passenger, we learn all was quiet at the Island when he left. Commodore Lynch's fleet of gun-boats are still lying there, waiting for the arrival of the Yankees. None of his gun-boats have ventured in Pamlico Sound since the Sea Bird went down, two weeks ago. Nothing is known at the Island of the movements of the Burnside expedition.

We regret to hear of the illness of General Wise at Nag's Head. He is still confined to his bed, and unable to attend to his laborious duties. He has designed many improvements which will greatly strengthen the defences at Roanoke island. It would have been well for the country if he had been assigned to that command several months ago. We hope it is not yet too late, and that his health may soon recover.

’

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The Charlotte (N. C.) Mint.

The Wilmington (N. C.) Journal believes the Confederate Government ought to restart the mint at Charlotte, in that State, and says $400,000 of gold coin could be introduced into circulation each year. This could be done for about 2 per cent.

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The Yankees on Ship Island.

The Mobile Register has received reliable intelligence that the Yankee troops are encamped on Ship Island to the number of from ten to fifteen thousand men. There were lying near the Island at the same time about 27 vessels, the most of them transports.

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A Patriotic Family.

William A. Spencer, a resident of Amherst county, and who is only forty years of age, has seven sons now in the Confederate service, and two others who will enter the army during the present month, while he himself is making preparations and will in a few weeks go with his boys. --Lynchburg Republican.

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Col. James L. Orr.

Col. Orr, of South Carolina, took formal leave of his regiment, at Sullivan's Island, on the 10th instant, prior to leaving the State for the Confederate capital.

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The following items of Northern news are taken from the Philadelphia Inquirer, of February 3d

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From Accomac, Va.--a fleet captured.

Major Andrews, who has charge, at Pungoteague, has captured twenty-nine sloops and several schooners, and has them all anchored man-of-war style in Pungoteague creek. These vessels have all been taken because they had either attempted to run the blockade, had irregular papers, or had disobeyed the orders promulgated for the regulation of vessels in the waters of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

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Secession Ladies.

Three young ladies astonished the troops at Pungoteague the other day, by driving through the town and past the whole garrison, ‘"full tilt,"’ in a curricle, holding high over head a gay Secession flag, which, as the chariot flew, fluttered in the breeze. It took all hands so by surprise that the g'hals were gone before they could arrest them. Subsequently, however, it was ascertained that they belonged to the F. F. V.'s thereabout, and were made to apologize in public before the whole command, for the insult.

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Relief for Massachusetts soldiers in Maryland.

Additional information, says the Boston Traveller, received by Gov. Andrew in relation to the Massachusetts men, induced on false pretenses to go to Maryland, shows that there are at least fifty in a destitute condition, unable to obtain employment, and without means to return home. Gov. Andrew has telegraphed to the Maryland authorities that he will be personally responsible to the amount of $200, to be expended for their relief.

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Another statement — M'Clellan and the Merrimac.

An old gentleman named Taylor, from Cincinnati, and who lately went North, (having been released from the prisons in Richmond,) ‘"makes a statement,"’ which is extensively published in Yankeedom. He says that the rebels are almost at the last gasp, especially in view of the now apparently well ascertained fact that their troops are — the greater portion of them--determined to go home, their enlistments expiring, most of them, by the twentieth of this month.

Mr. Taylor says that whatever may be the estimate of the policy of General McClellan in the loyal States, he is regarded by the rebels as pursuing a policy most destructive to all their hopes and expectations. His masterly inactivity for so long a time, which he has used to strengthen, organize and equip his armies, they regard as a stroke of policy that indicates fearful results to themselves. They admit that time has weakened them, while it has strengthened him, and they look with fearful forebodings to the fact that the term of enlistment of fully one-half the troops they have in the field expires before the 25th of February. They regard his resistance of the demand for a ‘ "forward movement,"’ and the silent energy he has evinced, as marks of generalship of the highest order, and of a determination to work out his plan of operation despite the complaints of those who do not comprehend his purposes.

With regard to the steamer Merrimac, with her encasement of railroad iron, Mr. Taylor is of opinion that the report of the contraband as to her efficiency is not reliable. As he came out of Norfolk he saw a vessel in the stream, near the Navy-Yard, which he presumed was the Merrimac, but he says that she is regarded in Richmond as a failure. Her load of iron is said to be too heavy, and that she would not answer her helm during a recent trial trip. As she is intended to be used principally as a ‘"ram,"’ this is regarded as a fatal defect. Her draught of water is also so great that she cannot pass the obstructions that have been placed in the Elizabeth river to prevent the ingress of Federal vessels.