Valley Spirit

Miscellaneous news from Washington. The 1st Regiment of cavalry and the 2d Regiment of dragoons of the U.S. Army have been ordered to the Chambersburg area. The Pennsylvania troops have received their new uniforms and will hereafter be as well dressed as any of the other troops.

Miscellaneous news from Fortress Monroe. The steamer State of Georgia brought the Tenth New York regiment of National Zouaves to Fortress Monroe. Gen. Butler has issued stringent orders to prevent depredations on private property. Those citizens of Hampton who had their property damaged had the amount of the damages refunded to them.

Federal troops would have advanced from Alexandria and Arlington if the rebel forces hadn't also begun to move. A large force of Confederates is now centered at Manassas Junction. Gen. Beauregard has assumed command of these Confederate troops.

A skirmish occurred near Hampton between Col. Duryea's regiment of Zouaves and a party of rebels.

It is reported "upon high authority" that if England sides with the South, the Emperor Napoleon will side with the North because he doesn't want England to cripple her greatest maritime rival.

The Board of Examiners, who have in their possession all of the manuscripts of the despatches seized in the different principal cities of the Union, have found that a prominent Minister gave intelligence to the Confederates. The Minister will be recalled immediately.

General Prentiss sent two companies to break up a camp of secessionists at Elliott's Mills, Kentucky. They had already fled by the time the companies arrived. Col. Wycliff protested against this invasion of Kentucky soil.

The federal government has decided to bring all the available naval vessels into active service because of the threat of hostilities between Great Britain and the U.S. The British appear to be using their navy to aid the Confederacy,

The Confederates appear to have between 14,000 and 20,000 troops at Manassas Junction. They are moving in men at a rate of three trainfuls a day.

More details about the skirmish at Phillippi.

Less than a century ago, Massachusetts and Virginia fought together to promote rebellion. Now, Virginia fights for another rebellion while Massachusetts supports the doctrines of legitimacy and toryism.

The federal government has notified the European powers that it will hold no intercourse with any state that recognizes the Southern Commissioners. This action will force every government that has diplomatic relations with the U.S. to make a decision on its future course.

The recognition of the Confederacy by the European powers would give great moral support to the South. While the powers appear reticent to anger the federal government, they have also pointed out that de facto governments have the right to be recognized.

Mr. Seward is anxious to prevent the European powers from recognizing the South.

The Standard holds itself aloof from both North and South.

Gen. Patterson has taken charge of the Telegraph Office in Chambersburg and has placed an operator there to supervise all the army-related dispatches. This action pleases the Spirit, which believes that it will "put an effectual stop to the lying sensation dispatches, and bogus news, furnished, from this point, by some hangers-on to the skirts of the army who call themselves 'Reporters' for the New York and Philadelphia papers."

The First Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, has reached Chambersburg.

The troops that left Camp Slifer last Friday and Saturday are now encamped three-fourths of a mile north of Greencastle. Other troops that recently left Chambersburg are on the road leading to Hagerstown.

On Tuesday a number of companies from "Camp Chambers" rushed into town to procure food. They complained of the scarcity of provision and the poor quality of the food in camp. The Spirit intends to stand up for the rights of the volunteers and vows to expose any corruption in the procurement procedure if the conditions are not improved.

A Republican "neighbor" lauded the Rhode Island Regiment that recently arrived in Chambersburg as being "among the best equipped troops." The Spirit points out that their uniforms cost $8 while the miserable clothing of the Pennsylvania Volunteers cost $17. The Spirit asks what "our neighbor [has to] say in extenuation for this sample of Republican management of our State military affairs?"

Sixteen regiments of Pennsylvania Volunteers, plus nine companies of regulars, are encamped in or have recently left Chambersburg on their way to the enemy lines.

Almost every day and night trains are arriving in town loaded with horses, provisions, and ammunition. The troops continue to arrive and depart.

The stoppage of the mail from the Southern states has cut off the Southern press. However, the Spirit doesn't believe that this is a great loss since these papers didn't report on troop movements or any other army related information.

The Spirit is outraged that incompetent men are being appointed to command the Pennsylvania troops. They direct the readers attention to the article in column 4, "Appointments not fit to be Made," in which a Republican paper makes the same complaint.

"All experienced writers upon arms for soldiers denounce the use of pistols for privates and ridicule the idea of knives." The volunteers should instead rely on their bayonets in a close fight.

In the excitement over the coming of the war, everyone has forgotten about the coming election. The Republicans have urged voters to forget about party. The Juniata Democrat believes that this is a ruse to add strength to the Republican party, which can no longer win voters with their sectional doctrines. They urge every Democrat to "stand up for his country in its hour of trial, but still cling to Democratic principles."

Two or three weeks ago, the Republicans insisted that party issues had been set aside in favor of unity. Now, however, it appears that Republicanism has been resurrected as the party members call conventions and make nominations.

The Western Reserve of Ohio, a well known abolitionist region, has "thus far responded but feebly to the call for troops." The governor attempted to hide this low turnout by "preventing the mustering into the service of the United States of regiments raised in other quarters of the State, in order to give the abolition corner a chance." However, the War Department ordered him to stop this practice.

Charges have been made to the Secretary of War that one of the largest contractors for the Pennsylvania Quartermaster General has also sold saltpetre to the South. An investigation has been ordered.

The Inquirer is outraged that incompetent men are being appointed to command regiments. They believe that the Secretary of War is using the War Department to benefit his followers.

An extract from a letter written by a Southern volunteer encamped at Harper's Ferry. In it, he discusses camp life and the fear that, if the Union captures Manassas Junction, Harper's Ferry will be completely cut off.

A petition is circulating in Philadelphia that asks Congress to pass a general act of bankruptcy similar to the one passed following the panic of 1837. The text of the act is included.

Kentucky and other tobacco growing states will gain great advantage by not seceding because they will not have to face the blockade. While the American government doesn't tax tobacco, the European governments place heavy duties upon it and receive a tremendous amount of revenue from tobacco sales.

The Spirit reprints a list, drawn from the 1860 census, of the number of white males between the ages of eighteen and forty five who live in the free states, border slave states, seceded states, and territories.

A convention of officers of various Pennsylvania railroad companies agreed to make an abatement of 33 percent of the usual charge for carrying troops or provisions of war. However, all the railroads of the state have in their charters a provision that states that troops and munitions of war shall be carried at fifty percent of the usual rate. The editor questions who makes the remaining seventeen percent.

Senator Douglas's funeral was held in Chicago and drew a large crowd.

Estimates how much the war will cost the government.

Beauregard bids his farewell to Charleston and assures the Carolinians that the South will be victorious.

Anna Sowers died on May 16th at 23 years of age.

Died on June 7th at 28 years of age.

Edward Reed died on June 6th at 22 years of age.