Further from the North.
We have files of New York and Philadelphia and Baltimore papers to the 2d inst. Letters from McClellan's army to the 30th generally agree in stating that there is a feeling throughout his camp that ‘"some decisive operations are near at hand."’ Great anxiety is felt about the new Merrimac, No. 2, which is expected from Richmond, and the fleet is kept in constant readiness for her. The removal of Gen. Viele, Military Governor of Norfolk, is called for on the ground that he is too lenient. Gen. Pope is carrying out his ‘"orders."’ The Warrenton correspondent of the Herald, telegraphing on the 1st, says: ‘ Major General Pope and staff and escort left this village at ten o'clock yesterday morning for Washington, commonly known as "little Washington," the county seat of Rappahannock, distant twenty-nine miles. The General was attired in the habit of a citizen, and passed through the main street unostentatiously. He has been a source of mingled curiosity and dread to the disloyal residents. If his inflexibility has enraged them, his soldierly bearing and positive patriotism have exacted their respective admiration. The publication of his order banishing into Dixie all males who refuse to take the oath has wrought them to a perfect pitch of frenzy. Dr. Bingham, of the village, waited upon Gen. Pope, yesterday, and asked if he would enforce the order. He painted, at the same time, the agony of the women and children, and stated that the effect would be to place six cent regiments in the rebel service. ‘"We can't take the oath of allegiance,"’ said the Doctor, ‘"and we won't — man, woman, or child, but we will give parole to attend to our own business, afford no communication, and quietly stay upon our properties."’ ‘"I shall enforce the order to the letter,"’ said Gen. Pope. ‘"I did not make it without deliberation, and if you don't take the oath you shall go out of my lines."’ The villagers now intend to appoint a committee of ladies to wait upon the General with a petition Falling in this, they had intended to select a committee to proceed to Washington city and intercede with President Lincoln; but Gen. Pope issued a stringent order that none of them should have leave to go down in the trains, nor would he pass them through our guards on the common roads. He is a man of his word, and the soldiers think, with him that the farce of avowed disloyalty should be dropped from the bills. What shall we think of a community that pleads for Federal protection and yet declares itself rebel to the last and to a man? Indeed, the order ought also to include the women, all of whom are blatant and undisguised traitresses. They can be heard nightly, on every piazza, sheering at our failures and applauding rebel successes. One would think that we were prisoners here, rather than the garrison of the village. In despite of many adverse statements, I must persist in the belief that General Stonewall Jackson is now posted at Gordonsville, with a command of fifteen thousand men. Our scouts agree in this, and one of them professes to have talked with the renowned rebel in person. Jackson is said to be melancholy since so many of his old and tried Valley troops were summoned to Richmond to be slain. ‘"The General,"’ said one of the intercepted letters, ‘"says that he will not cross the river with his new levies, but if the Federal come across the Rapidan in force he will teach them a lesson that will never be forgotten."’ We have, nevertheless, occupied Orange Court-House with horse and foot, and are many miles further toward Richmond by this route than we have ever been before. ’ A letter from Warrenton thus describes the feeling and behavior of the oppressed people there: ‘ I have failed to meet the man who knows a Unionist in the place; the women invite our officers to their dwellings to lecture them upon the enormity of loyalty, and the staid townsmen collected at the Warrenton, or the Warren Green hotels, talk of "the Government" so familiarly that one is almost deceived into believing that they mean the Government of the United States. They look stolidly upon the turning of their churches into hospitals, and hear without the remotest amazement that Gen. Pope means to make his headquarters in their new county seminary. We raised a flag pole in the middle of the town yesterday, and the Ninth New York (Colonel Stiles) saluted it with three rousing cheers, when the sacred bunting floated to its top in blue and scarlet folds. Not a man or boy flung up his hat, not a woman her handkerchief.--Indeed, they now avoid that part of the street, and refuse to pass under the shadow of the flag. The cavalry here is a very efficient arm of our service. Our horses and those of the rebels are often equally matched, and the chasing and counter-chasing upon the roads and lanes is of a very exciting description. The rebels that scour these neighborhoods are mainly guerrillas, and their warfare is conducted in a dastardly way. Frequently the rebel horsemen led us upon long pursuits, by their superior horsemanship, chafing and embittering us, now stopping to mock and now scampering to escape us. The precipitous character of the country makes the work difficult for steeds, many of whom die upon the way of hunger and fatigue. The orders of Gen. Pope, relative to the oaths of allegiance and withholding guard over private property, is well received. Those officers, if there be any such, who cannot restrain the depredatory spirits in their command, are unworthy the places they hold. Justice to the loyal citizens and the Government requires that no property shall be wantonly destroyed, as has frequently been done heretofore without detection and punishment to the perpetrators. By placing the responsibility on commanders, it is believed these instances will be much lessened. Another evil exists to a great extent in the Army of Virginia. I allude to the practice of procuring (through itinerant traders and city hucksters) every denomination of spurious paper and broken bank notes, as well as fac simile notes of the ‘"Confederacy,"’ and passing them indiscriminately among the unsuspecting inhabitants — poor as well as rich, old and young, male and female. Your correspondent is cognizant of several instances where this has been perpetrated in return for kind nursing by poor, aged women. Unless this system is checked, will not the whole country be overrun by hordes of counterfeiters and swindlers on the close of the war? ’ Waterloo, August 2.--Intelligence from Culpeper says that scouting parties go out daily, and occasionally bring in rebel scouts. No enemy in force has been discovered this side of Gordonsville. His supposed strong entrenchments are being constructed at that place. Our troops are in such high spirits and so confident of success that they say they can defeat whatever forces may there be collected. Gen. Pope, on his way hither, was received with enthusiastic cheers by our troops, whom he reviewed, highly complimenting them on their appearance and drill. Desertions have been much checked within the last few days by the stringent orders of Gen. Pope. Several deserters having been found guilty have been sentenced to be branded and drummed out of the army. At present everything is quiet in front of our advance. Three members of the Ninth New York regiment have issued a newspaper called the New York Ninth, devoted to the dissemination of Union principles in this benighted region.The attack on the Federal fleet--naval battle Imminent — the Merrimac, no. 2, out.
A dispatch from Fortress Monroe, on the 1st instant, says the ‘"rebel ram Merrimac, No. 2,"’ has come down as far as Drury's Bluff. It adds: ‘ The arrival of the mail beat this afternoon brings some particulars of the attack made by the rebel batteries on Gen. McClellan's position from opposite Harrison's Landing. The attack was made at midnight with, it is said, four batteries of flying artillery, some being above and some below the point of attack. They threw six twelve-pound shell, some round and others conical, but not one of them exploded. Their fire was intended, no doubt, for our camps, but many of the shot fell short and thus did some little mischief among the shipping which was laying at the landing and at anchor in the river. Several vessels and steamers were struck with fragments of shell, but none was hurt in them. It is reported nine of our soldiers were killed and only three wounded. The attack being made at such a late hour of the night, and our army expecting rather an attack in front, caused some delay before our guns opened fire, when our siege guns were brought to bear upon them, and in less than forty minutes the rebels were silenced. The firing was very brisk while it continued. Many of the enemy's shells were thrown over among our camps, but these did not explode.--All those which exploded fell much short of the camps, and this accounts for so few being injured. It is supposed that the object of the rebels in this demonstration was to draw the Federal gunboats down the river, so as to enable their boats, including the new Merrimac, to get out. It is estimated that the rebels threw over five hundred shell, which lay this morning scattered over the field. Some lodged in the masts of vessels. All that is known of the effect of our firing is that the rebels retreated, and this morning the trees where they had their batteries presented a shattered appearance, and many were cut completely down. There was only one Federal gunboat near the Landing, which opened fire immediately on the enemy; but they did not appear to notice it, as they were so intent on shelling our camps. If the desire was, as supposed, to draw our gunboats down the river, the attempt was most unsuccessful, as not one made its appearance save the one previously there. ’ The New York Times Potomac army correspondent, under date of the 31st ult., says: ‘ Two suspicious rebel crafts, probably the New Merrimac and Young America, cast anchor yesterday off Turkey Bend. Several of our gunboats were immediately sent to that vicinity. The Monitor made a reconnaissance, after which the gunboat fleet, including the Galena, Monitor, and others, anchored in line of battle off Light-House Point. A balloon and gunboat reconnaissance above and near Fort Powhatan discovered no rebels or earthworks in that vicinity. A branch railroad has been discovered from its bank of James river opposite Berkeley Landing to the Petersburg road. [This is nothing but an old railroad for bringing wood down to the river.--Eds. Amer.] ’ The correspondent closes his letter as follows: 9 P. M.--The position of the fleet is unchanged. The rebel rams are still off Turkey Bend. How near we are to a naval battle every one can judge for themselves.General Curtis's Movements — affairs on the Lower Mississippi.
Cairo, July 30.
--The following news was published in the Memphis Evening Bulletin, of the 28th ult.: ‘
The reported crossing of troops and ammunition by General Price, at some point between Napoleon and Vicksburg, induced General Curtis to make a rigid personal examination.
At Napoleon there was a steam ferry-boat plying across the river, but the owners, on seeing the steamboat containing Gen. Curtis approach, ran off up the Arkansas river.
It was followed, overtaken, and captured, together with fifteen other ferry and flat-boats.
The report was that the Confederates were crossing forces up the Arkansas.
Hence General Curtis went up the river to the White River Cut-Off, about thirty-five miles, capturing boats at every turn, and returning by White river, where he left a portion of his captured booty, as he might have an opportunity to use it hereafter.
Jeff. Thompson was at Austin, fourteen miles this side of Helena, on Friday morning. He had about twenty five wagons of ammunition a short distance off, and came in to see what the prospect was of crossing to the Arkansas side.
He took breakfast in the town, but shortly after a Federal force surrounded the place, and Gen. Jeff Thompson only escaped by about five minutes. He managed to get his wagons off also. ’
The Confederates in Tennessee--man Bung.
The capture of Humboldt, Tenn., by Confederate cavalry has been published. A farmer named Beadle guided them to a bridge which they burned. A dispatch to the Chicago Tribune says: ‘ Beadle and four others, supposed to have been connected with the rebels, were arrested this afternoon, and eight others during the night. Beadle was at once tried and sentenced to be hung this afternoon. He had taken the oath of allegiance, which was found upon his person. His house was also burned, as well as the houses of the four others taken with him. On their retreat the rebels burned a bridge on the Mississippi Central road, eight miles from Memphis. Active preparations were made at Humboldt last night to meet the rebels, an attack being expected, and General Logan threatened to set fire to the town upon the first alarm. Heavy forces will now guard the line of the Mobile and Ohio road all the way to Corinth, and no more trouble is anticipated. ’ The following is a copy of a dispatch received by Gen. Quimby, at Columbus, at 5 o'clock this evening: "The man who guided the rebels to the bridge that was burned was hung to-day. He had taken the oath. The houses of four others who aided have been burned to the ground. "G. M. Dodge,Brigadier General."
Emerson Etheridge delivered a rousing speech yesterday, to a large gathering of citizens and soldiers at Trenton.
Emerson Etheridge delivered a rousing speech yesterday, to a large gathering of citizens and soldiers at Trenton.
The War meetings at the North.
At Cincinnati, on the night of the 31st, a large war meeting was held, amid the ‘"display of fire works, music, and ringing of the fire bells."’ Three Governors addressed the meeting. Resolutions were adopted pledging everything to sustain the Government, recommending a more vigorous prosecution of the war, and the confiscation of the property of traitors everywhere, and expressing an unalterable opposition to compromise with traitors and hostility to foreign intervention. Preparations for drafting are progressing in Illinois. The Adjutant General has issued instructions to the county clerks that the assessors shall furnish, without delay, lists of able-bodied men, between the ages of eighteen and twenty five, liable to military duty. In New York and Pennsylvania, it is definitely decided that drafting must be resorted to and that too, by the 18th proximo.From New Orleans.
Butler has issued another ‘"order,"’ declaring that where it shall have been proved on a negro's testimony that his master has told him to ‘"go to the Yankees,"’ that the negro shall be free.--The case of a negro woman Anaise, slave to a widow, has been decided in favor of her freedom, under this order. A letter from New Orleans to a Northern paper says: ‘ We have had another case of sending a woman into confinement. A young and very pretty woman, Mrs. Cowan, was arrested last week for violent secession demonstrations; but after a few days of custody, she was released on Saturday. The first act of her liberty was to send a card to the Delta, defying the authority of the United States, and then she forwarded a copy of the card, ‘"with the compliments of the author,"’ to General Butler. On Sunday she was again arrested, but on the appeal of her mother was released the same day. On Monday, for reasons that are necessarily secret, but very creditable to the General, she was taken over to Fort McComb, where she will be treated with perfect kindness; and as the fort is in superb condition, she is likely to pass the summer very pleasantly. Lt. Weitzel, of Gen. Butler's staff, was her escort to the fort, and on her trip she confessed that she had recently had occasion to change her opinion of Gen. Butler, and that she had conceived a deep respect for him. She was in capital spirits, and seemed to look forward to a residence at the fort with no little delight. The three persons whom I mentioned in my last as having been arrested while trying to pass our lines, have been punished as follows: Messrs. Rossy and Dacres, sent to Fort St. Philip; and Mr. Russell, having been engaged in attempting to get away for the purpose of attending to the business of his employers, Messrs Benthuysen, Lewis & Co., was released after his principals had paid a fine of $500. T. H. Farish, the agent of the Rothschild in New Orleans, had committed suicide. A number of persons had been arrested for an attempt to assassinate Thomas S. Burbank and his brother, among whom was Andre Delarde, a brother-in-law both of John Slidell and General Beauregard. The price of flour had fallen to sixteen dollars per barrel. ’From Fredericksburg.
A letter to the New York Tribune, from Fredericksburg on the 25th ult., announces the arrest of four prominent citizens, and says the soldiers are ‘"jubilant over Gen. Pope's orders relative to the property of the rebels."’ It adds: ‘ This sudden change in the policy heretofore carried out is producing a healthy reaction; and, though late in the day to begin to discriminate between ‘"Unionists"’ and rebels, still ‘"better late than never."’ The espionage has been so lax that stores, provisions, medicines, and letters, have been carried through our lines with impunity in broad daylight. The Union men have complained again and again of this, bringing abundance of proof of it, and actually giving the proper authorities information when and who would carry these things through our lines; yet the policy of conciliation and subserviency was carried so far as to overlook and permit this state of things. These complaints were at last carried by a deputation to Washington and laid before the Administration, who have sent detectives, and these purchased a quantity of salt and other things, obtained permission from the Provost Marshal, Capt. Mansfield, to pass through the lines, did so, and then destroyed the salt and returned to Washington with their report. Captain Mansfield was immediately sent for from Washington, and though he has returned he has not yet resumed command, and I doubt very much if he will again. ’A Traitor unpopular with traitors.
The Union men of Taylor county, Va., held a meeting on the 22d of July for encouraging enlistments. The following resolution was adopted: Resolved, That the course in Congress of our Senator, John S. Carlile, in voting with Secessionists and secession sympathizers, in all or a large number of their votes, and also in opposing and voting against the admission of the new State, has neither met our wishes nor reflected our sentiments, and we hereby request him to resign a position which he has shown himself unworthy to fill.Rebel gunboats up the Yazoo river.
Vicksburg, July 25.
--A gentleman recently from the Yazoo river country reports that the steamer Star of the West, captured off Galveston by the rebels, is up that river and armed with twenty-two guns.
She is iron-plated to a considerable extent.
The W. H. Webb, a powerful ocean towboat, is also up that river, and has been placed something in the style of the Sumter.
She is constructed as a ram.
The rebels have also the Mobile, mounting one gun.
The Star of the West and the Webb came up from New Orleans when that city was captured, bringing, among other rebel plunder, 108 guns.
At Liverpool, sixty-five miles up the river, the rebels have an ingeniously contrived raft, which is a perfect lock against ascending boats.
They have also a powerful battery on shore at that point.
In addition to the above-named vessels there are about thirty river steamers up the Yazoo river.
