Valley Spirit

Two Massachusetts men who had been living in North Carolina report on what they saw as they travelled North. In addition, the fear that Baltimore will be attacked is leading to a mass exodus from the city.

A Northern woman who had been living in Savannah, Georgia reports that she saw a great deal of preparation for war during her trip North. Southerners were sure that their army would be in control of Washington by May 1. Stephens was on her train and spoke at every station.

A correspondent writes from Havre De Grace that Washington is bracing for an attack from the Georgetown Heights. Many residents have fled and business has been suspended.

The election drew few voters and "There was no small opposition to the Southern Rights ticket."

Governor Moore has called for 5,000 additional soldiers to protect the South from the Federal Government, which is attempting "to subvert your liberties, destroy your rights, and to shed your blood on your own soil." The people of New Orleans "are greatly excited" and the women are making arrangements to hold a fair to raise money to clothe the Louisiana volunteers.

The Federal government has reinforced Fort Monroe. The Virginians talked of storming the Fort, but such an attack would be very costly.

There is a movement to make the counties west of the Allegheny a separate state or part of another state if eastern Virginia moves against the federal government.

A man who had arrived in Philadelphia from Annapolis reported that an African-American insurrection had occurred in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. General Butler of Massachusetts had offered the services of his regiment to put down the uprising.

Fort McHenry was reinforced with 600 men. Baltimore residents had planted two cannon at the fort, but these were removed.

Baltimore troops were within 17 miles of Havre de Grace, but when they learned that 2,000 pro-Union troops were ready to meet them, they fled. "Factories and public works along the road were entirely deserted and the country is in a blaze of enthusiasm."

Two regiments arrived in Washington, but city residents are still very worried about a Southern attack.

Washington braced for an attack and feared that there would not be enough troops to protect the city. All the public buildings have been barricaded. Governor Hicks of Maryland asked Lincoln to countermand orders for the passage of troops through Maryland. Lincoln refused.

When troops arrived in Baltimore from Massachusetts and Philadelphia, a crowd gathered at the railroad track to attempt to block the troops' passage. The mob ripped up some of the road to make it impassable. The crowd hissed at the troops and swore their allegiance to the Confederacy. Once the tracks were blocked, the troops disembarked and marched through the streets. The mob blocked their path and threw paving stones at them. The troops fired at the mob and a number were shot.

Mr. Dixon asks why the South has left the Union when it has had so much input in creating the laws of the territories and when Lincoln has continued to uphold the laws of the land. He argues that demagogues in the North and the South have divided the country.

Archbishop Hughes, the archbishop of New York, writes that he hopes for peace and remains a loyal American, even though he is a "foreigner by birth."

The Spirit is extremely critical of the behavior of Maryland, which claims to be in the Union but attacks federal soldiers because they are supposedly invading the state.

The Spirit believes that state authorities should not be criticized for providing insufficient accommodations for the state's volunteers because far more men signed up than the state expected.

The Spirit is insulted by a Southern article that claims that the North has asked Garibaldi to head the Northern army because no suitable Northern general exists. "We pity the blindness with which they are rushing to their own destruction and trust that it may be removed and that they may see the folly and danger of their position before it is too late."

The state reached its first quota of volunteer regiments and has now made a second request.

Mr. J. Allison Eyster has received the contract for supplying provisions to the soldiers quartered in the area. Messrs. Ben and T & A Cook and John Ely will provide beef.

"We are most happy to learn, just as our paper was going to press, that Maryland has made a noble effort to redeem herself from the disgrace of disunionism. The ordinance of secession was voted down in her House of Delegates, at Frederick, on Monday, by a handsome majority."

The 2nd Regiment of Pennsylvania, which includes the Chambers Artillery and the Greencastle company, is encamped at York. The officers and enlisted men are listed above.

"We understand that two additional regiments of volunteers from this State will be sent here this week and quartered at Camp Slifer. This will make five regiments encamped at this place, numbering in the aggregate about four thousand men."

The Spirit will publish the names of the officers and members of any companies encamped at Chambersburg if they are sent to the paper.

Soldiers' families and property are protected against having a process served on them while they are enrolled.

The government made a requisition upon Gov. Curtin to furnish twenty regiments of infantry and one of cavalry.

The governor of Ohio moved troops to the Southern frontier of the state to offer protection to Union supporters in western Virginia.

The Bush River bridge was fired upon and totally destroyed. Gen. Harney was captured by Virginia troops in Harper's Ferry while he was travelling to Washington.

The track on the Perryville, Maryland side of Annapolis Junction was torn up by "secessionists of that vicinity." 5,000 federal troops were to be moved on the morning of April 27th toward Washington.

Forts McHenry and Carroll were reinforced on April 26th and the receiving ship Allegheny was towed out of the harbor and placed under the guns of Fort McHenry.

The Union has solid support in numerous Maryland counties, including Hagerstown, Frederick, Cumberland and the Eastern Shore counties except for Worcester.

The U.S. flag was raised in various parts of the city, although it was done without the authority of the city authorities. This information may be wrong, but "the parties who brought the news say they witnessed it themselves."

A person who had been in Harper's Ferry reported that there were only 2,400 Confederate troops there, and that 1,000 had marched for Alexandria. General Beauregard was presumed to be the commander of 7,000 troops in Richmond who were believed to be preparing for an attack on Washington.

The governor of Maryland stated to the Legislature that he had hoped that the state could preserve a neutral position and act as a mediator between North and South.

General Leslie Combs of Kentucky wrote Lincoln to ask him "If the State of Kentucky assumes the position of a strict 'armed neutrality' remaining in the Union, not permitting troops from the Confederate States to pass over her soil, will it be necessary for the federal government to march its troops through that State when required to send them South to suppress the revolution in the cotton States?" He had not yet received a reply.

Washington is calmer now that it is so heavily reinforced. In Annapolis, the Naval Academy enclosure is filled with troops.

"Gen. Harper, the commander of the forces at Harper's Ferry, has given assurances that Virginia would allow no attack on the Capital from her soil. The authority for this assertion is confirmed by a gentleman from Richmond, as being the sentiments expressed by Governor Letcher."

According to a "Southern gentleman" who arrived in New York City on April 25th, Virginia had decided on secession more than six weeks before, but delayed the movement as long as possible to allow Davis to organize the Southern military. They had planned on making simultaneous attacks on the North, but their plans were disrupted by the appearance of the Federal fleet at Charleston.

Fort Smith was captured by the Arkansas state troops.

Listing of how many officers and enlisted men Pennsylvania will be required to furnish.

Married on April 16.

Married on April 25 at the Indian Queen Hotel.

Died on April 27 at age 80.

Died on April 28 at age 47.

Died on April 20 at age 77.

Died on April 17 at age 87.

In Montgomery, the news that Virginia had seceded was greeted by exultation that "was proportionably intense." Trade and business in the city have been on the decline. Jefferson Davis has left the city, presumably to go to Richmond to meet with the governor.

No change has taken place in the military status quo of Pensacola. Fort Pickens has been reinforced and no attack is expected for the next ten days.

Gen. Houston will announce his determination to oppose Lincoln's preparations for war.

The federal government is apparently unaware of federal troop movements, and a state of "gross mismanagement" appears to exist.

A group from the Young Men's Christian Associations of Baltimore met with Lincoln to ask him not to march troops across Maryland and to recognize the independence of the Southern states. Lincoln refused.

Anthony Kennedy and J. Morrison Harris met with Lincoln to urge him not to march more troops across Maryland. He answered that he had no choice: "we must have the troops here to relieve ourselves or we shall die like rats in a trap."

Defines martial law as the "suspension of all ordinary civil rights and process."