From the Upper Potomac.
re-enlisting--‘"Bohemian"’--
Virginia's quote, &c., &c.
[Correspondence of the Richmond Dispatch.]
Shepherdstown, Va., Feb. 26th, 1862.
There is no news of importance at this place.
Re-enlisting in the ‘"Stone-wall Brigade"’ is going on rapidly.
Nearly all the members of the ‘" Guards,"’ of this place, numbering above 75 men, have re-enlisted for the war. This is indeed gratifying.
This gallant corps, which is named in honor of the late
Col. John F. Hamtramels, its original
Captain, has been in existence for the last five years. They fought gallantly at the
battle of Manassas, and not the slightest casualty happened to a man.
The readers of the
Dispatch in this latitude regret exceedingly the loss of your accomplished correspondent ‘"Bohemian."’ His letters were always read with much satisfaction as being entertaining, instructive, and reliable.
May he soon return to his
pen.*
The military law recently passed by the Legislature acts like a charm in this county.
There is not a shadow of a doubt but that
Virginia will furnish her quota of troops.
Numbers of those who were ‘"
certificated"’ under the old law, will have to ‘"come to time."’ Conspicuous among these are quite an array of quasi ‘ "overseers,"’ who were
exempted, not so much for their talents and capacity for overseeing, as for their comprehensive
swearing!
Recently, there has been quite a stir among the canal boats on the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
Last Friday, and all that night, they were continually passing at this point.
It is thought that every boat on the line (above) has gone down.
This has created no little conjecture, and the supposition is, that they have either gone down for the purpose of forming a bridge across the
Potomac at some point, or for the purpose of transporting troops up to
Williamsport, ‘ "with a view to business"’--an attack on
Winchester.
The
Indianian have left the other side, and Marylanders--thirty days volunteers — have taken their place.
Potomac.
[*‘"Bohemian,"’ who sits at our elbow, suggests that his ‘"pen"’ is the last thing he wishes to return to — he had enough of it while
penned up on
Roanoke.--Eds.]
Camp Mason, Winchester, Feb. 26, 1862.
The weather has once more become clear and pleasant, and the roads in this section are also improving in condition, a thing very much desired and earnestly wished for.
The troops in this division are improving in health, and but little sickness exists among them.
A portion have received marching orders, but to what point it is not known at present.
There are rumors upon top of rumors afloat here, and it is difficult to tell which to believe, but it seems to be pretty well known that the enemy are threatening
Winchester from two different points, viz:
Romney and
Williamsport, Md. The former, under
Gen. Landers, are now at the Bloomery, seventeen miles distant, and the latter, under
Banks, are making preparations to cross the
Potomac at
Harper's Ferry, having already commenced building a bridge for that purpose.--"
Stone wall
Jackson, who has command of our forces, will, of course, be prepared to meet them, and will give a good account of himself when occasion calls for it.
Gen. Loring's old division, while highly pleased as his promotion, deeply regret that he should be taken from them, as he had endeared himself to them by always looking after their comfort and welfare.
He was, while a stricted scalplinarian, kind courteous, and ever anxious to see the men as comfortable as possible.
They wish him success in his new field of operations.
The enemy's force at the Bloomery is said to be fifteen thousand, and that of
Banks twenty thousand.
What our force here is, I do not know.
Ned.
Camp Mason, (near Winchester,) Feb. 28.
The enemy have succeeded in crossing the
Potomac and taking possession of
Charlestown, in
Jefferson county.
The cars that left here this morning for that place returned a short time after, not deeming it prudent to advance near the town.
The
Yankees are reported to be in large force, and will no doubt advance towards
Winchester in a day or two.
It is reported that some pretty sharp skirmishing has occurred, but I will not vouch for it. All the movements of this portion of the army are kept rigidly secret, and very rightly, too; and if I knew of our future course or orders, I would not give them publicity; but will keep you and your readers advised, as well as I can, of all matters that should be published.
Regret is felt that
England should deem it best to pursue the policy she has foreshadowed in relation to recognizing our Confederacy; but we will succeed, nevertheless, unaided and alone.
It can and will be done.--Drive from your city the large number of lazy loafers that hang around your street corners, who devour and prey upon the necessities of the poor women and children whose husbands and parents are fighting for our country, and
make them join our ranks to aid this just and righteous cause.
Stir them up; they are as good food for powder and ball as those now in service.
Ned.