Hide Article Text (OCR)
Richmond CorrespondenceC'f the Sarnnah Republican.Richmond, Jane 18tb, 1861. Nothing of any consequence has transpired In the neighborhood of Richmond, or ip any portion of the State, within the past few days', except the various arrivals and departures of troops, the military preparations, and the active exertions being made intheDepartraentof War for the approaching conflict. The evacuation of Harper's Fen-y which was the subject of cur-' rent rumor, a few days ago, seenfs now reduced to an absolute certainty, and whatever designs may have been entertained in this project, the people are eminently satisfied, trusting as they do confidently in . the . strategic skiU of their military leaders. The machinery employed there in the manufacture of ordnance and accoutrements generally has all been safely removed to the Arsenal at Fayetteville, and wc have reason to believe that the village itself; consisting ol a few paltry houses, has been burnt, the fortifications destroyed, and the position entirely abandoned by the Confederate troop?. . -* The evacuation seems to have been causetl bv the rapid advance of the Federalists in that direction, and although the impregnability of the place would forbid any apprehension of its ability to sustain Attack, still the presence of an overwhelming force might prevent the possibility of a fair field encounter which seems so desirable to us. No information has yet reached us of the whereabouts of the troops who have abandoned the post, but it is presumed they are divided into sections to reach Manassas and join Beauregard. jCommon opinion holds that this distinguished officer is meditating an early attack upon the town of Alexandria, and that an effort will be 1 made not only to prevent thp further advance of the Licolnites, but to cut off by rear approaches the chances of Tetreat, and lay their cowardly bones in the dust of the noble old State, whose soil they have dishonored. Whatever may be the truth in view of affairs, I am strongly in- ; clined to the same opinion. The outposts have ^ reached beyond Fairfax Court House, and are I within one hour’s walk of the city, and con- j 6taut reinforcements are being received at the ^ Gup. Most of the troops holding this post of g danger are South Carolinians and their com- f manding officer, having already had an cxhibi- £ tion of their metal, entertains the highest confidence in them now. tFrom the Western sections of the State we hear bnt little. Brig. Gen. Henry A. Wise being upon the ground and endeavoring to force up his command throngh the mountains and valleys, will soon stand upon an eminence from which he can bring the traitors to^tenas. His force in the field, though ample enough for present purposes, will soon be very largely i'h-creased-by companies now in progress of organization, and it is estimated that lie will bring the sweet influences of ten thousand Virginians to bear upon' the Inhabitants of Wheeling ere long. It Is much to be regretted that his hand was not upon thetlller of the ship of State in place of the weak minded Letcher.In this connection I have heard that the State Convention may soon institute this cliauge, which will certainly meet the support of the people.The forces at Newport’s News and its sur-rouudings are as yet in a state of “masterly inactivity,” awaiting the trumpet sound for the great light which must- take place there very shortly. . Megruder is a man whose indomitable energy and courage will not suffer to be Idle long, and If some attack is not forced upon him, he is very able to turn.tablcs and tell his tsde-opontUe Yankees. -The Convention has (as a matter of course) resumed its secret conclaves, and the old fogies have their opportunities to knock noodles and count noses without being disturbed by the p Press. Ia accordance with a resolution, they called upon his Excellency the President last night and were individually introduced. The attendance was very large. Carlhle icas not b there / ^The 117.1/7 and Dh^pah-harc both out in favor ^ of the restoration of George Mason’s OJd Con- ^ stitution reducing the popular licences, and d lopping off the unnecessary excrecenses of 1' numerous popular elections. It is evident that “Old Virginia is bciug Imbued with the jj genuine spirit of a right democracy, and that tl there now breathes a diepositipn to abolish all thoao superfluous poll gatherings which only ^ tend to keep the public mind in excitation, and to give rise to passion and demsgogism. The position assumed by those leading journals may be influential in biassing the minds of the Convcntionites until a full exposition is received from the Press, and I do not question 1 the result. Had the State Governments of the b United States been less subjected to radical changes from temporary causes, and the sober thinking men less subjected to the annoyances of stump orators who fawn upon tbo all power- P ful people in the day of elections, it Is more £ than probable thnt the old Government would s; now exist in its pristine purity. The ex- flt; pericnee of the past, therefore, should be the lamp to guide the feet of our old Mother as she essays a new path of government, and it is sincerely to be hoped that the clianges proposed may be speedily adopted by her.Yesterday I had a conversation with one of six deserters from the lamous Garibaldi Legion of New York. He informed me of the condition of Washington City, in which he remained for two days while passing lower down In the Potomac. He sayB that his comrades are thoroughly sickened at their miserable treatment, aud, pointing to his five companions, he said: “You sec six of us now, in a few days yon will have the whole battalion. My Federal buttons I tear off—give mo yours.”— They have gone to Yorktown to join onr Zouaves.Jenkln6’6 South Carolina Regiment left here A this mornlpg well and hearty ; all rejoiced at the prospect of field service. Last evening two or three thousand men arrived, amongst them the Hampton Legion. They will be encamped here for a few days and may be ordered then to tlio Northwest. Violet.
Newspaper Details
Savannah Republican
Savannah, Georgia, US
Sun, Jun 23, 1861
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 21 Apr 2025
Other Publications Near Savannah, Georgia
Savannah Georgian Georgian
Savannah Supplement to the Republican
Savannah Republican and Savannah Evening Ledger
Savannah National Republican Supplement
Savannah National Republican
