Valley Spirit

A battle took place between Union House Guards under Capt. Cook and a large body of secessionists. Governor Jackson of Missouri is fleeing with about 500 men.

The rebel force that left Harper's Ferry is reported to be encamped at Stevenson's Depot near Winchester.

Summary of actions taken by the new Virginia convention, including disbursement of public revenue, construction of a military road, and organization of state militia.

Gen. McDowell has advanced his lines four miles toward Fairfax Court House. The Confederate camp is two miles away from the Federal encampment.

Witnesses have been summoned to go before the Grand Jury in the case of Mr. Merriman. The Grand Jury is composed of "unconditional Union men."

"It is generally conceded that all the Union candidates for Congress are chosen in the various districts, with the exception of the First district, where H.C. Barnett, the Secession candidate, is undoubtedly elected."

The Confederates have one or two masked batteries near Springfield station. In addition, the troops' pay has been delayed because regimental officers were unable to get their rolls into shape. This problem has been straightened out, so the regiments should soon receive their pay.

Col. Wallace of the Indiana Regiment has entrenched himself on the north side of Bedford to await the approach of the rebel army from Romney. The Confederates returned to Romney upon learning of Wallace's presence.

Neither C.O. Bowman nor the private of the Eighth Pennsylvania Regiment have been heard from since they were taken prisoner near Williamsport.

Alexandria remains quiet, "not even a rumor afloat."

Miscellaneous war news from Washington. Senator Andrew Johnson made a speech in which he "eloquently combatted Secession as a heresy, destructive of the Government, which should be effectually crushed out. The war now in progress, he contended, was not of the North against the South, but as conducted by the Government for the perpetuation of the Union, the maintenance of the Constitution and the enforcement of the laws, made in pursuance of that instrument."

The rebels are concentrating a large force at Yorktown. The excessive heat has been very trying for the troops.

Opposing articles in the Mercury and Journal. The Mercury criticizes the "little knot of traitors in this city" who have begun holding peace meetings. These provide aid to the enemy. The Journal castigates the Mercury for calling peace advocates "traitors" and states that the right to peaceably assemble and fight government tyranny is in no way traitorous.

Mr. Crittenden defined his position on the present conflict during his campaign for Congress. He stated that he wanted the war to end, but he didn't want a war of subjugation. Instead, the South should present its demands to Congress and Congress should attempt to redress the Southern grievances. He declared himself loyal to the Constitution, not to Lincoln.

A Union meeting in Trenton, Missouri, adopted resolutions expressing devotion to the Constitution and the government.

"Lieut. Tyler, U.S.A., who was arrested a night or two since for uttering sentiments at variance with the popular feeling of the country on the war question and handed over to the military authorities, has taken the oath of allegiance at the Brooklyn Navy Yard."

After a peace resolution was introduced in the Iowa legislature, a virtually identical bill was proposed in the Connecticut legislature. The resolution states that they are opposed to the war and want hostilities to end.

Troops from further South continue to pour into Richmond. The Confederate forces believe that the rebel men posted in the Shenandoah Valley will protect Manassas Junction and Richmond from any attack from the west.

A new night telegraph has been invented for the use of the army and navy. This allows direct communication at night between men who are up to fifteen miles apart.

The Spirit is "warmly in favor of adjusting our troubles by other means than the sword." They agree with Mr. Crittenden's recent statements.

The Spirit claims that it is impossible to listen to the Maryland secessionists without "mingled feelings of contempt and indignation. Their everlasting whining about the 'subjugation' of their State is the poorest exhibition of manhood that ever has come under our observation." Maryland wasn't really subjugated, as the secessionists claim, because the federal government had the right to send its troops through the state on their way to Washington.

The period of enrollment for the three-month volunteers will expire in about two weeks. The Spirit fears that their poor treatment and their dislike of their officers will cause many of the volunteers to not re-enlist.

A Spirit correspondent visited Williamsport and Hagerstown and found "everything pertaining to the army at a dead lock. Everybody seemed to be waiting for something to turn up but nobody could tell when or where a move would be made."

The Spirit once again pleads for money.

Four regiments of the Pennsylvania reserve corps will form a permanent encampment on the grounds of Camp Slifer.

The area's railroads are constantly kept busy freighting supplies for the army. Even so, a large number of baggage wagons pass through the county every day loaded with stores for the troops.

The Spirit has just received the first Harrisburg and Lancaster Democrat, which is a German newspaper published by Messrs. Ripper, Kuhn and Haas. Mr. Ripper is a former partner of the publisher of the Spirit. "He is the right man in the right place. We know him to be a good German scholar, a first-rate printer, a sound Democrat and an honest man."

The Democratic Nominating Convention of Bedford County appointed Hon. W. P. Schell, John G. Hartley and Oliver E. Shannon Judicial Conferees. They will meet with similar Conferees from Franklin, Fulton, and Somerset counties to put in nomination a suitable candidate for President Judge of the district.

The army telegraph line from Chambersburg to Hagerstown has been completed.

The Spirit draws its readers' attention to the declaration of principles set down by the Democrats of Bedford County. According to the paper, the principles "embody the true doctrine--the doctrine of the Constitutional Union men of the country--the only true and consistent friends of the Union."

Text of the resolutions adopted by the Democrats of Bedford. In them, they condemn sectional parties and pledge their loyalty to the Constitution.

Last Monday afternoon a fire broke out in the Foundry building of Messrs. Bradley, Crowell & Keller. Two houses were also destroyed.

Col. Wallace and his men were in a critical situation in Cumberland. Reinforcements were sent to him immediately.

The Pat Valley Lodge of the I.O.of O.F. passed a resolution in honor of the late Samuel C. Deardorff.

It appears that the administration wants to end the war as quickly as possible, even if that means calling four or five hundred thousand men into service. Gen. Scott is reticent to rush them into the field, however, because they won't be well trained.

Married on June 18th in Greenvillage.

Married on June 20th in Mercersburg.