Capture of Virginia militia-men in Hampshire.
We understand that a letter was received last evening by a delegate from one of the Valley counties, conveying the intelligence that Col. Baldwin and a portion of his command, the 31st regiment Va. militia, were captured near Bloomey in Hampshire county, during the latter part of the past week.--The number captured is stated to be between thirty and forty.
The 31st regiment is from Frederick county.
nate.
Tuesday, Feb. 18, 1862.
The Senate was opened with prayer by Bishop Early.
Upon motion of Mr. Johnson, of Bedford, the Senate took a recess of half an hour in order to witness the meeting of the Confederate States Congress.
The Senate re-assembled at one o'clock.
Mr. Johnson, from the Committee on Roads and Internal Navigation, to whom was referred a resolution to inquire into the expediency of providing for the speedy completion of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, submitted a report that it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject.--Concurred in.
Bills presented.
Bills were presented from standing committees:
To amend and re-enact an ordinance of the Convention authorizing the county courts to make provision for the maintenance of the families of soldiers in the actual service of the State or of the Confederate States.
To provide for and regulate the salary of the third clerk in the Treasurer's department.
To aut
ock A. M. The Speaker (Mr. Kemper) in the Chair.
Mr. Sheffey, from the Committee on Roads, reported a bill authorizing the sales of stock held by the State in turnpike and plank roads.
On motion of Mr. Fleming, the bill for the prevention of the distillation of grain by distillers, or other manufacturers, other than that grown by themselves, was taken up.
Mr. Collier moved to strike out the words "other than that grown by themselves," which was adopted.
Mr. McDonald, of Hampshire, moved to amend by making it the duty of the Courts, the moment of the presentation, to cause the grain and property of the defendant to be seized.
Mr. Sheffey moved to amend the amendment by giving the defendant ten days in which to give bond to answer the judgment of the court, and to have forthcoming all property liable to forfeiture under the judgment.
Adopted — ayes 72, noes 7.
Mr. Collier moved to further amend the bill by making the penalty not loss than $100 nor more tha
Virginia, entitled "An ordinance to authorize the county courts to make provision for the maintenance of the families of soldiers in the actual service of the State or the Confederate States, and for other purpose," passed June 18, 1861, was advanced to a second reading.
The report of the Committee of Roads and Internal Navigation, adverse to legislation on the subject of a resolution to inquire into the expediency of providing for the speedy completion of the Alexandria, Loudoun and Hampshire Railroad, or such part of it as is demanded by the military necessities of the country, was taken up, and, on motion of Mr. Armstrong, was laid on the table.
Manufacture of Whiskey.
Mr. Thomas, of Henry, called up the bill "to prevent the unnecessary consumption of grain by distillers and other manufacturers of spirituous and malt liquors." About two dozen amendments were offered, some of which were adopted.
In discussing the bill, Mr. Christain, of Augusta, said that he depr
Col. Baldwin and his men.
We have already twice noticed the capture of this officer, with a portion of his command, in Hampshire.
We are glad to learn that they were not captured without a most gallant and determined resistance, in which they succeeded in killing sixteen and wounding some twenty of the enemy.
A gentleman, of the highest reliability, informs us that a letter had been received in Winchester, by the wife of Col. Baldwin, from Gen. Lander, commanding the Federal forces at Romney, in which that officer says:
"Your husband is a prisoner in my hands.
He was captured to-day by a portion of my command, whilst gallantly defending his position against a largely superior force."
The force of the enemy consisted chiefly of cavalry, which rendered a retreat of our forces at Bloomery impracticable, and although largely out numbered, they determined not to surrender their liberties without inflicting a staggering blow upon the enemy.
Colonel Baldwin
We were a little surprised to learn that the Colonel Baldwin who, with a handful of militia, was recently captured by the enemy in Hampshire, and who fought with a heroism that extorted a compliment even from the lips of the Yankee General, Lander, a man not much given to the language of compliment, was our esteemed friend, Dr. Robert Baldwin, of Winchester.
He is a brother of the late Judge Baldwin, of Staunton, and as firm "an old Virginia gentleman, one of the olden time," as could be seen in a week's journey.
We were quite delighted to hear of the vigorous and slashing manner in which, at the head of a handful of militia, he laid about him amongst the Yankee caitiffs, causing many of the marauding crew to bite the dust.
We trust that his captivity may be brief.
We will wager a trifle that his genial and gallant soul has taken Lander captive already, and that he will permit him to return soon to his home.
We trust that in this respect he will be as fortun
Murder
--The Yankees who recently visited Gloomery, in the adjoining county of Hampshire, deliberately as it and killed an old, inoffensive man named Campbell, who was employed in Shepard's woolen factory, at that place.
When shot he was quietly walking along a path alone and unarmed in the direction of his humble house.
It was a cool, unprovoked and deliberate murder.--Winchester Virginia.
h cavalry and artillery, under the command of Col. Leonard, took possession of Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley. Four additional regiments have since been added to his force.
Many arrests have been made in Berkeley — amongst others, Daniel Burkhart, President of the Bank of Berkeley; Geo. H. Murphy, States Attorney; Dr. P. J. McGary, Samuel Alburtis, editor of the Republican, &c. The enemy is in considerable force at Paw Paw, in the county of Morgan, and also further up the river in Hampshire. Col. Ed. McDonald, of the latter county, who arrived here to-day, estimates their numbers at ten thousand, under the command of Gen. Lander, (since dead.) This column of attack, has not the advantage of the McAdamized roads which the two others have, and is slower in its progress.
General Jackson with his gallant army to here, and presents the only obstacle to the entire occupation of this productive and Parfamed Valley.
We are daily expecting reinforcements.
Notwithstanding the po
ction of Superintendent of the Penitentiary was the first taken up, and two candidates — both worthy gentlemen — were put for nomination.
These were Col. James F. Middleton, the present incumbent, and Col. Charles Blue, of Hampshire county.
On the report, ballot, Col. Blue received 7½ votes, and in Perdition 55 votes.
Col. Blue was then declared duly elected for the constitutional commencing on the 21day of January Col. B. is at present a delegate in the legislature from the county of Hampshire, Va., is it active, energetic business man. He is refined a great deal during the present of his house, barn, and everything connected therewith, having been burnt by the scrupulous invaders of the Valley.
The vacancy in the office of Second Audit secession by the death of Wm. A. Monroe Esq., was filled by the election of Henry Thomas, Esq., of Fairfax, whose home is taken in possession of the enemies of constitutional liberty.
Mr. Thomas has long been a first prominent politician in
er be, exempted from military duty, excepting the cases of those whose estates do not amount to — dollars; also, of assessing a specific tax on all physicians upon whose certificates exemptions have been or shall be obtained, and also upon the fees of all agents employed in obtaining such exemptions.
Mr. Reid called up the resolution offered by him yesterday, in relation to exemptions of the employees of the James River Canal Company, &c. The resolution was lost.
Mr. McDonald, of Hampshire, offered the following; which was referred to the Committee on Military Affairs:
Resolved, That it shall be lawful for the Governor to furnish to the Northwestern Rangers two small cannon or mountain howliners, with the necessary ammunition, to be placed in the hands of such captain as the Governor may direct, to be used for the ranger services; and the Governor is hereby authorized to accept one cavalry company among the companies composing the ranger organization.
Bills passed
