From a gentleman who successfully eluded Federal pickets and arrived in our city last evening, we are put in possession of many interesting items regarding affairs at
Norfolk and
Portsmouth of very recent date.
We are informed that the enemy have been particularly oppressive towards the negroes on all occasions, and for the slightest excuse; never falling to beat and cuff them roughly, saying, as they did so, that they ware the sole cause of the war. Our informant states that, to his own knowledge, six unhappy negroes have met an untimely end at the ruthless hands of the invaders, and not less than thirty have been wounded in different affrays at
Portsmouth.
The damage done to private residences and property is very great, the depredations committed being of the most wanton description — stock of all kind and poultry having nearly disappeared from the land.
The residence of
Dr. Virginias Billsolly, near
Portsmouth, was a particular mark for the vengeance of the foe; for, when it was known that the worthy doctor was attached in a professional capacity to
Beauregard's army in the
West, the vandals destroyed all his furniture, upset butter- in his plano, and greatly disfigured and ced his residence.
We hear that a young man well-known in
Portsmouth and
Richmond, named
A. H. Wood, (a degenerate son of worthy parents,) has been particularly active in the cause of Lincolnism — was chief detective in the cause, and seemed to take great delight in hunting down old inhabitants and others favorable to Southern interests.
Another prominent Lincolnites of
Portsmouth, named John Council, (and who has a son in the
Southern army,) has made himself peculiarly obnoxious to our many friends there by his officiousness and seal for the apprehension of Southern sympathizers.
The cause of Lincolnism, however, is admitted to be forever lost (if doubts to the contrary were ever entertained) in,
Norfolk and
Portsmouth; for the high-handedness of the Goths has been so extreme as to nauseate even the weak minded few who hailed their arrival with demonstrations of joy. In fact, the state of feeling towards the
Federals is intensely bitter, more so now than ever, and it is freely confessed on all sides that the
North has lost its last friend both in
Norfolk and
Portsmouth.
A late
Baltimore paper, in relation to affairs at
Norfolk, &c, says:
‘
Major-General Dix has issued an order opening the port of
Norfolk to legitimate trade especially with regard to provisions and the necessaries of life.
Ice is to be sold at the rate of one cent per pound, and other articles at the same rate for which they may be obtained at
Old Point Comfort.
The first load of assorted goods went over this morning.
The Union people were perfectly crazy when they heard this news this morning, and the
Union feeling is already increasing.
’
