From Portsmouth.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Portsmouth, April 26, 1861.
Nothing new here.
The battery at the Hospital is vigorously prosecuting.
There are about 800 troops there, composed of our own volunteers and the four companies from Georgia.
There is a parade every evening, at 6 o'clock, when the grounds are thronged with ladies, cheering by their presence and smiles the men who are to defend them.
I heard a gentleman say he did not think the officers who supervised the burning of the Navy- Yard and the destruction of the public property were to blame — that they were only obeying orders.
This is a species of logic and philosophy that I cannot appreciate.
If the order had been to bombard the two cities and cut the throats of the citizens, women and children, and it had been executed, it would only have been obeying orders.
I witnessed practice at the big guns after parade.
The men are thoroughly in earnest and preparing for the worst.
The resignation of Captain Hugh Nelson Page, which was after the Ordinance of Secession, has not been yet published.
No answers have been received to any of the resignations.
Capt. Page distinguished himself on the lakes, and received from the old Commonwealth a sword in testimony of his services and bravery on that occasion.
Though now an old man, he has all the fire of former days, and is ready to battle again in the service of his fellow-citizens and countrymen.
His little boy, nine years old, was with his spade at the battery, as were many chaps of his age — the promising chips of our people, and to be the future gallant defenders of Virginia. H. W.
Portsmouth, Va., April 27th.
The Hospital grounds were crowded yesterday evening by citizens of the two cities and ladies, to witness the parade and the skirmish drill executed by the Columbus City Guard, commanded by Capt. Colquitt. The manŒuvres were prompt, and by their novelty here attracted the attention of the two thousand assembled to witness them. Two of the Georgia companies went over to Fort Norfolk from the Hospital, and companies went to Craney Island from Norfolk. The battery at the Hospital is rapidly advancing to completion, and will command the approach to the harbor. The frigate United States has been towed up to the Navy-Yard and a battery is to be placed upon her. When the frigate Cumberland passed from the yard in tow of the Pawnee, on Sunday morning, Dr. Dillard, of Virginia, of the Navy of the former United States, who had been sick at the Hospital, got a boat, went along side of the frigate and embarked his fortunes with our enemies. It is said the Doctor had been talking secession with acquaintances in the city, and was regarded by them as with his native State and the South; but it seems he has had a "second thought," and so sloped. Commodore Aulick, of Virginia, we see has gone to Europe, and Capt. Farragut, of the Norfolk Navy, to California. He determined, we hear, to take sides with neither, and so departed to a quiet position. He that is not for us is against us, and he that gathers not with us scatters abroad. The positions of Scott, Pendergrast, Dillard, et id omne genus, though regretful in the estimation of all true friends of the South, are but specks upon our otherwise bright horizon. We hear that Baylor, of Norfolk, son of our former Sheriff, is an officer at Old Point, and declines to resign, though urged to do so by his friends. But all such instances of a preference for what is deemed the stronger power are not to be dwelt upon. The power opposed to us cannot subdue us. Our cause is just. We are doubly armed. It is a contest for our individual liberty — and notwithstanding the gigantic efforts making at the North, and the united action of a people where, we were told, there existed a conservative element — an element in favor of the South, headed by Filmore, Peirce, and Cushing, who have now come out against us, we are yet not cast down, but resolved to resist to the death in defence of our homes, our firesides, and our liberties. Old Dominion.From the Camp.
[special correspondence of the Dispatch.]
Headquarters Third Reg't, Va. Vols., April 26, 1861.
Having been comfortably quartered at the Naval Hospital at Portsmouth, which is now the headquarters of the Third Regiment, commanded by Col. James Gregory Hodges, Lieutenant Colonel D. J. Godwin, and Major Wm. C. Wingfield, I avail myself of the earliest opportunity to give you an account of things here.
The quarters are the finest in the State, and the Regiment well organized.
In addition to the eight companies composing the Regiment, we have two others already formed and officered, only awaiting the completion of uniforms to be mustered into service; and when they shall have been mustered in, the Regiment will then be composed of ten companies, numbering in the aggregate about 670 men.
We have also in barracks four large, efficient, and I may add thoroughly well drilled companies of infantry from Georgia, who arrived here a few nights back, officered by the first men of the State, and the soldiers are the very flower of the South.
They are the Macon Volunteers, commanded by Captain Smith, a very eminent lawyer of Macon, who has laid aside a practice of $8,000 or $10,000 to respond to the call of his country; Floyd Rifles, Capt. Thomas Hardaman, member of the last Congress of the United States; City Light Guards, of Columbus, Captain P. H. Colquitt, son of the Ex-Senator, and a gentleman of high legal attainments; and the Spalding Greys, of Spalding county, Captain L. T. Doyal, a jurist of considerable note.
By the way, it seems the papers regard all this section of country as Norfolk.
Portsmouth is scarcely known, and if so, never spoken of. The Portsmouth troops, (and not those from Norfolk,) took possession of the Navy-Yard, after its evacuation, and the Naval Hospital; and en passant, it might be necessary to state, that immediately after the war-vessels passed the High street wharf of Portsmouth, Col. Hodges, with a detachment of his Regiment, in double quick time, repaired to the yard, and having battered down the gates, took possession.
The Colonel, immediately on entering, sent to his private residence for a flag of Virginia, (his own property,) and ordered Capt. James C. Choate of the Rangers, to hoist it, but upon looking around he saw Lieut. Spotswood, a gallant officer of the late U. S. N., who had resigned his commission the day previously, and remarked to Capt. Choate that, he consenting, he would give the Lieutenant the honor of hoisting the first Sic Semper Tyrannis flag over the property of the late United States.
The Hospital was taken possession of by Lieut. Col. Godwin, with one company of the Regiment, accompanied by Adjutant Wrena. Dr. Barrington was in charge at the time, who surrendered on demand on Sunday morning at about sunrise.
Our harbor is now in a comparatively safe condition of defence.
At this point we have in command of our Colonel, aided by Captain McIntosh and Lieutenant Sharp, of the Virginia Navy, a powerful battery, the guns of which are of the largest calibre, all taken from the Navy-Yard.
They are now all in position.
The breastwork is of earth, covered by cotton bales, and they covered with railroad T iron.
Give us a show, and we can sink the entire Yankee fleet.
At various other points batteries are in course of erection--one at Craney Island, nearly completed; one at Fort Norfolk, and several others down the river.
The old frigate United States has also a battery placed upon her, and moored off the Hospital.
The Ape of the Prairies may send in his ships now; we are prepared to give them a warm reception.
The 3d Regiment, under the command of the gallant, efficient and thorough soldier, James Gregory Hodges, is itching for a fight.
We only wish a chance, and rest assured that we will either make a name as a regiment that will be enviable, or perish to a man. The officers and men have full confidence in their commanders, and protest against any change.
Since the taking of the Yard and Hospital, we have done the most laborious service, many soldiers having been 72 hours on duty, with scarcely food enough to sustain a three months old infant; but they have not murmured; they are willing to lay down their lives for their glorious old mother, and whether she demands the sacrifice by the blue pills of the Abolitionists, or by inches, is a matter of no consequence to them.
Part of the regiment, up to Monday, has been doing duty at the Yard. Capt. Dean's company is now doing marine service there, and has in consequence saved the State millions of dollars. V.
