Progress of the war.
We have the most cheering accounts from every section of the
State, with the exception of the
Northwest, and it is confidently believed that the disaffection there is confined to a comparatively small district.
The proper authorities are doubtless fully advised of any traitorous movement in that quarter, which may be contemplated or in progress.
Our correspondence is becoming so heavy that we are under the necessity of omitting many letters sent for publication, and of striking out everything except actual news from others.
A Lexington correspondent writes, April 23d, as follows:
The war fever has not abated in our county.
A well-uniformed Infantry company, (
Capt. Updike,) calling themselves the
Rockbridge Greys, are now all ready for marching orders.
At present they are quartered at the Virginia Military Institute, in room of the corps of Cadets now in your city.
The instruction this company will receive from the Cadets who are retained at the
Institute as a guard to the arms, &c., will be of essential service should they be called into the "tented field." An Artillery company was organized here to-day.
Lieut. McCansland, one of the
Assistant Professors at the Military Institute, was elected
Captain, and
Col. McLaughlin,
J. B. Brockenbrough, Jr., and
W. T. Poague,
Lieutenants.
Other companies are being formed: one at
Natural Bridge; one in the
Kerr's Creek region; one at Goshen Depot; one at
Fairfield, and one at
Brownsburg.
The services of all these companies will be offered to our worthy Governor (of whom we are justly proud,) so soon as they can be uniformed and supplied with arms.
The ladies of our town are working night and day on coats, pants, flannel shirts, and other articles necessary to the full equipment of these companies.
Large and most liberal private subscriptions have been made by our citizens for providing all needed supplies.
A "Home Guard," consisting of sixty of our townsmen over 45 years of age, was readily formed on Saturday last, and organized with
Col. J. M. Raff as
Captain.
By order of the
Governor, ten thousand muskets from the
Institute armory have been forwarded in 100 wagons to the railroad at
Staunton, from there to be sent with dispatch to
Richmond — the object being by this movement to have the flint locks on these muskets changed to percussion.
Seven thousand pounds of powder have been removed from the
Institute magazine, by order of
Gen. Harper, and expressed by wagon to
Winchester.
This draft leaves near 20,000 arms, and 18,000 pounds of powder, together with other munitions of war, for further demands.
A correspondent at
Buchanan, Botetourt county, writes:
Rumor having reached us that Abraham the 1st had called upon the different States for troops, and knowing that the object could be nothing less than a war upon the seceded States, our volunteer corps was summoned together, and immediate preparations were made to march at a moment's notice to the scene of action.
A warlike spirit prevails in our midst, and the company (Mountain Rifles) has received a large addition to its ranks.--Patriotic speeches were made by
Col. John T. Anderson,
Green James,
Esq.,
Rev. Mr. Hart,
Rev. Mr. McGuire, and
the Rev. Mr. Corrin; also, by
Henry Johnson,
Esq., and others.
A proposition was then made that funds be raised for the purpose of providing for the families of the volunteers who were to go to the field of battle.
No soldier was expected to contribute.
The list was immediately headed by a Mr. G--, of
Pennsylvania, with the handsome sum of one thousand dollars; and in the course of half an hour about $2,500 were raised, with the pledges of many citizens that bread and meat should come while they had a morsel to divide.
And, to cap the climax,
Dr. Nich.
Burks,
Surgeon of the regiment, told the
Secretary to put down all he was worth, which is, perhaps, $15,000 or $20,000. A resolution was then adopted inviting the volunteers to meet here and drill, until called into service; upon which resolution, the proprietors of the two Hotels here tendered the volunteers the hospitalities of their Hotels.
Immense enthusiasm prevailed throughout the meeting.
While the above-mentioned subscription was being taken, a slave named
Wilson Prince stepped up and gave a gold dollar to the cause, and desired to go with the company.
A respected correspondent at
Abingdon sends a highly encouraging account of the spirit pervading the
Southwest.
Some portion of the intelligence which he communicates having been anticipated, we copy only the following:
The people of this county are fully awake to the dangers which environ our beloved Commonwealth, and are now almost a unit for secession.
Five volunteer companies are now being organized; and we feel confident that
Washington will furnish five hundred men under the first requisition.
Abingdon will be nearly depopulated, so far as young men are concerned.
There will not be more than half a dozen left ! All callings seem to be enlisting in the good cause of resistance.
There are professional men, printers, mechanics, clerks, and men of no calling at all, enrolling themselves.
What our girls — and we have a large number of them — are to do for
beaux while the boys are gone, I do not see.
Our citizens of means are contributing liberally to the outfit of our volunteers; and yesterday the
County Court appropriated $5,000 for the same purpose, the money for the county bonds being immediately furnished.
Horses are being liberally supplied to such of the Mounted Rifles as have none.
In short, in spite of the large "Union" vote given by our county in the
Convention election, our people are now all right.
The following is an extract from a letter dated
Ruther Glen, Caroline co., April 23d:
‘
The Caroline Greys drilled at this place yesterday, and are drilling again to-day.
It is a company of finely formed and well-drilled young men, and destined, when brought into actual service, to make its mark high and to achieve bright and lasting honors.
The
Captain,
R. O. Peatross, is a young man, but of true courage, and understands his duty well.
Under such a commander the Greys all feel proud to march, and not one man will waver or flinch from his duty.
They display an eagerness for fight that I had scarcely given them credit for possessing, high as my opinion has been, and still is, of their bravery.
Their drilling was witnessed by many of the citizens in this vicinity, and some dozen or more enrolled their names, determined to do or die in defence of our family altars.
The honor of
Virginia can be confidently entrusted to such men as compose this company.
About 12 o'clock M. it was proposed to open a subscription list for the purpose of furnishing the company with a lighter and easier coat, for summer use; and I was a little surprised to see with what alacrity the spectators responded.
Nearly every man present gave something, and many gave-large sums.
The company will be ready in a few days and subject to the orders of the
Governor.
’
I have witnessed excitements of a political character and thought them intense; but never have seen anything to compare with the present, and the whole of this excitement is joyous.
A similar feeling of enthusiasm pervades the
Northern Neck of
Virginia, as will be seen by the following extract of a letter from
Lancaster county.
At a company meeting of the
Lancaster Grays,
Wm. Henderson,
Captain, a flag of the Southern Confederacy, 25 feet long and 12½ feet wide, was raised 225 feet high.
Several patriotic, Southern speeches were delivered, and vociferous shouts of congratulation uttered.
After drill, &c., the Grays assembled in business meeting,
Capt. Henderson in the chair, and
W. Henry Lee,
Secretary; and on motion of
Elias Edmonds, the following preamble and resolutions passed unanimously:
Having heard, with unfeigned delight, of the victory obtained by the forces of the
Confederate States at
Charleston over the troops of the
Federal Government, and believing it to be the purpose of the
Federal Government to reduce the
Southern States to subjection Therefore.
Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the
Confederate States, and
unanimously pledge our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor, to the maintenance of the rights of
Virginia and the
South.
A Raleigh correspondent, writing on the 24th of April, gives us the following information from the Old North State:
Our people are wide awake, and we are responding nobly to the call made for volunteers to defend the rights of the
South.
The ladies, ever foremost in good works, held a meeting in the basement of the Baptist Church yesterday morning, for the purpose of making up the necessary clothing, &c., for our volunteer companies.
There was a general outpouring of the ladies of the city, and they will provide our volunteers with everything necessary for their comfort and welfare.
The following companies are preparing for active service.
The
Ellis Flying Artillery, about 75 men. They have elected Lieut. S.
D. Ramseur, late of the
U. S. A.,
Captain.--The Raleigh Riflemen, about 90 men. Our worthy
Mayor,
Wm. H. Harrison,
Esq., has been elected
Captain of this Company.
The Oak City Guards,
Capt. W. H. High, about 50 men. Several other companies will be formed in this county.
In addition to these, a large number of the citizens over 45 years of age, and heads of families, have organized a "Home Guard," who will perform patrol duty, and will be ready for active service when needed.
Ex-Governor Bragg has command of this company.
Governor Ellis has called an extra session of the Legislature, to most the first day of May.
Although in feeble health, he has, so far, sustained himself nobly in the present crisis.
No man has a stronger hold upon the affections of the people of
North Carolina at this time than
John W. Ellis.
The Council of State met here to-day, at the call of the
Governor.
They have resolved to establish a military encampment here without delay, for the purpose of drilling the volunteers.
The Governor is receiving offers of volunteers from all parts of the
State.
A flag of the
Confederate States now waves over our State Capitol.
Messrs. Syme &
Hall raised one over the "Register" office, with
fifteen stars, amid great enthusiasm.
Adjutant General Hoke, of
North Carolina, has issued an order, under the
Governor's direction, for the enrollment of 30,000 volunteers.
The "fiery cross" of resistance is flashing all over the
State.
With regard to the seizure of the Fayette Arsenal by 2,200
North Carolina troops, the State Journal says:
‘
The
United States officer in command of some sixty troops, seeing the demonstration, at once surrendered.
He was permitted to salute his flag, which was at once hauled down and the flag of the
South was immediately run up and saluted by the
State troops.
No injury was found to have been done to the property.
The number of arms thus secured is estimated at 47,000--50,000 men can be armed in various ways from the Arsenal.
Several pieces of artillery are amongst the arms.
Besides these arms the arsenal contains a complete set of the most approved machinery for making arms, and we learn that men will be at once put to work to rifle the muskets found there.
’
The
Wilmington Herald, of Wednesday, says:
‘
We learn that a majority of the
Justices of the county assembled at the
Court-House yesterday afternoon and determined to appropriate $20,000 for the public defence.
We also learn that the Banks of this place have determined to loan $100,000 to the
Commissioners of the town of
Wilmington, to be used for the same purpose, and that the
Commissioners have accepted the proposition.
There is a rumor in town that one of the up trains on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, containing troops for
Virginia, in crossing a bridge near
Wilson, produced such an effect that the engineer and passengers were induced to make an examination, when it was discovered that some cold blooded scoundrel had sawed one of the timbers of the trestle-work nearly or entirely through, and that it was barely sustained by the iron bolts on each side.
Tracks were discovered at the spot, and dogs being procured they were traced to a house in the neighborhood, and a man (the report says) being found guilty, was hanged last night.
’
Some items of news, necessarily excluded yesterday, still possess interest.
The following paragraphs are from the Baltimore American of Tuesday:
It was extensively rumored yesterday evening that
Col. John B. Magruder, for some time past stationed at
Washington, had resigned his commission in the United States Army and gone into the service of
Virginia, taking with him his entire battery of Flying Artillery.
This rumor, despite its evident improbability, was fully believed by many, though by the majority it was regarded as "too good to be true."
We learn from personal friends of
Lieutenant Colonel Stuart, whose left ankle was badly fractured on Sunday by the accidental discharge of a musket at the armory of the
Law Greys, that his condition has much improved, though he yet suffers great pain.
It is feared that amputation will be necessary.
Yesterday morning between 200 and 300 of our most respectable colored residents made a tender of their services to the city authorities.
The
Mayor thanked them for their offer, and informed them that their services will be called for if they can be made in any way available.
Brigadier Gen. Egerton has received by letters and personal applications, offers of regular military organizations from almost every county in the
State--the companies being fully uniformed and equipped, and ready for service.
At the works of the Messrs.
Winans their entire force is engaged in the making of pikes, and in casting balls of every description, for cannon, the steam gun, rifles, muskets, &c., which they are turning out very rapidly.
The number of volunteers already enlisted for the defence of the city could not be estimated, but knowing ones at the quarters of the Military Board place it as high as 15,000, and state that the work of enrollment continues with an activity which will place at the disposal of the military chiefs in a few days an effective force of 20,000 men, the great majority of whom comprises as good fighting materials as any commander could desire.
A considerable proportion of the volunteers are said to be from the counties, from which scores are hourly arriving in squads or as individuals.
The majority of this uniformed volunteer force are armed with
Hall's patent carbine, an easily loaded and rapid firing weapon, better adapted to the use of inexperienced marksmen, perhaps, than the
Minnie musket.
In military circles the chief topics of discussion are the rumored movements of the Confederate forces upon
Washington; and the expected aid from
Virginia for the defence of
Baltimore.
It was extensively rumored that not less than 3,000
Virginia troops are being concentrated at a point within striking distance from
Baltimore, and that upon the first intimation of a wish for their presence they would pour into the city, with the delay of but a few hours at least.
The military chiefs are believed to be laboring with much energy and determination in the arrangement and maturing of plans for the repulse of the
Northern troops from
Maryland.
Intimation was this morning thrown out that the important work of fortifying the heights surrounding the city is to be commenced forthwith, and would be persecuted with every means at their disposal.
Experienced engineers are said to be now engaged in selecting and surveying the most eligible defensive points.
The rumor which was most eagerly repeated this forenoon, and which occasioned unbounded satisfaction, was, in effect, that
Jeff. Davis was rapidly advancing northward, at the head of 100,000 troops, and might be expected at
Richmond, or its vicinity, in the course of a few days.
The advance guard of this force — comprising 5,000 South Carolinian--are expected, it is said in this connection, to reach
Norfolk in a day or two at farthest. --The rumor was based upon a private letter from well-informed Southern sources, received, it is said, by a merchant of this city.
The necessity of some such aid from the
South to enable us, successfully, to maintain the position assumed by the authorities, is generally admitted, and until the actual occurrence of the crisis, all eyes will be turned hopefully and anxiously in the direction from whence the reinforcements are expected to come.
It is confidently asserted that a requisition for aid has already been made upon
Virginia and
North Carolina by the proper authorities, and the origin of the statement is invested with an air of mystery which lends to the rumor much of the authority and dignity of a "State secret."
Another large supply of arms and ammunition has been obtained, but from what quarter we were unable to learn.
Carts and drays were actively engaged all this forenoon in conveying shot and balls in large quantities from the shot tower and other points.
A number of
Merrill's patent rifles, a destructive and much admired weapon, were this morning received from he manufactories of
Merrill &
Thomas, by the city authorities, for whom they were expressly manufactured.
