S&wm IrifauK.
ALTOQNA, PA.
THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1862.
Britain Scared.
be evident to nil who have read the
“» Parliament, on the occasion of the
••"Ifliinrf the news of the naval engagement be
tw*l Monitor and Merrimac, in Hampton
Soldi, that the British are considerably scared.—
Sfcwe “wooden walls,” which have been for cen
tiUies the pride and strength of England, dwindle
into insignificance in the eyes of the people of that
nation, when they learn that two small vessels
across the Atlantic have proven their power to
walk through the strongest of these walls, more
easily than their boasted Warrior would walk
through so many canal boats. If is time that
Parliament was aroused and expited. The su
ptenacy of England on the seas has departed, and
ito more cut her subjects sing “ Britania Bales
the Wave”
The same conclusion which was .arrived at in
this counter, on the occasion refeiredto, has been
forced upon all foreign nations, that the days of
wooden'ships are over. SirF. Smith said that
“lie grpat question had beenbrought to\an issue,”
end Mr. Laird remarked “this engagement has
now settled forever the' relative capabilities of
.wooden and iron ships in war,” and Sir J. D. Hay
said that “it was positive madness to send people
out to fight in wooden vessels.” Positive madness
h certainly is, where they have to contend with
vessels like the Monitor or Merrimac, and against
the power of the present improved artillery,
There is not a wodden vessel in the British navy,
and we will not even except the ? iron clad Warrior,
that can stand ithe conical bait fired ont of the
Parrot gnns. Their power was fully demonstrated
at the siege of Fort Pnlaski, where they pieced
through the solid walls of that fortification,
(which cost onr government an immense sum and
was thought to be almost impregnable) as though
they were inch pine boards. When the English
-h«r of tlsis they will think less of their great for
tifications, and wiU agitate the subject erf* iron ves
sels withlhore in tensity.
Theforest must now yield to the mine. Even
the immense iron-plated vessels, on which the
English have spent so much, are not able to stand
vessels of the character of the Merrimac or Moni
tor, and in Mr. Gregory’s opinion, while the War
rior might have withstood an attack of the Mer
rimac, he said “if the Warrior and Monitor bad
met, there is but little donbt that the smaUer vessel
would have plunged her shot into the unprotected
parts of the Warrior, and would, in fact, have
overcome the pride of the British navy." To pre
vent such a catastrophe, in the event of a collision, ■
which might happen, it is proposed to give the
Warrior a still heavier coat of plating, and a pow
erful beak, andiotherwise strengthen her, although
she has already cost a frightful-sum, and Is exceed
ingly troublesome to manage when at sea.
In reference to fortifications they scarcely know
what to do. They are now erecting several and,
■•lengthening others at great cost, and they are
in doubt as to whether they will avail anything
when finished. Capt. Jerries asks “what is the
use of having them, if yon could have others,
equally solid, moveable at will, and able to run
past a fixed fortress?” Colonial fortifications, it
was conceded, were ridiculous to continue; such
vessels as the Monitor would render them utterly
useless, and soon give the United States a superi
ority on the lakes, which Canada must meet with
Monitors built by herself. The United States is
now admitted to be superior to all other nations in
naval strength, a single vessel being considered too
much for all the “ wooden walls” of England, and
it becomes her to keep up her supremacy. Having
at a single leap gone a step higher than her rivals,
- let her not came down again. Monitors, or im
provements thereon, are the vessels for naval war
fare, and the more we spend on them and the less :
we throw away on fortifications, the better will we
be prepared to 'assume the offensive or defensive
against a foreign power. One vessel like the Mon
itor would more seenrely protect any of our harbors
than all thafortifications now erected in any of them,
and against vessels of the same class os the Monitor,
fortifications are perfectly useless. In the hands
of the rebels, the Monitor could run up the
Delaware and bum Philadelphia, or up East Iliver
and burn New York City, or up the Potomac and
bom the, Capitol, and the fortifications along those
riven wquld not check her progress in the least.—
Well'may the English Parliament get excited on
the question of iron clad vessels, since that govern
ment is so well aware of the insult she gave this
nation in the time of her weakness—an insult
which will be wiped out some day, if it should he
by the appearance of a dozen or two of Monitors
in the port of Liverpool, after the manner of the
Rinaido at Boston Harbor, and the Warrior at
Hamptoh Beads, last foil.
While it is evident that the British lion is scared,
it is nevertheless amusing to read the contemptu
ous sneers and epithets which the Sirs and Earls
use when speaking of the Merrimac and Monitor.
And they are jealous, also. They will not admit
that iron-clad boots are the product of American
inventive genius. According to one of the mem
bers of Parliament, Iron-clad boats for naval war
fiwe washing since suggested by au Englishman,
but it remained for the Yankees to give them a
trial. Sfoce we have so far outstripped the great
poval nation in her own line, we can afford to let
her. chum 4hat one of her sons first conceived the
idea of foqh-clad boats, though we are inclined to
doubt it. ■
$$T Pttemm't Naliomi Magazine for May con
tain* qaitea variety for the ladies iu the way of
Gubion {dates and needle work patents. It is the
heat Magazine for the price that could be pub
fished. It ' has not been effected by the crisis.—
Tiy jt a yaar, ladies. On)y $2,00 per annum.—
C. J.jJPeJejsdn, Philadelphia.
Brotherline on his Marrow Bones—
A Parting Salute to Onmbo.
The editor of the Whig has been engaged, ever
; since he got control of the sheet that he boosts he
got “to make pay,” in a. series of articles com
j {dinning generally of mankind,. filled with the
I softest adulations of himself, badly written homilies
j oh honor and honesty, the world, flesh and the devil.
| The object of this was to bring the beauty into no
| tice and notoriety. In this effort, we felt it our
I duty to render any assistance “we could, influenced
iby the kindest motives. John didn’t so take it.—
! Mitch to our soprise we fotmd the fellow getting
i angry, and he actually went so far as, while in
; sisting that his exhibitions of vanity and Pharisai
cal whittings of virture about himself were true, to
challenge-us to show in what respect his practice
didn't accord with his theory-.. We considered
this bold on his part —very bold —so we plumped at
hiin several questions to test these jteculiar traits in
his character, which he says his name is the syno
nyme of—hat which the world seems to think' he
.is a perfect stranger to—honesty and trnth. Two
of these questions had been pointedly addressed to
him, week after week, by his next door neighbor,
the Standard, and yet he utterly refused to answer
them. Last week he screwed himself up to the
sticking point so far as to deny that he started his
paper for the pnrpoee of “levying black mailor
that he asserted in the office of an attorney, in Hol
lidaysborg, that he would not support Mr. Hall
unless for the “hard cash.” We rejoice for the
sake of that morality “ J. B.” is so tender oj, fhat
at last he has induced himself to notice the ques
tions .that before he only “understood” were ad
dressed to him. He makes his. denial veiy short,
it evidently being unpleasant for the gentleman to
dwell on the theme. He again branches put into a
brilliant statement of the “ whys,”and the “where
fores, ” and the “becauses” that show him to be an
honest, industrious and energetic man, and says if
those good qualities of his will make the paper pay,
pay, then his original intentions will be gratified.—
We are sorry to have to repeat, “J. B.,”;that you
did publicly boast in the streets of,your own town,
in the presence of good and reliable men, that you
intended to make your paper pay somehow; and
farther, that you did assert in the office of a relia
ble and truthful lawyer of the same place,'that the
condition of your going for Mr. Hall, for any of
fice, was the “hard cash.” You may have for
gotten, “J. 8.,” but such is the fact. You may
never have intended it. We do not think that you
seriously thought that would bring the dust.
Now, sir Jack, dance up to time and give us a
truth/'ul answer to the other questions, especially
that one of how you were on the Tonnage Tax
Bill during, the winter of 1861, and whether yon
favored the passage of that hill while a member of
the Lobby, at Harrisburg ? As you haVeno con
tracts on hand now, can’t you spare the time ? We
don’t understand what you mean ly the “ old poli
ticians” all being this way and that way. Pray :
when did you leave that fraternity ? From the
days yon made that noble run for Sheriff, down to
these latter times, you have, year after year, been
a standing and unsuccessful candidate for 'almost
eveiy office in the people’s gift. The people don’t
seem to have confidence in yon. “J, B.” Strange,
ain’t it? Queer world, this “J. B.”—made up of
a variety of men and a variety of horses—and
plehty of “hard cash,” “J. B.”—plenty of “hard
cash.”
Why Did They Kill It?
We have thus far looked in vain over the State
to see the advocates of a special tax on the tonnage
of the Pennsylvania Rail Road, give the reasons
why the House of Bepsesentatives, at Harrisburg,
that seemed to favor such a policy, should have op
posed the making of the tonnage tax general, and
laying the some embargo on, the tonnage of all
roads in the State alike. It was; alleged that it
was necessary to repeal the bill of 18G1 because
the State needed jevenne, but ; when the Senate,
acting on this principle of raising the revenue, pro
vided an easy manner of raising a large stint an
nually—at least one million of dollars—by com
pelling the tonnage of all railroans to contribute
alike, the co-ordinate branch of . the Legislature not
only refused to concur but peremptorily killed the
whole question by refusing to appoint a committee
of conference even. Principle , not passion, actu
ated these men, doubtless. The people will take
care of them in future.
Hopkins went to Harrisburg' boasting that he
intended to elect himself Governor by repealing
the Tonnage Tax Rill of 1861. When a proposi
tion is made to him to put the tonnage tax on the
Pennsylvania Rail Road, bnt also on the other
Railroads in the countty, he says ‘‘No, that’s more
than I bargained for—more than I want—its a
, fight against the one company that I have on hand.
It’s not revenue but political ca/nial that I want."
We are not surprised that the papers of that gen
tleman’s, own county even are silent as to a vindi
cation of his course. • '.
A fast way this, of riding into the
chair. That this reckless politician, the father of
corruptions practised along the Canal and Portage
Railroad, ’tis said, when in the hands of the State,
should raise himself to place or power by his course
of last winter, we consider absurd. And yet he
thinks so. We will bide onrtime and see. Heaven
protect the country if such a demagogue should get
in power.
<3T “ Bother’cm," of the Whig, says that we
are charged by the Company (the “great Corpo
ration” we suppose he means) with being one of
the impbrtant instruments through which he is to
be anihilatcd. Why, the poor fellow. Is he vain
enough to suppose that the Company knows there
is such a man os he in this county,-or that there is
such a paper as the “Blair County Whig” in ex
istence. Golly, “how we apples swim.” The
fellow is crazy, certainly. The Company will
charge us with being an important instrument
through which to annihilate him, out of fear of his
influence, about the time the “Great American
Traveller” and standing candidate for President,
Mr. Pratt, is elected to that office, or when Rich
ard Rice converts the world to the 'doctrine of the
“Seven-day Baptists.”
Gouhv’s Lady's Book.— Godey continues A
No., 1 in the Lady’s Book line; He has been
catering for the fair sex so long that he now knows
better what they want than they do themselves.—
His Book is always a treat. It can be had
through ns, by our subscribers, 1 at $2,00 per an
num. Price $3,00. L. A. Godey,. Philadelphia.
Hon. Lemuel Todd, of Carlisle, has been ap
pointed Colonel of the 84th Regiment, com
manded by the late Col. Wm. G. Murray.
■War Sews.
The armies s*f the Union are gradually closing
in aroond the rebels. Since our last issue there has
been no general engagements, although there has
been considerable skirmishing. Some of these
stinnishes would, in the days of the Revolution,
have been styled pitched battles, bat since the bat
tles of Bull Run, Done Ison, Winchester, Newbern,
and Pittsburg Landing, they are only recorded as
skirmishes.
Commander Stellwagon has occupied Apalachi
cola, Florida, witfaoutopposition.
The army under General Banks has advanced
as far as New Market, Va., and Jackson is rapidly
retreating. x
General McDowell has occupied Fredericsburg,
on the south bank Of the Rappabanoek, and es
tablished his head-quarters therefor the present.—
He will push forward, toward Richmond, as fast as
possible.
Commodore Foote is Fort Pillow, on
the Mississippi; although not as strong a position
as Island No. 10, it will require as much time to
reduce it as it did the latter place.
General Mitchell how occupies about 100 miles
of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, and has
been making advances further south on the route
of telegraph lines. He has intercepted several im
portant dispatches.
General Buel is abput to make an important
movement, the nature of which cannot be made
public.
General McClellan is'"getting his tremendous
army in position before York town. How soon he
will make a general advance on the enemy’s works,
outsiders do not know, and it is better that they
do not. In our opinion, certain work is yet to be
done by Gens. Burnside, McDowell and Banks
ere Yorktown comes down.
The Battles foe the Union.—That we are
a fighting ns well as an industrious and energetic
people, the war record of the last year abundantly
proves. Twenty-six important battles have been
fought, in all of which, except eight that occurred
soon after the commencement of hostilities,-the
Federal arms were victorious. Our losses previous
to the battle of Shiloh, or Pittsburg Landing,
were in killed, 2,490; wounded, 4,196; prisoners,
1,440; while the rebel loss has been, in killed and
wounded, 12,429; prisoners, 23,707. There have
been, daring the year, innumerable skirmishes and
the following important battles:
1 Fort Sumter, South Carolina. .April 12-13,1861.
2 Big Bethel, Virginia,...; -June 10 “
a Carthage, Missouri, ; .....July 5 “
4 Rich Mountain, Virgin;. July 12 “
5 Garrick’s Ford, “ I -July 14 “
6 Ball Run. “ July 21 “
7 Springfield, Missouri,; ....August 10 “
Lexington, *• September 20 “
9 Santa Rosa Island, Florida. October 9 “
10 Ball’s Bluff, Virginia,;... October 21 “
11 Frcdericktown, Missouri, October 21 -
12 Port Royal, South Carolina, November 7 **
13 Belmont, Missouri........ November 8 -
14 Dranesville, Virginia,.., December 20 “
15 Mill Spring, Kentucky; January 19, 1862.
16 Fort Henry, Tennessee,. February 6
17 Roanoke Island, North Carolina, February 7-8 “
18 Fort Dcnelson, Tennessee, ....Feb. 10-16 <•
19 Valverde,New Mexico,.— Feb. 21
20 Pea Ridge, Arkansas,— March 6-8 , “
21 Hampton Roads, Virginia, March 8-9 “
22 Newbern, North Carolina, : March 14 “
23 Winchester, Virginia,—' March 23
24 Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7 “
25 Surrender of Island No 10, April 7 “
26 Surrender of Fort Pulaski, Georgia, April 11 “
Our Army Correspondence
Hilton Head, S. C.,1
April 14th, 1862.)
Messrs. Editors.— Since last writing to you
we have, had some excitement to relieve the mo
notony of camp life, which had become rather
painful here. As I stated in my’last, Maj. Gen.
Hunter assumed command of this department on
the 31st day of March and Brig. Gen. Benham re
lieved Gen. Shernmn of his command on the same
day. Since that lime new life seems to have been
infused into the troops here, and in fact into every
thing connected with this department .
The preparations for attacking Fort Pulaski
were vigorously prosecuted, and on the morning of
the 10th of April everything was in readines for
immediate action. A summons to surrender was
addressed to the commander of the Fort, but was
respectfully declined. The bombardment at once
commenced, and was kept up daring the entire
day, and part of the night. Our shots were well
aimed and did good execution, one of them cutting
the halliards from the flag-staff 1 , and causing the
rebel rag to drop to the ground. On the morning
of the 11th firing was resumed at an early hour.
I was anxious to witness the bombardment, and
procuring a conveyance, I went to Braddock’s
Point, which is the‘extreme southern point of
Hilton Head Island. The Fort is distant from the
point about six miles, and as the day was clear, we
had a splendid ' lew of the fight. The firing was
kept up steadily until 2.10 P. M. when the rebel
flag was lowered, and the white flag of defeat was
hung out. Ora- forces at once took possession of
the Fort—the garrison surrendering at discretion.
The only casualties during the entire fight, were
one man killed and one wounded on our side,
and three wounded on the side of the rebels.
During the second day’s fight five of Tatnall’s
fleet came down the Savannah river, exchanged
shots with our gunboats lying above the fort, and
then retired. The entire garrison, consisting of
one Colonel, and 360 rank and file, are now pris
oners and go north on the Steamer “ McClellan”
to-day,' Yesterday evening two companies, form
ing part of the garrison, were brought to this place,
and handed over to the care of the Provost Guard.
I In conversation with some of them I learn that
| the Fort was badly damaged, a large breach being
i made in the wall, thereby exposing the magazine.
| Several shots struck the magazine and the danger
| of its exploding caused them to surrender. Thev
I speak very highly of the accuracy of our firing.—
The breach in the. wall, they say was made by the
conical balls fired from two of “James’ rifled can
non,’ which they say are very accurate and pow
erful. The conical shot penetrated the wall like so
many wedges, and made the brick dust fly right
merrily. Several of their guns were injured and
others dismounted by the shots from our batteries;
The rebel prisoners are a motley looking crowd,
no two of them having uniforms exactly alike.
The prevailing color is a dirty grey. They are
mostly from Georgia, though I am sorry to say
that I find the Orderly Sergeant of one of the
Companies to be a native of Philadelphia, which’
place he left less than a year ago to join the reliel
army. Much indignation was expressed by our
men when they found a Pennsylvanian who advo- 1
cated and fought for Secession. ;
The general appearance of the men is good, j
They all seem to be stout hearty men, and do not
seem to be downcast by their misfortunes. They |'
say that the reports circulated amongst us, that I;
two companies in the fort were disaffected is en
tirely untrue.
The 7th Regiment Conn. Vols. now have pos
session of the fort, and the blockade of the Savan
nah river is now rendered more effective than ever.
All the Regiments on this Island went to Tv
bee to participate in v the fight, but the fort was
given up without their firing a shot. The 76th
went down on the morning of the 9th, excepting
the two companies A and F which are still doing
duty as Provost Guard.
I understand that several more of the abolition
missionaries or as they are commonly known here
“Gideon's band” arrived here by the*last steamer.
Fortunately for the negroes and* the country, Gen.
Hunter has set his foot on the whole tribe, and
they are beginning to travel north again. Under
the charge of the government agents, the planta
tions are being rapidly prepared for the planting of
cotton. Large numbers of negroes are now busily
at work, both on the plantations and around the
wharf here. Gen. Hunter does not think it the
duty of soldiers to work at menial labor when there
are so many idle negroes as we have here. Con
sequently he has ordered the soldiers back to their
regiments and their places to be filled with negroes.
The general health of the troops is good. Very
little sickness exists here now.
By the mail yesterday we received papers of the
9th giving accounts of the taking of Island No. ;10
and also of the great battle at Pittsburgh Landing.
The accounts of McClellan’s movements toward
Yorktown are also very encouraging. But the
mail is about to close and I must follow suit.
G* We are indebted to our clever friend, Geo.
C. Ferree, Esq., for permission to to take the fol
lowing extracts from a letter received by him from
his brother, who dates his communication
HuusQuauiss litDrv., Gin, Graxt’s Counts, 1
Pittsburg, Tenn, April 9. 1882. ;
After the intense anxiety, labor and exposure of
the late great battle fought here, I shall endeavor,
in my homely way, to give, in a condensed form,
on this sheet of paper, how we were suddenly at
tacked at 6 o’clock on last Sunday morning, (6th
inst,) by Generals Beauregard, Johnson and Bragg,
with one hundred and twenty-five thousand men—
the flower of their forces—who were well supported
by cannon. The attack was so sudden—or else
they caught us napping, through want of good
generalship, or both—that the enemv drove iri or
repulsed division after division of our tomes until
at 5 o’clock P. M., they had us surrounded and
whipped, haring driven us back three miles, almost
to the riverbank. (Some foolish cowards attempted
to swim the' river, at the time of the panic, and
were drowned.) The rebels, at this time, were
strongly flanking us from the south, by the river,
when a saviour, in the shape of a gunboat, opened
on them with eight 64-pounders, throwing shell of
that calibre to their front as soon as they got I the
range. This so completely routed and scared them
that they fled back a mile or more in confusion,
and an hour elapsed before they recovered their
lost ground. During this repulse our boys were
not idle. They immediately commenced fortifying
on the bluff of the river in front of our siege guns,
and digging rifle pits for the infantry. (This
should have been done days before.) Happily at
this time the enemy left the river bank flanking
operation and moved against our centre and breast
works, in force. But this time they met with
strong opposition, at long range, from our siege
guns, which were now used with good effect. Af
ter being held but a few minutes, they commenced
to flank us from the right, or north, and would
soon have whipped ,us, had it not been for the
fresh Union troops' who, at this juncture, made
their appearance on the opposite side of the river.
Regiment after regiment kept pouring in, and
cheer after cheer, and praises to God. went up from
many loyal hearts. \ Many men cried for joy, as
all had expected to be taken prisoners and sent to
New Orleans to die. AVe now flelt released, and
telt that General Buel and his forces had come to
deliver us from the pen of traitors.
General Buel was among us, with his stall; at
6 o’clock that evening, ami begged and implored
the mfantry to light them long enough for him to
get his fresh troops across the river. Our columns
then took courage, and met the enemy at the
point of the bayonet, and the fresh troops scattered
themselves into the fight as fast as they were fer
ried across the river. At 7 o’clock enough had
crossed to keep the enemy in check for the night.'
The rebels having learned that we were reinforced
were willing to desist fighting shortly after dark.
In General Buel’s remarks, upon Iris arrival, he
alleged that he used to whip Beauregard and Geu.
Johnson at West Point, and he could do it again j
and the assertion was proven the next day. The
battle commenced at 6 A, M. the neuct morning,
at which time Buel had crossed 20,000 good troops^,
eager for the fray. The battle commenced in good
earnest, and one feature of it was that our troops
were done retreating. Some of the Ohio regi
ments that run the day previous, when they came
in danger, now stood their ground, anff after fight
ing for three hours, charged on the rebels and
drove them back half a mile. At 10 o’clock 6en.
Lew Wallace’s brigade flanked and routed a column
from tire right wing and took several hundred
prisoners. After 12 o’clock the rebels stood their
ground and fought desperately for three hours.
Upon this hard contested ground we had lost four
lotteries of artillery on tire proceeding day and
they seemed loth to give them ’ up again. At 3
o’clock we had recovered all our batteries, and the
enemy wits slowly retreating over their many hun
dred dead bodies, but they contested every inch of
ground with shot, shell, grape and musketry. They
fought well, but they also found that the farmers,
greasers, mechanics, &c., styled Loncolnites of the
North, could fight also. At 5 o’clock they began
to retreat faster, when onr arm of the service (cav
alry) “pitched in," with some of General Buel’s
forces, and took a number of prisoners. They
were whipped out and driven off.
We here think the elephant’s back is broken.—
The enemy lost their best and bravest fi£d officer,
General A. Siddney Johnson, who is truly killed -
shot through the head. Old Governor Johnson is
wounded. He ranked as Colonel. There are extrac,s
many colonels killed on both sides, and numerous 801116 two weeks since the regiment was ordered
G™ ° f I ° W , er , rmik - VVe had one Brig. 10 Mnnassas, and right glad the men were, as since
a fine gentleman and gallant offifer! ' e was no tents and were compelled to sleep under the
Aik praise to our artillerists, who fought like he- ealssonB - Tlle regiment forms part of General
Xmefnll 601,16 ° f Urant ’ s infantn- ran McCai1 ’ 8 division. Their trip to Manassas, from
dTv' V of'th(f^gM'j e akho t ngh e ffie U €nem*- f pleasant,
had full two men to our one. We should hav4 ° n aC ®° Unt of ,he mnd - In passing along they
pursued them in force ere this, but on Sunday Stoppe<ilo examine the rebel fortifications, at Fair-
Se y bl nigl n lleil '7 fuU which re n’ fax and Centreville, and found some of them quite
his ta^orp^mo^itrSd. the rcbdB Uad made an effort,
drive us aU into the river before night, or talers ' t^en *’ >e^ore In a number of
he f *iled and K- hi B life in . thenl the wooden cannon still remained. The
B idt?e SrSTtSS : Ilf’
as 0,000 wounded on both sides. This makes the i sellers, and most of the bouses were
TOaKCS ~le mrans windows and doors, which had been taken-
battle the most fierce and bloody ever fought on
this continent. It is said that there is no battle
recorded in history in which there was so much ar
tillery used as at the battle of Pittsburg Landing.
We had forty batteries, of 6 guns each, besides the
siege guns.
What indescribable horrors are here to be seen.
Men mangled in every manner, ami dead hones
piled up in stacks. The Fort Donelson victory
dwindles into insignificance.
I have not time now to give a longer detail, -1 In
the beginning of the battle we had bad generalship.
We should have been ready to receive the rebels
on our outposts, but we were not. Our generals
should have known the strategy used by the op
posing generals on all occasions. In our regiment
there were 8 killed and 26 wounded, and 46 horses
disabled.
It is said that all the Rebel Genenffs fear Gen.
Buel but not Gen. Grant.
Messrs. Editors I seat myself for the pur
pose of communicating some information respect
ing our whereabouts. We (the head quarters of
the army of the Potomac) are encamped about
three miles from, and directly in front of, York
town, where we ore surrounded by a large body of
troops. The Head Quarters left Alexandria about
the first of April and proceeded down the Potomac
to Fortress Monroe. The next day after our ar
rival the General and staff, with baggage, £c., dis
embarked and immediately started on a tour
through the enemies country. The General’s bag
gage, our printing press and materials, and the
telegraph instruments, being the first loaded on
the wagons, we were the first to move off with the
train, which started about 6 o’clock in the evening. :
Night overtook us before we had proceeded as for
as what was once known as Hampton, then a beau
tiful little town about four or five miles from the
Fortress. Shortly after the breaking out of the
war the rebels, under General Magrndcr, set fire
to and completely destroyed it, leaving nothing but
the bare walls as silent yet impressive monuments
of Southern treachery and arch-rebellion. As it
was dark when we passed by this place ! was un
able to acquire any knowledge respecting its for
mer appearance, but have been told that it was a
beautiful little town, and enjoyed considerable no
toriety as a watering place. We encamped for the
night about three miles beyond Hampton, in an
open field. Having but few tent-poles with us,
the greater part of those composing the train hod
to repose on the ground, in the open air, or erect
such shelter from the dew as the surroundings af
forded. The next morning we opened up our cab
inet and prepared for work against the enemy,
rather indirectly, however. We erected our print
ing press, and after surrounding it with guards at a
proper distance, proceeded to print (he countersigns
and signals. What do you think of the idea, gen
tlemen, of printing in tlie open fields of the enemy!
Verily the press is might}-, wielding a most pow
erful intluence in all the affairs of man. After
packing up again we resumed our march, trudging
along very slowly, as you may suppose, in conse
quence of the miserable condition of the roads.—
We understood that General Magruder had passed
over the some road the day previous, on his way to
Yorktown. By night we arrived at Bethel Church,
and encamped on the Big-Bethel battle-ground.—
Here we reposed during the night in peaceful
quietude. In the morning we resumed our jour
ney, and finally, after marching and halting, then
marching again, we arrived at this place. Here
we are, all differently encamped within three miles
of Yorktown. The other day a portion of our
troops had an engagement with the enemy, which
lasted, at intervals, from early mom to late at
night. The engagement was within three miles to
the left, of us, on which occasion our men took
two of their batteries, losing a number of men on
both sides. lam told by an eye-witness that the
Fourth Maine was literally cut up. AVe. have quite
an interesting situation here, the balls and shells
whistling by ns every day. Yesterday, while sev
eral of the engineers were out surveying, a shell
fell among them, fatally wounding two and slightly
wounding others. As soon as the rebels observed
the result of the missive, they set up a most terrific
yelling. Forthwith one of our batteries pitched
into them, but with what effect rias not ascer
tained—however, it soon shut them up. It is uni
versally believed that we will have some desperate
fighting before we get possession of Yorktown, but
we feel confident of success. Our regiment, the
G2d Pennsylvania, is about half a mile from herb,
on the. extreme right of us, and when the fight
commences will have some hot work to perform.—
Several shells have fell among them already,
but without injuring any. I have been to see our
boys several times, and find them all hale and
hearty, a little the worse for the wear, however,
but all eager for the fray. I look for company M
to prove that it is nobly worthy of Blair county.
Gentlemen, speaking of bravery, I take the liberty
of whispering in your ear that I know a couple Of
lieutenants in that company whose courage is fault
less; but in a general point of view, company M
is not lacking in that essential article. ' "
• Yours, &c.,
BLAIN.
KEYSTONE,
Wc stated a few weeks since, that the company
recruited in this and Huntingdon conntv for
Young s Kentucky Cavalry and afterwards trans
ferred to the Ist Regiment D. C. Volunteers, had
been transferred from thence to Capl. Seymour’s
Battery, oth Regiment U. S. Artilleiy. Lieut,
John M. Clark and James S. Moore, of this place,
are members of the company, the first a lieutenant
and the latter a high private, or something else.—-
From the latter we receive a line occasionally, in
forming us of the whereabouts of the company,
and we are sorry that wc received his last epistle
just too late for our issue. As it has lost part of
its interest by delaying it, we will gi ve only, a few
F. AW FERREE,
Capt. Co. D, 4th HI. Cavalry.
“Camp Wikfield Scott," I
In front of Yorktown, April 17, 1862.)
for firewood. A church at Fairfax had
robbed of eventhing that would burn
walla were covered with autographs ot "
written with pencils and charred faggot* ,
wore numerous in this locality, each one
board or stone at the head on which W . K ■ '”'
the name of the jterson and the regiment to
he belonged, most of them being from .So„th c
Una and Louisiana. He compares the road .
Centreville to Manassas to that between M-' "
and the Buck Horn Tavern. Those who ' 1
quainted with the latter road well know that
not a desirable one to travel. :
The rebels appear to have had plenty,,-
visions, as is evidenced by the charred rent; -
large piles of bacon and flour. The forts *
nassas Junction are not so formidable act? sli
Centreville. Whiskey' and lager Ls ten ' £
“ nip" down there, and daily papers a dime'*"'* ‘
Letters sent to any of the members of fo .
pany shonld be directed in care Of "*“6-1
Lieut. JOHN M. CLARK,
Capt. Seymour’s Bat’y sth Reg. U. S.
Gen. McCaU’s Division,'
Washington, ])'
Yorktoym,
We published an article on “Yorktom
1781," in our last issue, taken from the \ ew y,
Herald. We this week print below an exceed!
well written column from the N. Y. TWha, '
the same subject. Now, as then, the great .■*'
gle for American liberty centres around Yortt«"!'
Both pdrties understand this. Both there ;
their best njilitaiy skill and the flower ut t> k . '
tinent gathifred around them. On this
ground” will probably occur the most
.combat of the war, a&d we trust and believe -
complete overthrow of the rebels. McCltiu
great forte is in a campaign of this character"
His work on the crimen war, and the „i e .
Sebastopol, together with his whole (tast histen
sufficient evidence to us that our armies «ii]
crowned at this important point with as grm, '
signal a success in 1862, as the immortal “
of his country" was blessed with, more than ei g H
years ago.
History repeats itself; and, in the siege um
progress before Yorktown, we have, on a
larger scale, the repetition of the siege of ir si
result, we cannot doubt, in like manner-iu •
triumph of Liberty over its enemies.
On the 28th of September, 1781, Gen WV
ington marched from Williamsburg, on ihe ■
insula between the James and York iiivor-. ’'
the even then old Yorktown. He was ae™
med by Rochambeau, Chatclleux Uu Vunmif
the French army. Lafayette was already i„ ~ ‘
vahee, and the Count de Grasse lav off "with tl
French fleet in Lynhaven Bay. The allied
including miliaria, amounted to about Id.,
men. The English army did not number L
than 7,500.
The main botfy of the English, under Lr
Cornwallis, was encamped in the open
around the town, within a range of outer miuuk.
and field-works calculated to command the nun
sula, while a detachment "Of 600 or 700 men Kt
Gloucester Point, projecting from the upm-ii
shore, far into the river, and narrowing it to t
space of one mile. Communication between iV
was protected by the batteries and English -l.in
of-war lying under the batteries.
Tire allied army advanced upon the town-i-
Americans having the right and the Frtarii ti-'
left—and pressed on so eagerly that in the uii;
of the 30th, Lord Cornwallis withdrew from
outer lines, and the works he had evacuated »v :
next day occupied . by the besieging army, wlnr
invested the position in a semicircle; 2,boomtl"
were stationed on the Gloucester side for tile pc
pose of keeping up a rigorous blockade, which,;;
l f r skirmish, terminating unfavorably i,-
the British, they made no further attempt to u
terrupt.
On the night of Oct. 6, the first parallel -
opened within 600 yards of the British lines, uu:
by the evening of the 9th several batteries and a- ■
doobU were completed, and the fire of the alii
became very effective compelling the enemvinm&iv
cases to withdraw his cannon from the embnuuru
and shells and hot shot passing over the town, *:
fire to the Chaser frigate, of 44 guns, and several
transports, which were entirely consumed.
The second parolleU was opened on the nigh: j
the 11th, within 300 yards of the British line,
when* finding that it was flanked by two advanced
redouts in front of the British works it was deter
mined the 14th to cany them by stonu, aci
acco *'diugly two attacking parties, one Americas,
led by Lafayette, with .whom served Alex. Kami!
ton, as Lieut.-Colonel, the other French, led bv ik
Barmide Vioraenil, toward the close of the
rushed upon their works, and, though receiving i
hot and rapid fire, returned not a single shot, he
earned them at the point of the bayonet—llami!-
ton leading the American colntnu with his banal
ion of light-infantry. These captured works bein
how included in the second parallel, the fire u[lh
the fort became so fierce that surrender SCCUInI I
unavoidable. A vigorous sortie, led bv Licuici
ant-Colonel Abercrombie, was made on the l(S
of October, but was triumphantly reprisal
Lord Cornwallis then conceived the desperatefplat
of passing his force over to Gloucester Point. ari
thence monnting them on impressed' horses.—t*
force his way through Maryland to Phiiadelpli.
A part of the army were actually thus tnmstemA
when a violent storm arose, which put an onJ
the transportation of the rest of the army. an—
soon os possible those sent over were brought UA
On the morning of the 17th the fire of the Alio
became so hot that the place was no longer teri
ktej.mid Lord Cornwallis asked a cessation of I
tilities, for twenty-four hours, and the appointor
of Commissioners to treat of surrender.
Gen. Washington replied that only for > J ■
hours could he consent to suspend hostilities, V
transmitted at the time such articles of capitulate m
as he would he willing to grant. Commissi®-'
were appointed in conformity, on the 18th, on be
sides—Viscount de Mouilies and Col. Laurens
the side of the Allies, Col. Dundas, and Mar" |
Ross, on behalf of the English. They agreed up- t
certain articles, of which a rough copy only §
made, but this Gen. Washington transmitted ;
Lord Cornwallis early on the 19th, exprevf-g r,
expectations that the tenns would be agrrtd
and signed by 11 o’clock, and that the gam; |;
would march out by 2p. m. Accordingly at B
hour the posts of Yorktown and Gloucester Hi-- y
with their garrison, and the ships in their lor 1 ’
with their seaman, were surrendered to the h -
and naval forces of America and France, 1 ir J
my, artillery, arms, military chest, and I 4 *', ??.
stores of evety kind, were surrendered to Gentf- ;
Washington—the ships and seameu to Count;
Grasse, the total number of prisoners, exclude |l
seamen, rather exceeded 7,000 men, among* 2 |
were two generals, thirty one' field-officers, tun' |
hundred and twenty-sixeaptains and subaltern
&c. &c. . I
The negotiation for surrender was ojeueda
the 11th day after breaking ground, and tbcc-i : ||
itulation was signed on the thirteenth day. |
lire military and naval forces surrender ®
“ prisoners of war—the artilleiy, arms, accoutr- ; 3
meats, and military chest, and public s 10 ”*. h a
every denomination, to be delivcnxl up miiw! a |
. —the garrison to march out at two o’clock t*;’ |
place appointed in front of the jxrst, with should |
arms, colors cased, and drums beating—d ll .' I
then to ground their arms, and return to then 1
carnpment—officers to retain their side-amts, 1
officers and soldiers to keep their private 9
and no pnrt of their baggage or papers to be 1
jeet to search or inspection.” The spot on |
this memorable surrender was made is well h |lo 'Jl
It is designated in the plan of the siege, au ; a
soon, we may trust, to be rendered more |
We by a like surrender of a ranch larger aw; a
and thus combine in one glorious mentor.' ■
great victories on the same ground. j
|Utoo«a Itil
UOCXA-Xj ITE
Disastrous Fire. —About ten o’clocl
day night last, our citizens were areas
ring* ll * of the shop bell and the cry of fi
roshiW from their houses found the town
illuminated. The locality of the con flag
goon discovered to be at the Union Hotel,
Bed Lion) on Main street, near the depc
itfr. John O’Donnell and owned by M
Kearney. When first discovered, the fli
banting through the roof in all directioi
the time the people arrived the whole bu
in a bl-ic The Good Will Engine w
ground In ah incredibly short space of
played two strong streams upon the dev*
I nv>»t, materially checking its progress.
[ also attached to all the plugs and hydrant
cinity, and thus some three or four mo
were supplied. Innumerable backets
itished water from the wells adjoining.
I raged with great fury, in consequence of
way they had obtained before discovci
I was feared that the row of building
i “ Biant’s Row,” on the one side, and tl
| belonging to Patrick Murphy, occupto
| Ehringer, oh the other side, could noi
! and the goods therein were hastily mov
I secure localities. The evening was f»
checking the flames, as the moves of tin
buildings were still damp from the rain
faUen during the tfriy, and there wa* no'
ing. Through the efforts of the firem
citizens the flames wore prevented from,
eating, to any extent, with the adjoining
although Mr. Murphy’s building was on
on fire. By eleven o’clock the fire w
extinguished.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but
to have been communicated from a flu
. pipe in the attic. Mr Kearney had an
surance of $l5OO on the building. Th
heavily on Mr. O’Donnell. He cannot
an estimate of the property destroyed, ai
saved but little and that in a damaged
Jle "had no insurance.
\ As is usual on such occasions, there '
of the very meanest kind of sneak tide
They were anxious to assist in saving
but when entrusted with articles to
I forgot to lay them down until they arriv
homes. In this way Thomas Elway, 1
I about $25 worth of fine black cloth an
vet. It might be well for the person wh
yards of fine block black cloth to bring 1
save Constable Ely the trouble of going
Andy Clabaugh lost some $8 or $lO a
gars and oranges which crept into the
those who carried them out. Jacob Sny
is not certain of the loss of any of his
cept a pair of cloth pants, cat out but un
man who will steal under such circi
would do worse if he hod the sameoppe
(y Parson Brownlow, that indomifi
spirit and distinguished patriot from
who has suffered so much at the ha
. rebels, in consequence of his love for
and his boldness in saying just what h
passed through this place, on the Mail
Thursday last, on his way to the Hastei
Not knowing that he was on the train
get a sight of him. On the arrival of t
Harrisburg, he was greeted with loud ac
large crowd, to whom he spoke a few \
among other things said that the bit
doing the rebels more barm than all
and balls of the loyal army. Thejf w<
bats, shoes, coats, and many of the mo:
necessaries of life; and, notwithstai
claimed cotton as king, they were with
Among thirty or forty stores in Kno>
couldn't find such a thing as a fine-too
He had seen men taken ont and hang
for no other crime than being friends of
He had seen others taken out, stripped
trees, and theia backs literally cut to ph
same cause.
The secessionists bad robbed him o
and he had come to this part of the
purchase another, after which he wool
and pour hot shot in the secession a
preferred to go bock mounted on a ho
good sword, and General Fremont by hi
he. might point but the trees where go
men were hanged and whipped, in or
the secessionists back in their own coin.
Small Pox.—For sonic time pußt w«
considerable excitement and many e:
stories about the ravages of the small
place. What foundation there was, or i
reports, we cannot discover. That th
few cases of small pox and varioloid we
that people are dying daily of them,
buried at night, is certainly alt imagina
tales ofdesigning persons. There wer
than two or three cases of varioloid or
in town at tiny one time, although e\
unable to be out, or sick of any diset
ported to have the small pox. There t
in the, town, that we know of, at this
think the excitement has hhd one good
of arousing the people to the necessity <
to vaccination. This preventative of a
disease should not be neglected at an
especially by the citizens of a town lii
where there is constantly a flatting pi
strangers, unknown to us. It costs In
he vaccinated, and incurs no loss of tin
the other hand it costs materially in ri
and often in appearance, to pass throo
of small pox. We hope all our citizen
to being vaccinated, and thereby preven
of the disease.
Fnwr-BoQnET of the Seasos.—
,M. Green has our thanks for swell a:
* ei 7 fragrant boquet, composed of a f
°f flowers, among which are three or
fid varieties of roses. It certainly ad
to home to have such flowers bioomiu,
the season, and j/re wonder that thos»
time to pay attention to their culture,
their dwellings thus adorned. Mr.
*hont one hundred and fifty ditfaww
flowers. * .
, Notice Pakticuwe.— The roan v
finpodence to “ crib” my umbreUa fro
oin Monday last, wiU please retc
tfataly if he does not wish his name e
W. 5.81