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Charleston Mercury Correspondence. Richmond, June 25. The public mind is on the stretch for exciting news from the seat of war. There is a general impression that we are on the eve of more serious engagements than we have had?that, indeed, we may expect to hear any hour of a great battle. Under this state of things, Richmond is flooded with rumor from morning to night. It is amusing to see gentlemen of the press and newsmongers hurrying from place to place to trace some rumor or other to its source, and to accomplish the extraordinary task of verifying it. Before one rumor is well ventilated, and proved to have nothing in it or no foundation for it, another is started with grander proportions; groups of men are seen at the hotels and other popular centres, jammed together in listening attitude, with their ears pricked up and eyes dilated, show ing the most intense anxiety not to lose a word of the "latest news," which some itinerant newsmonger is detailing; while the newspaper man is in full chase, the perspiration dropping from him as he hastes along after the author, or the man who said he was told such news was undoubtedly true. Books have been written on the search after many things,?"in search of a wife," "in search of truth," and so forth ; but who is equal to the task of giving a description of the difficulties of the newspaper-man in search of facts in these times of excitement ? Yet your "special correspondents," and your "associated press," have to feed the insatiable appetite of the people. As facts are scarce, that is, startling facts, such facts as maybe dignified with the title of "news," in the column of the respectable journal, we must contribute what we can of the details of movements which foreshadow events, and of those which follow. A few probabilities, if backed with good reasoning, are not unacceptable to the dear public. In this telegraphic age, when rapid movements and concise expression go together, facts are soon told. Whenever they can be reached, your correspondent will seize them with much gusto, and put them on their passage to Charleston. When the public mind is strongly and iL. A.i generally impressed wun me uenei tuai something will occur, it may be considered somewhat prophetic. If this be so at the present time with regard to the war movements, we are on the eve of a great battle, or a series of important engagements.? There are several points where such events may happen. First, along the line of the Potomac, in the area embraced within the boundary from Manassas Junction to Leesburg and the course of the Potomac from above the Great Falls to a point just below Alexandria. Here Gen. Beauregard is in command, and the lines of the contending forces have been brought withiu a few miles of each other; chiefly, however, by the forward movement of our forces since the battle of Great. Bethel, and the sortie of the South Carolinans, under Col. Gregg, on the enemy at Vienna. The enemy has evinced no deposition to advance, or risk an encounter. The prestige of their imagined invincibility has been destroyed. But a short time since, they were going to carry on the most terrible aggressive war; they boasted of their purpose and ability to penetrate into the heart of Virginia, and even to capture Richmond. Scott is likely to advance slowly and with thorough preparation, in addition to overwhelming numbers. The impression prevails that the enemy is not disposed to meet our forces away from their entrenchments. The tone of the Northern press of late favors this view. President Davis said to a friend yesterday who wished to go Manassas Junction to witness or participate in the anticipated battle, that he need not be so anxious about it, as he did not think there was any probabilty of an engagement there at present. This shows the view our military chiefs have of the prospect of a con flict in that locality. Notwithstanding he has tribble our force, Scott cannot be goaded on by the Tribune, and other rabid Republican journals, to risk an engagement with our forces there in the open plain, away from his well established batteries.? He knows too well the character of the forces he would have to meet. Your South Carolinans, and other regiments from the Cotton States, are a terror to the Northern mercenaries. Hence the slow appioaches and the call for more troops, while they have in and around Washington fifty thousand or more men already. There will hardly be a battle, at least for the present, along the line of the Potomac approaching Washington, unless Beauregard should feel himself strong enough to take the initiative and assail the enemy in their well prepared entrenchments along the heights which form the banks of the Potomac. At present he is thought to be entirely too weak. Norfolk, the entrance to the James, York and Rappannock Rivers, is another great field of operations which attracts the espe cial attention of the enemy. They are in creasing daily their already powerful lore* at Fortress Monroe by great numbers, as tin point from whence they operate They will not venture, it is believed, t( risk a general engagement on the main lane at present, if at all. Our force is inferio; to theirs in numbers, but we have the ad vantage in the morale of our army and it position. They will, probably, make attack upon our weak points, without attemptinj to force their way far into the interior Butler has been cured of his military ambi tion of reaching Richmond as readily a he boasted of doiuj;. Winchester, Martiusbnrg, Leesburg, am the country around these places, is mor likely to be the first field of action, thoug1 the enemy has drawn back from an encour ter here. Johnson is in a better positio to force them to battle here than any othe commander, and he will do it if possible But Johnson's forces are very small. H is outnumbered two to one. On this at count, the evacuation of Harper's Ferr was a military necessity. In Western Virginia we are not yet pr< pared, nor is the enemy, for a general cr gagement. The fighting there v.ill g ou, but in a guerilla manner. McClella is the ablest general of the Northern armj Of Missouri, and of the probability of fight at Cairo, there is not sufficient data t write yet with any certainty. liurlbutarrived here yesterday under th charge of a Georgia Marshal. The Cot federate Government has turned him ovc to the Governor of \ irginia, and he is i jail, waiting further investigations As h is charged with being a .sy/<y, it is difficult t understand why he is not dealt with by th military authorities. Who ever heard t trying a spy in a Court ot Sessions? Th meaning of it is, he is to be acquitted. - * Camp Pickens, Manassas, June 27, 'CI. From an excessive solicitude to follow movements here, I have returned from Western Virginia soonor than I intended. But, returning, I find nothing of especial interest. It is all a mistake that any of our troops have been taken. The rumor will have reached you that nine have been captured, but it is all a mistake. Two of Col. Cash's men were captured a day or two ago, but they were taken by Col. Kershaw's men, and sustained no damage, therefore. They were seen to enter a house in the neighborhood of Germantown, and the ever-vigilant scouts of the Second Regiment took them captive. The most important facts I find, are that the enemy is retiring from Fall's Church, and are being concentrated again within the limits of the District of Columbia.? There are, in fact, indications that they are withdrawing from this side of the river.? It is certain that there are few in Alexandria?but a few companies?and it is fkof fQtrmrl n nOQfll. puaoiuicj bUCl^lVlUj luuu iiv/ wiutu vuv J.WWM. bility of fight, which is now being urged upon them, they may accept the alternative of the foot race 1 suggested. There is alsoa movement from Washington, the significance of which is much considered. For some time past they have been sending off cars sealed up, so that the contents cannot be seen, and from this and the other circumstances of security and care, it is suspected that they may be taking the archives of the Government beyond the reach of danger. It is stated, but I have not yet had time to verify the rumor, that the gallant First Regiment has resolved to hold on to its advance position for six weeks longer, in view of the possibility of a battle before the expiration of that time. It would, of course, be a matter of rejoicing that they should do so, but if they shall have determined on that step, I am sure it will have been the voluntary act of the men themselves, without the solicitation or influence of their officers. It is not unreasonable. The regiment is much considered. It holds the post of honor. The chances are that an engagement, if an engagement ever shall ?:ii ? T& tj i occur, win wituiu iuo iiuie. it wuuiu hard to leave, in full view of it, and so, therefore, I am not surprised. Troops are still arriving. There is some sickness, but we learn that with us the sickness bears no proportion to that of the enemy. The weather has been intensely hot, and the information is received that the miserable soldiers upon the flats of the Potomac are dying by hundreds. T start in a few minutes to make a tour among our encampments, and will report as soon as I shall get to a point at which I shall touch the mail. They are scattered not widely, but still over a considerabletract of conntry, the farthest being fourteen miles off, and if I can get mail facilities at our advanced outposts, I will again take up my abode with them. The enemy is hard pressed upon the line of the Baltimore and Ohio llailroad. Geo. Johnson's forces have invested Cumberland, and if the forces called from Pennsylvania shall not be sufficient to relieve it, as it is supposed they will not be, Col. Wallace, in command, will have to surrender There has been uo further effort of General Patterson to cross the Potomac. L. W. S. From the Seat of War. A gentleman just returned from Virginia turnisnes tne unarieston uonrirr witn tne following items of information : "Gen. Butler is said to be directing the tire of the Sawyer gun on the Hip Raps against the Seweil's Poiut Battery. He is stationed in the observatory at Newport News, while they are firing from whence ! he can see the effect of each shell. By means of telegraphic connection with the Rip Rape he is enabled to give his directions as to ti:e range of the gun after each discharge. The range of the gun is about five miles and a half, and has been known to throw a shell six miles The shell is a I very conical shell with a brass cap on the extreme end, which txplodes only when it comes iu contact with any hard substance. ! Many of them have been dug up by the Georgia troops stationed at Seweil's Point. "Our informant states that Norfolk is now ! considered in such a state of defence that jit would defy the combined navies of Ku: rope and America to take it. The vessels sunk in the harbor render it altogether impossible for any enemy to come up to the city, as nothing but small boats can get inside the river. "The man-of-war Plymouth, that has been raised, is in excellent condition, aud will be got ready for sea in a very shori time. The Germantown is also expected to be raised in a day or two, and cau soon be got ready for sea. The Merrimac will be converted into a floating battery. The developments of vandalism that have beer ! made since the possession of Norfolk by oui j troops, exhibit a malignity of spirit trul) i astounding. Thirty kegs of gunpowder, o one hundred pounds each, were sunk undei the Dry Dock, intended to blow it up. llai > the fiends succeeded, Portsmouth and Nor 1 folk would have been one mass of ruins. A r merciful interposition of Providence alom * saved them. The fuse burned down to with 1 j in two inches of the shell and then wen 3jout. The vandals destroyed some of th Z! largest Columbiads, knocked oil" some of th ituunions with sledge hummers, &c. Ai I extensive factory has been in successfu s | operation for soujc time past, and they hav | been turning out from forty to fifty gui carriages every twenty-four hours. Wor; c is carried on day and night. I, "At Manassas and Fairfax Court IIous the military movements of Gen. Beauregar n are progressing with great rapidity: Ger r Beauregard is almost idolized by the troops , and an early march upon Alexandria is ar e tieipatcd Our informant thinks a deck .. ive blow will be struck by our troops thi y week. When he left the opposing armic were within six miles of each other, almo: face to face. Our troops are scouring th country in all directions. Sherman's bai tery holds the first positiou of the Federalisl ?? on the approach to Alexandria. Our it u formaut states that on his return he encout ' tered daily from ">00 to 1,000 troops o a their way to the seat of war." O - -Captain Farrow's Invention.?Th e Richmond Dispatch publishes a commun j. cation from "a getlcman of the highci >r standing and character," on the subject ( n a machine designed for the reduction < e fortresses aud the destruction of woode o ships. We know not wh?t sort of a mi e chine this is. One thing we do knov >f! however, aud that is this : Captain Z. Fai e! row, of our town, in May, devised a pla I for "breaking up the blockade" in short oi !?# >^ir der. He submitted his plan to several gentlemen, one of whom promised to forward it to the Secretary of War. Capt. Farrow proposed to build a very strong craft that would be moved by a propeller with considerable speed, covered with iron, and so shaped^hat balls would glance off. A strong and peculiarly shaped iron snout projecting from the bow, several feet below the water, would make an ugly hole in the vessel's side. He expressed a desire to build and command the machine, being confident that with it he could sink or burn any wooden war vessel, bidding defiance to the heaviest guns. One rifled cannon in the bow would arm him sufficiently. We hope the Warj Department will consider Capt. Farrow's proposal, and give him a chance to rip into the Niagara and send old Abe's fleet to the coral caves of the deep blue sea.?Pec Dee Times. Discovery of Another Conspiracy. The New York Herald has the following story : "Under the auspicies of bankers in Lombard street, a combination of bankers and capitalists has been formed in New York, for the express purpose of aiding and abetting the Southern insurrection, by withdrawing from the Administration the means of carrying on the war. We distinctly charge that mouied gentlemen, whose names are in our possession, which we shall disclose whenever the interests of the public demand it, have arrived at au understanding with each other not to subscribe to more loans, and endeavor to injure the national credit, for their own selfish purposes, to the extent of their power. They are principally in the cotton and foreign exchange interest and are of English, French and German as well as of American origin. They effect horror at the enormous expenditure which will be involved in the suppression of the rebellion, and declare that the banks of the city, over most of which they may exercise paramount control, shall not yield another dollar, if further loans are put into the market. They are principally sustained and urged on in this course they have resolved on. bv London and Manches -_7 _? ter bouses, who desire that the independence of the Confederate States should be acknowledged as speedily as possible, in order that the English market may be sup plied with cotton, without the risk that would attend the violation of the blockade, and a consequent war with this country ? We believe that the alliauce thus formed is so powerful that Mr. Chase would And it impossible to combat with it, and that he will find he is leaning upon a broken reed, if he places any future dependence upon Wall street." f fee f.wlmllc YORKVILLE, S. C. THURSDAY MORNING, JULY 4, 1861. (P3- Mr. John R. Allen, Post Master at Chester, is our authorized agent; and fully empowered to receive money for this office, and give receipts for the same. $7- In casps where subscribers do not take the Enquirkr rom the post-office, Post-Masters arc requested to no,ify us mmcdiately. Subscribers desiring their papers changed must men tion the I'ost Ofliec/rom, as well as the one to, which they j desire the chagon to he made. ~ a cometT On Monday evening last, about 9 o'clock, we observed a very large comet in the Northern sky It is said to be known as the comet of Charles V., and appears to be moving very rapidly. tall wheat. Maj. Myles Smith has left with us a bunch of very fine wheat. The heads are) well filled and several of the stalks measure | over 5$ feet in height. Wo hope he may never have a worse bunch. correction. In the last issue of the Enquirer, instead of "he insulted his suppliant subjects I by saying 'What portion have we in David ? j To your tents, 0, Israel!' " read, that he i iusulted them by saying?"I will add to your yoke." yorkville market. Flour.?This article is becoming scarce. Very little on hand, and none offering for several weeks past. A good article would command 82 50 per sack. Corn.?This article is also scarce. We continue to quote 81 per bushel. "jennie." The article of "Jennie" has beeu re1 ceived. No name having been furnished 1 us, has prevented its appearance in this is'! sue. The real name of the writer must (I accompany every communication, to insure ' * ,ir 1 - ?i..? r..* r attention. \> e uo not uesuu me uuuju iui ' publication, but as a guarantee for the good * faith of the contributor. r ? 1! FINE RAINS. -J On Friday and Saturday evenings of last L| week, this section of country was visited " i with fine rains. We are pleased to learn t that the raius were general; every point ci which we have heard from having been cj favored except the "Bethel Country."? ?' Every description of vegetation looks flourishing, and with a few more seasonable ' ti showers like those mentioned above, the k yield of breadstutfs in York District will be unprecedented. e d COTTON BLOOMS. ' Mr. Kicbard Strait has left a cotton stalk '? with us, measuring over two feet in height, | on which are a full grown bloom and eights j teen squares. The bloom made its appear!S! ance 011 the 1st instant. 5t We have also received a bloom from Mr. J. Star Neely, of Mecklenburg, which was -9 puiled from the stalk on the 29th ultimo. i- Mr. Neely says he has more of the "same ? sort." D "THE SEAT OF WAR." We are under obligation to our friend, .e Maj. Satu'l W. Melton, for a pencil-map of the seat of war, on the line of the Po> 5t jf tomac, drawn by himself. Maj. Melton is )( a member of Gen. Rouliaui's staff, and is n with that portiou of our troops holding the 1 post of "honor and danger." The map is r' doubtless correct, at. j is at our office for n inspection. r- We have beeu frequently asked why we have not secured the services of Maj. Mel- I ton as a correspondent for the Enquirer, t In reply, we will say that we made applica- < tion to him, but from the position he occu- 1 pies, being in confidential relations with y Gen. Bonham, it was deemed improper for him to comply with our request, as what he 1 might write, would be regarded as semi- e official, and might possibly work injury to 1 our cause. f MERE-MENTION. 1 "Hampton's Legion" has left for Virgin- 1 ia. The skirmish at Vienna is said * to have been more serious to the enemy than was at first apprehended. About 200 1 Lincoln troops were reported as missing. * In looking over the account of the 1 New York produce market, in the Times 1 of the 20th ult., we find butter is quoted 1 from 8 to 12c. Under the influene of the * Southern trade it sold from 15 to 25c.? ^ Cheese, formerly from G to 14c., nowbripgs 8 2 to 7c. North River hay 45 to 50 cents. 1 There are still 340 Southern offi- * cers in the Navy. Only 321 have resigned. * There was originally 1,563 gentlemen of ( Southern birth in the service. One-third I of the resigned officers were midshipmen. 1 The Wabash, Minnesota, and Colorado, of the blockade fleet, have several Southern ( officers. The Mississippi steamer is the ? only vessel in the Navy that has none at- ' tached to her. The Montgomery 1 Confederation learns from the most reliable -1 authority, that the people of Alabama, 1 through their Congressional representatives, 1 will subscribe at least 700,000 bales towards ' the S50,000,000 loan. Ripe peaches ' made their appearance in Macon, on Sat- ' urday, the 23d ultimo. The slang ' phrase, "sound on the goose," has given 1 place to another of similar import in the 1 Northern States. There, when a man is a ' rampant Hessian, he is said to be "sound on the Eagle." It is stated that a match factory will soon be started in or near ] Charleston, by a German citizen, who is 1 fully acquainted with the processes required. ( About twenty miles from West ' Point, Miss., very rich specimens of bitu- 1 ruinous coal, hard and solid, havo been ( found. Col. Hardee, it is said, has been ordered to Memphis. The Gov- ] ernor of Texas has received the consent of 1 President Davis to send a full brigade to ? Virginia. In Jamaica, fifteen hun- I dred acres have been planted with cotton as ' an experiment. An Enfield rifle ball ' makes 200 revolutions per second after 1 leaving the barrel. The Paris Moni ' tevr, the official paper, in announcing Mr. < Faulkner's leave taking, spoke of him as 1 "the Minister of the United States but, ( in speaking of his successor, calls him "the i Minister of Mr. Lincoln." A cotemporary asks, "where docs Mr. Lincoln i get bis authority for ordering three year's ' enlistments in the army?" The same place | where he gets authority for doing almost everything else thathe has done?no where, i ? The newspaper correspondents in and about Washington city appear likely to get into trouble, on account of their anxiety to furni-h the daily press with news in reference to the army in advance. One officer, it is said, has ordered the shooting of all reporters found within the lines. If carried out it would give those outside of the lines a splendid item or two The Goliad (Texas) Messenger of the j 25th uIt., says Uol. Uolt, inventor or tne ! celebrated revolver, has purchased the town of Laruar on the Southern coast. He owned a four>li interest before and gave 818,000 for the other claims. The degree of LL. D. has been conferred on Lincoln by a Northern College. A. S. S. should have been added. Gen. Hill, in bis dispatches to Gov. Ellis, in regard to the battle of Bethel, reports that our young frieud, Lieut. J. W. Ratcbford, of York District, received a "contusion in the forehead from a grape-shot, which nearlycost him his life." Gov. Pickens has established his Headquarters at Columbia, S. C., where all communications for the Executive should be addressed. The Editor of the Cincinnati Commercial, (Black Republican) in speaking of Gen. Asbolt, "an accomplished Hungarian veteerau," who is now in Washington seeking for a General's commission, which was refused him, says *lhe speaks English a great deal better than Abraham Lincoln or Simon Cameron." Col. J. J. Pettigrew, of Charleston, of the First Rifle Regiment, has volunteered as a private in Capt. Conner's Company (the Washington Light Infantry) of Hampton's Legion, and has goue with that corps to the seat of war. The bill repealing the "Jewish Disability Act" of North Carolina, has passed unanimously. Colonels Wm. J. Hardee aud J. Rankhead Magruder IO tm-po been nnnninted Brigadier Generals in rj O the Confederate Army. The flag agreed upon for North Carolina, is an exceedingly beautiful one, (says the State ! Journal.) The colors are a red field with j a single star in the centre. On the upper I extreme is the inscription, "May 20, 1775," land at the lower, "May 20, 18G1." There are two bars, one of blue and the other of white. 'editorial correspondence. j Camp Walker, 5th Keg., S. C. V., 1 Near Manassas, Va., June 24,1861. J . Dear Enquirer:?The evacuation of i J Harper's Ferry may seem to you a strange ; 11 proceeding, after so much has been said of1 i its importance. It is rendered simple and | : clear by the fact that, although extremely 'I valuable at first, on account of the public I property and machinery for manufacturing I guns there, it became useless as soon as hese were destroyed or removed. Al- p hough Scott is said to declare that the li jvacuation accords with his plans, yet we v lelieve the place possesses no strategic Ir ?alue. o This movement, too, comports with a c lew idea which appears to have recently I mtered into the tactics of our military po- a itical chief; and that is, to concentrate suf- 1 ioient force in Western Virginia to crush r ;he Wheeling treason. The 5000 troops, c vho were all at the Ferry at the time of s ,he evacuation, were accordingly sent to o Winchester, Shepherdstown and otner v flaces; and Gov. Wise's Legion proceeds c ;o co-operate with the secessionists of that e cgion, who are rising with the spirit and n irdor that foretoken brilliant deeds. While t t is the plan of the Wheeling miscreants c o rule the State; it has been that of the c Convention to define treason with a preci- p lion that will endanger their necks. The a nost lamentable incidents of the war may n >e looked for in the midst of this people, v lesh of one flesh, rising up and butchering t jach other with a venom like that which n joisonedour own State 80 years ago, during o he dark days of Tory ascendancy. t Gen. Beauregard has organized the first I ;orps of the army of the Potomac. There c ire five brigades. The first consists of c Cols. Gregg, Kershaw, Cash and Bacon's I regiment's under command of Gen. M. L. 1 Bonham. Our regiment is brigaded with 1 the 17th and 18th Mississippi regiments, \ is spirited and fine a set of boys as you j could wish to lay eyes on; some of whom i have seen service at Pensacola, and all ac- ( customed from earliest boyhood to 4,shoot- ] ing at the squirrel's head to save the meat." \ Qur commander is Gen. D. R. Jones.? ( Col. "Williams' regiment, which arrived in < this District yesterday, will be brigaded < with Virginia forces ; and volunteers from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, com- 1 pose the remaining brigades. The entire i force, to be increased as circumstances re- i quire, are under the command of the hero i af Fort Sumter, the pride of South Carolina, and in the opinion of some, the greatest military genius of the day. If you were here awhile to examine his preparations and to look into his plans, you , would not be so much surprised at this cpinion. He did wisely and well and thoroughly at Sumter; he is doing so here. Ihe roads from Manassas to Fairfax, both i rail and wagon, are a continuous and complex network of well devised and skillfully situated ramparts?and the work is going cn daily, under the silent and rapid hand that almost waves them into being by in cantation. Any one who loves to follow a ? ln/?In np mofKnmntipfl in a nnm. uuaaiui ui iu^io ui iuubuwu?Wvtvu ? . prehensive and grand train of reasoning, must find delight here ; for enough is re- j pealed to enable him, at least, to catch glimpses of the soaring thought. Wm. FT. Russell was right in his complimentary < notice of Beauregard. Maik you, he is a , "whale." ( Sergeant Sadler's faithful old servant? Wheeler?who could not be induced to return home at Charlotte, notwithstanding his . failing health, died very suddenly on Saturday. His last words were, "Mass Joe, I promised Missus to die by you, and I have done so?good bye." He was perfectly ra- f tional to the last moment. The negroes of the camp had their aocustoraed "wake" over his corpse, singing and praying till "Taps"; j and he was interred very decently on yes- ( terdav morning. j Alarms are becoming quite frequent of a ( night. On Saturday night our sentries 1 were all on the alert for the latter half of the night, so that some of them walked six, eight and even ten hours without relief.? Firing began about 11 o'clock a mile or ] two ahead of us; and thirteen shots were 1 fired in all. These alarmed the camp of 1 the 17th Mississippi regiment, which was ' near by, and whose picquets, we believe, did , the firing; and we could distinctly-hear the 1 commands of the officers, "fall in, men ! 1 fall in ! fall in !" Towards morning a cou- 1 rier came charging across our lines, and ' told the Colonel that the enemy were advancing, and the alarm was sounded. The scene which followed wasstirringand grand beyond description. The hospital and guard-house, alike with the company camping grounds were alive; and every body, well or sick or in prison, rallied almost to a man to meet the enemy. Capt. Elford, who was in the Mexican war, said he never saw a regiment formed with more quiet, order and celerity, in his life. Young Dr. Meek, who has been on his couch for a week, could not be persuaded to lie still; but rose as coolly as be ever did, loaded his gun, enquired particularly if caps were provided for the guns; showing in his conduct all the while, great forethought, discretion and modesty. Mr. C. W. A. J. Hood had been prostrated for nearly two weeks with a kidDey or spinal affection; but he went to the field, leaning on a staff, and carrying the clear, laughing eye which never forsakes him. We are glad to say that neither ef these "Jasper's" seem injured by their gallant conduct. We make the distinction of mentioning their names, merely because they were on the sick list, and, therefore, the better illustrated the spirit which animated all the men. The caune of all this alarm and stir in our brigade, shows how great a matter a little fire can kindle. Two or three Yankee scouts attempted to fire the rail-road bridge beyond this some mile or two. They were surrounded and one taken prisoner. Nobody else was hurt. Last night, again, we had a little fun and excitement. To illustrate fully, we must iremise that the first line of our sentinels. ( ics parallel to a body of woods, to the east- 1 rard, skirted by Itfanassas creek, a little unlet some 200 yards distant. The full rbed moon shone down from a clear sky, a aaking a pretty fair counterfeit of the day. ' dr. , the sentinel at post No. 2, ppearstobave been on the alert most keeny. As he paced to and fro his dreary ( ound, he spied a dark-looking suspicious ( bject creep out of the bushes and deep hadows of the brook side; and slowly and j autiously climbing the ascent, make its , ?lnnw tho v.illpv towards hint. The s "v "'""o -j . areful and trusty sentinel kept his eye riv- . ted on his advancing enemy. Tt would ^ aove forward only a step or so at a time, a hen stop, moving its head about and 1 hanging its direction, as if trying to con- ? eal its approaches behind some object, and * ieeping around to the right and left, to get j clear view of the sentinels. Our senti- a iel seems to have been well versed in the f rily strategies of the Indian to steal upon 1 lis foe or his game ; and imagined among t aany other fancies, that the approaching t bject was a Yankee skulk crawling up in 5 he skin of some animal, to shoot him down. 1 . ,. f le suffered it, however, to advance within >0 yards, when he hailed it. "Halt," he , iried, but was unheeded ; wben ho leveled I lis piece, and put a ball right through the ( lead of a large and likely milch cow!? ' The poor animal fell to the ground, and , vith a groan or two, gave up the ghost.? ; crowd of boys came in a run, upon the ' eport of the gun ; hearing the death groans )f the sentinel's victim, they cried, "Beef! Beef!! Beef!!!" most lustily, and much ,vas the merriment which ensued ; but eviry one agreed that the ear-marks must be - ;__j __j .i :j c.. a. jxamiDca, aou mil* uwuci puiu iui tuc uvt?lent. You may judge from the frequency and eadiness of these alarms, how interesting ind full of incidents every day may be with is now. If they do not become more serious, however, we can always close Cheerily, OUR CORPORAL. For tlio Yorkvlllc Enquirer. VOLUNTEERS' FAMILIES. Messrs. Editors :?There are several "amilies of our absent soldiers in our midst ;vho are absolutely dependent upon the charties of others for the means of subsistence. Are not these emphatically, "our poor?"? [a it not due to them, to ourselves, and to )ur country, that we endeavor to make them, it- least comfortable ? We would, therefore, suggest, that a meeting of our citizens be held in the Court FTouse, next Monday evening, for the purpose of devising some effective plan for the relief and support of the families we have lbove alluded to. Let us have a full uicetng. Surely every patriotic soul must respond to this call. One more suggestion : Could not the Uommissiooers of the Poor, most properly md legitimately, perform a most important ;ervice for their country, by looking speciilly to the comfort of the poor and dependent families of such as have gone to the tented field to defend our rights and save mr wives and children from a degradation ivorse far than death itself. Suppose, to provide liberally for such, the Board should ind it necessary to increase their assessnent upon our general tax 10, or even 20 jer cent., who would complain ? This 1 mow would impose additional labor upon ihese gentlemen ; but what would this be n comparison with the hardships, and selfdenials, and dangers incurred by our galant soldiers? CITIZENS. For the Yorkville RiwjUirer. Abraham, the Mighty. And it came to pass, when Abraham, the king, had assembled all his mighty men of war in the city which is called Washington; and when he had appointed captains jver hundreds and captains over thousands And when the King had viewed all these) mighty men of valor which he had assembled for the subjugation of the tribes South of the great river Potomac, which had withdrawn from under his hand and rebelled against him, that he was well pleased, and said unto the chief Captain, of his host, "I will surely go forth with you myself." But the chief Captain said unto him, surely, tVimi oVinlf nnf orn luith jm 1 Siirno hnrf I befall thee, for if half of us flee away or are smitten, so that we die, they will not care for us. But, behold now, thou art worth ten thousand of us, for thou art Kins and head over this great people. And the King said, "whatsoever seemeth good unto you, that will I do." So the King remained in the city, and the chief Captain and all his servants went forth to the battle. SAM. European News. The Paris correspondent of the Independence Beige, writing under date of June 10, Bays: I told you that Mr. Rost, deputy to Kurone from the Southern seceded States, npnnnm/l fn hotm rnfnrnnrl vnrxr tooII Qaflfifif-H .....v. with his trip to London. I can now give you some details. Mr. Kost had obtained j from Lord Palmerston the formal promise j of the recognition of the Southern States at a period more or less remote. Perhaps the English minister had a by-view, the intention of waiting to see whether the seceded States wiil be able to resist the efforts; which those of the North are going to at-1 tempt againts them. According to the impressions brought away by Mr. Kost, there was no understand-! ing between France and England in regard | to a simultaneous recognition of the Southern States. But it appears that the recog-1 nition will be made separately by these two powers It is foreseen that this determination of tho English Government would excito a lively irritation in the Northern States. I do not know whether it i.-sup-i posed that that irritation wiil go so far as a declaration of war against England by those States. But I am pretty positive that the British Government is preparing for: any emergency. The English forces in! Canada and Nova Scotia are being largely ncreased. Lincoln's Marauders. Our dispatches on Thursday mentioned in attack upon a party of pillagers on the [lappahannock. A correspondent of the Richmond Dispatch furnishes the following particulars: "I will give you a hasty, but very nearly :orrect, acoount of an encounter with the jnemy at the residence of James W. Greshim, Esq., on yesterday, June 24. I am jow at the house of Mr. Gresham, and from lim and others gather the following facts : \t about the hour of 4 o'clock, p. m., the iteamer called the Star passed up the [lappahannock river as far as Towles Point, ust below Urbanna, and returning immeliately, stopped opposite Mr. Gresham's, ind within about six hundred yards of the louse. A large barge, armed with two iwivels, and a small row-boat, containing ogether about fifty men, put off for the hore, and the men landed. Some ten or ' J ?M. 1?i j weive men, armeu witu uius&cu auu oiuc irms, came up the bank to the house, procssing to be in pursuit of fowls, which Mr. Gresham informed them they could iot get from him. Whilst in the house, he company of Capt. Issac Currell, at the ime under the command of Adjutant H. 3. Hathaway, having had notice, made heir appearance, and commenced a warm ire on the men, as they rapidly retreated :o the barge, wading up to the waist in wa;er, which fire was continued with some :en or fifteen rounds, until the barge reach3d the steamer. What execution was done is not known, but it is very evident that a number were killed. As soon as the barge left the shore the steamer commenced a heavy fire of cannon and bombs upon the men and the dwelling-bouse, which fire was kept up for an hour, and the house of Mr. G. struck with about 17 balls, weighing from 2 to 30 lbs., and also by several bombshells. Eighty shots were counted, and although the shells bursted all around the men, not one was killed or wounded. And what is most remarkable and providential, none of Mr. Gresham's family were touched, though all remained in the house most of the time. Mr. G.'s mother, an old lady of over eighty years of age, was in her bed, and whilst lying there a ball passed over her head through the house within four inches of her head, and anoth er passed under her bed, tearing the mattress upon which she lay very much, without injuring her. She was then removed to the kitchen, and soon after a bomb shell or ball entered the room and tore up the brick floor within three feet of her, and yet she remained unhurt. The very large and handsome house of Mr. G. is literally riddled, and some of the furniture destroyed. I write from his parlor, which is much torn to pieces. Too much credit cannot be given to the officers and men of Capt. Currell's company for their cool bravery on the occasion. The small boat was taken, with several guns, swords," &c. The Force in Virginia. All seem to be anxious to know the exact amount of the Confederate forces in Virginia. The Baltimore Sun of Tuesday furnishes the following estimate: Fairfax 10,000 Manassas J unction and along Manassas Gap Railroad 20,000 Brentsville 20,000 Warren ton 8,000 Rappahannock 7,000 Culpepper 10,000 Fredericksburg 15,000 Total 90,000 JA Cl.r\r% nun 1 TAK notnn 'Q 1 1119 UUC3 UUl 1UU1UUC UCUCIUI UVUUOIWU w> 20,000 troops, which are probably betweeD Strasburg, Front Royal and Salem, on the Manassas Gap Railroad, (or else along country road,) which, running north of and parallel with that road, terminates at Fairfax, and which will surely co-operate with Gen. Beauregard in ca9e an attack on the capital is decided on. Neither does it include the following troops, which too remote to act in immediate conjunction with them, will be a reserve force which maybe brought up in a few days, namely : Richmond, 30,000 Petersburg (reinforced from Weldon,) 15,000 Lynchburg, 25,000 Total reserve 70,000 Making a grand total of 180,000 troops. fit George M. Dallas and British O1'inion.?The New York Tribune, which is good authority ayainst its own side, gives the following as the opinion of the late Minister to England as to the future action of the English Government in relation to the war on this continent: "Mr. Dallas converses very unreservedly about the feeling of the British Ministry towards this Government. He believes the Ministry to be hostile to us, and that Lord Juhn Russell's early recognition of the rebels as belligerents was not a premature declaration to be repented of hereafter, but a deliberate policy to be adhered to, as far as it goes. He is disposed to believe that the great arbiter is Cotton?that as the stock on hand will keep the English mills employed until November, the Ministry will openly countenance the rebellion until it is ascertained whether the new crop is to be exported or not. If we crush the rebels and permit the new crop to be exported, all will be satisfactory to John ?>uii; it we fail to do so, and Bull has to do without Cotton, then some occasion will be found to get up a difficulty and force the blockade. If the war here continues until November, Bull will keep tolerably quiet, making only an occasional roaring. Hence as the time for shipping the new crop approaches, the question of how England means to act will be more clearly answered. Mr. Dallas thinks that if the Ministry were to be too openly for the rebellion now, Exeter Hall would turn them out forthwith, while, unless they made some show of favoring the Cotton lords, they would do the same thing; so as it is for office, after all, that they are contending, their future policy will be just such as they may think the most likely to insure to them a continuance of power.? Fie is of opinion that France and England will pursue an identical policy with respect to us, be that what it may." The South Carolina Troops. A correspondent of the Winnsboro' Reijister, writing from Fairfax, 27th June, says : "The advance forces of the first corps of the army of the Potomac are now stationed at this place, seven miles from the entrenched posts of the enemy at Fall's Church, where there are supposed to be about 7,000 of them, including cavalry and artillery ? It is not usual or advisable to state the position of our forces, but as it is not likely to remain the same until you see this, I may add that the infantry here consist of Cols. Gregg's, Kershaw's, Bacon's and Cash's Regiment's, about 500 cavalry, and two companies of artillery, all under the command of Gen. Bonham. Just above us is Col. Cook's brigade, a portion of which occupy our late ground at Centreville; the remainder posted between this point atid that, consisting of Preston's and Wither's Virginia Regiments. Then at Fairfax station, about four miles south, I learn that Gen. D. R. Jones' (Adjutant to General Beauregard at Charleston) brigade is posted, consisting of two Alabama, one Mississippi and Jenkins' South Carolina Regiment. Sloan's Regiment S. C. V., and Williams' Regiment S. C. V., (when the latter arrives,) go to Leesburg, which brigade is commanded by Col. Early. GenOfol T^naiironarc? atonrtilv nrlcarmincr Mo forces, and the roads are covered with wagons and troops moving forward. I suppose the first attack will be made at Fall's Church; and thence to Alexandria, but this is opinion, and I cannot tell when it wi\ be initiated." Present to Col. Bacon. We learn from the Richmond Dispatch that Mr. Doswell, and some other citizens of Richmond, have presented to Col. Thos. G. Bacon, of the 7th South Carolina Regiment, a valuable horse, called "Mars." I Col. Bacon acknowledges the oompliment in a handsome manner, in a letter, (dated June 24,) to Mr. Doswell. The Seventh Regiment has been pushed forward to the outpost, and we truly hope the gallant men who now occupy a position in the very front of the enemy, will be supplied by the Confederate Government with suitable comforts to enable them to endure the toils of the campaign. We make some interesting extracts from Col. Bacon's letter: "We are within about five miles of 5,000 of the enemy. A balloon was seen last night and several times to day, from my camp, in the neighborhood of Alexandria. They view our position from it and telegraph the result to Scott. I suspect they will feel easy now that they have ascertained our strength in this vicinity. Report says the 5,000 above spoken of, at Falls Church, kn/ftlr Alnvon/lrtn Tf fVlOT? UttVC niui LCVJ uoca IV/ IA?VAUU?. %.? v..^j do not start by Wednesday, I think we will bag them. My regiment numbers men, besides about 70 negroes, who will fight like thunder. We are in good health and spirits. "I learn that Bevines, Hyer, Mulligan and Wilkes, together with all the roughs and robbers, are in Washington with companies. How I would like to pit my 7th regiment against them in the open field ! * * * I would charge them to the very death. "I cannot close without again thanking you for your acceptable present." Seizure of Valuable Prizos. Richmond, July 1.?About thirty federal prisoners were brought here this morning, who were captured last week at sea by fiftceu Marylanders. Apparently reliable reports state that Commander Hollis, of Baltimore, devised the plan of seizing the steamer St. Nicholas, plying between Baltimore and Philadelphia. Capt. Thomas, disguised as a female, with several others, took passage for Philadelphia at some point below Baltimore. Commander Hollis, with others, went aboard subsequently. Tbe whole party armed themselves, and took charge of the steamer with but little opposition. They took a Baltimore barque, with three thousand bags of coffee, and a schooner, with two hundred tons of coal for federal fleet. They brought the St. Nicholas to Fredericksburg, and landed tbe barque and schooner on the Rappahannock river, above the Confederate batteries. The St. Nicholas is a valuable mail steamer, and is believed to have interesting dispatches on boaid, together with money and valuable freight. The prizes are safely secured, and are thought to be worth about four hundred thousand dollars.? Commander Hollis, with the captain of the prize, arrived here this afternoon. Report says Thomas was disguised as a French lady, and Hollis recognized her as a Parisian acquaintance of many years ago. A long conversation in French ensued, and at 1 o'clock on Saturday night the party appeared thoroughly armed with cutlasses, etc., and took possession of the steamer.? Universal gratification is expressed at this achievement. Gjnpowder. ? Day before yesterday morning we were shown a sample of saltpetre made from the Karth of the Saltpetre Cave, near Kingston. Our readers will doubtless recollect the letter of the Rev. C. W. Howard, written expressly for this jourIn nn* /loDn nf fkn 1 fifk UU1 UUU J^uuiiougu 1U vui uuaij Ui (.UW av;ku of May, giving a description and history of this cave, and urging the necessity of manufacturing powder at the place. This letter was written at our special request, and we rejoice that it has awakened attention to the subject, and that the Hon. Mark A. Harden has already made a large quantity of Saltpetre, and will at once commence the manufacture of powder on an extensive scale. The specimen of saltpetre can be seen at our office. Competent chemists pronounce it a very superior article. It exists in the cave in exhaustless quantities. So great is the supply and so easily can it be obtained, that Mr. Harden is confident of being able to supply powder in the greatest quantities, and at greatly reduced prices. We wish him every success.?Atlanta Confederacy. Insanity of Qceen Victoria.?The Gazette dc France says that "Dr. Scrcelein has been sent for to London to attend a consultation of French and German physicans on the state of the Queen's health, which, it seems, is such as to give rise to uneasiness." The following mysterious paragraph ap pears, under the head or "latest news, in the new journal, Lc Temps: "We learn from Berlin that the Prince and Princess Royal, with the little Prince William, are going to pay a visit to London about the middle of July. It appears that the object of the journey it to secure a salutary emotion for Queen Victoria?to change the current of her thoughts by their society. The rumors that circulate about her Majesty's condition are truly alarming, and awakeu the most sincere sympathy here. LTor Majesty is only 42 years of age; her bodily health is perfectly good, and it may be reasonably hoped that, under proper treatment, the inorai malady with which she is afflicted will soon disappear."