Valley Spirit

A force of 2,500 federal troops made an entrenched camp near the mouth of the James River near Fortress Monroe. About 100 slaves arrived in the camp, were given rations and put to work. Col. Butler met with the President to ask what he should do with the fugitive slaves. He was told that the government endorses his policy of protecting them and putting them to work.

The rebel troops have evacuated parts of Western Virginia and Union troops have moved in. Gen. McClellan issued a proclamation stating that his troops came as friends, that the property of the local residents would be protected, and that "no interference would be made with their slaves; but on the contrary, any attempt at insurrection would be crushed with iron hand."

"Secession forces have thrown up earthworks of perhaps two hundred feet square at Manassas Gap Junction, and commanding the track for perhaps a mile. They are under the command of Gen. Bonham of South Carolina."

The Union navy has changed its signals, since the Southerners know the old signals. Gen. Walbridge urged the government to sign up four or five hundred thousand men into the army. "This demonstration, it is thought, will make the war a bloodless one, and establish the military character of the nation abroad, as well as overcome treason at home."

The Secretary of War made application for large quantities of the rolling stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for use on the Orange and Alexandria road. The Union army will probably first attempt to seize Manassas Gap Junction, which is a highly important position on the Richmond Road. "The citizens [of Northern Virginia] appear to submit to the new occupation with a sort of sullen can't help myself feeling; they stand around in small squads, but appear desirous of avoiding the military."

The poor conditions in Camp Johnson, where the 14th and 15th Pennsylvania Regiments are quartered, have utterly demoralized the troops. The commissariat serves the volunteers rancid meat and an insufficient amount of bread.

The Union State Convention met in Baltimore and adopted a series of resolutions in favor of Union.

"The people of Missouri have been assured that the President will not require that State to take sides in the present conflict. No aggressions will be made on the rights or property of her people."

"An enormous rifled cannon is just being finished at Pittsburgh for Fortress Monroe."

The Tennessee papers report that the hay and corn crops are not likely to be good this year.

See the above transcript.

Major Anderson's account of the bombardment on Fort Sumter.

A Democratic State Convention is to be held at Syracuse on July 4th. "Its probable purpose is the harmonizing of the party."

"Schuyler Colifax has arrived in Washington from Indiana, for the purpose of urging the government to accept the services of six regiment of volunteers from that state."

"Henry S. Foote, Jr., son of the ex-Senator, has been appointed second Lieutenant in the Confederate State Army. He is a resident of Nashville, Tennessee."

The Board of Aldermen of Louisville have invited Major Anderston to visit their city.

Miles Greenwood of Cincinnati has a government contract to make eight hundred rifles and muskets per day.

A company of cavalry from Carlisle Barracks will arrive in Chambersburg by the Philadelphia turnpike on Saturday.

Mr. John Fisher, Hotel Keeper, shot himself in the abdomen while handling a Sharp's Pistol. The wound is very serious.

Three soldiers died in Chambersburg of camp fever.

About 45 men left Campbell's Artillery because they would not enlist for three years. The remaining men were ordered to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, with the cannon to recruit more men. They were not provided with horses.

"The 4th and 5th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers are familiarly known in Washington as the ragged Militia. Is this right? or is it a burning shame on those who should have taken pride in putting them into the field in a condition at least equal to those from New England and New York. Are the homes of men who will act so worth defending?"

Ten regiments are now encamped at Chambersburg. It is believed that, soon, a total of fifteen will be here and then will march on Harper's Ferry. "They will make short work at that point; but we still hope that the rebels will see how wrong they are acting, lay down their arms and swear fidelity to the Constitution and the Union, and not provoke the slaughter that must surely follow if they attempt resistance."

The western counties of Virginia voted heavily against secession while the eastern were almost unanimous in favor.

"Augustus Jenkens has been mobbed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for saying we ought to let the South go in peace. Zene Farrington and Cornelius Miller were mobbed and much injured, in Wales, Mass., for declining to hoist a flag on compulsion."

The Republican papers don't appear to be surprised that Mr. Purviance resigned as Attorney General. They knew he was an honest man, and no honest man "can long stand the strong smell of thieves that fairly poisons the atmosphere around Gov. Curtin." The Spirit believes that the Republicans made a mistake when they nominated Curtin, who is hopelessly corrupt.

The Spirit believes that the British government's position vis-a-vis the Confederate States is correct. Its recognition of the Confederate States as a belligerent merely means that it will take no part in the struggle.

"On Sunday about two hundred Virginia troops reached Little Georgetown, seven miles above Williamsport, and have encamped there, using the church as a barracks."

About eight thousand men are now encamped in Chambersburg--2nd, 3d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 21st, 23d, 24th Regiments and the Scott Legion of Pennsylvania.

The Spirit has found a "choice morsel" from a paper published in Boston and New York by a group of black and white men. The quote states that "If freedom can only prevail through the agency of vengeance, so be it; if the Temple of Liberty can stand securely on the corpses of slaveholders, so be it . . ." The Spirit believes that the black publishers are taking advantage of the present turmoil of the country, and that the liberty to express such statements will be curtailed.

A correspondent for the Louisville Tribune states that Union feeling is strong in Kentucky.

A letter from C. F. Fletcher states that the war has shown the necessity of a railroad from Washington to Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland. He hopes that, with the aid of the government, this "important opening through Maryland into Pennsylvania and the far Northwest" may be completed.

"Nearly every exchange paper we lay hands to now-days is filled with letters from soldiers in the different Camps throughout the State as well as outside of it; and nearly every one we read complains of either the clothing or the food. The general complaint is of the clothing, they appear to have been wofully [sic] cheated, and somebody has made money."

About one half of Captain Campbell's Artillery did not sign up for a three-year enlistment.

The men of the Curtin Guards, Company B, 10th Regiment want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ross and many other residents of Chambersburg for providing them with cakes, pies, and bread.

Brief geographical descriptions of certain key locations, including Pensacola, Montgomery, and Richmond.

Recommends that, when corresponding with a soldier, the writer include a stamp in order to ensure a reply. The difficulty of obtaining stamps may prevent soldiers from writing letters.

Complains that corruption is the order of the day in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania residents have paid liberally to outfit their volunteers, but the men are poorly clothed and fed.

Description of the current position and status of the armies.

Everything is quiet at Old Point Comfort. Captain Engel of the Navy believes that the rebel battery at Sewall's Point is impregnable.

A gentleman who just arrived in Washington from Centreville, Virginia reports that there are 4,000 troops in the area. He also stated that prominent Union men in Virginia continue to be seized and held hostage.

Two trains, one of which was filled with Confederate troops, collided on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

"Hon. Wm. A. Graham, of North Carolina, who ran for Vice President in 1852 on the Whig ticket with Gen. Scott, is delivering stump speeches in the tar, pitch and turpentine State in favor of secession."

"The body of Col. Ellsworth was buried at Mechanicsburg, New York, on Monday."