Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-06-04

vi SSCGSSlOIl, ohN1 '"-
the question Of a division OF the State.
Important Letter from lIarylnnnd---mni'
,ary AGxirs--Disposition of Troops, DC.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
RELAY House, Mp, May %, 1861.
Your correspondent being detained here over
one train, will occupy u few moments in send
ing you an account Of the position OF affairs
here, and the disposition Of the several forces
in this vicinity.
Two Massachusetts Regiments occupr the
heights lust across the viaauct, within pistol
shot of the railway station. The entlre force,
numbers about eighteen hucdred men, and is
composed principally of old organized co'npa-
| MES. who volunteered for three months service
on the first requisition Of President lincoln
They are mainly mechanics or mill operatives,
and in consequence of the hardening process
through which they have gone in doing the
duties Of camp life, arc n robust. active look
inc corps Of soldiers. These Massachusetts
volunteers, however, are al exception 10 the
general rule, and having had the advantage OF
long drill and familiarity with their arms may
be placed in the same rank with the regular
regiments from New York.
One of the regiments is the sixth, the same
that passed through Baltimore on. the famous
nineteenth, and wherever they get an opportu.
nity Of wreaking their hate upon a citizen Of
Baltimore, be it man. woman OF -child, they DO
not scruple at any act which does not render
them Immediately liable to military punish
ment. Under cover Of their orders to exam
inc all suspicious articles or individuals who
BASS this point, they abuse boxes, break open
trunks, scatter ladies' apparel upon the floor Of
the cars, perernptorily demand the keys Of the
baggage, raise ladies dresses, if they happen to
be spread too ANONYMOUSLY, inspect private
parcels, and commit other descriptions OF per.
sonal indignity within the scope of their duties
as a gardc d Espionage.
Commanding the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road, upon the track 4 few rods from the Re
Law House is o battery Of two brass field pieces,
six Founders, belonging to the Boston Light
Infnntry. Another battery is just on the op.
posite side of the Patapsco, but | venture to
say that they could be taken at a single charge,
being mere constructions Of railroad ties and
sand bags, which rifle balls alone would make
untenable.
Nine miles from this point, at Annapolis
junction, is the Twentieth Regiment Of New
York, Col. Pratt. This is composed Of volun-
teers generally, from the country districts. a
good many are boys all the men are guant,
raw boned looking g~euiuses, dirty, heavily
| clad, and so uncomfortable locking generally y,
that after leaving them one feels as if he had
been reading ghost stories. Their dress is a
blue black coat, and grey pants, surmounted
by a filthy white felt hat, upon which is writ
ten in charcoal. twentieth Regiment" De,
tachments of this regiment guard the track to
Annapolis, thirty miles in length.
At Annapolis is the Thirteenth Rcgi.
ment, Col. Smith, made up Of Brooklyn
clerks and W~illiamburgh fremen, 900
strong. They are generally gentecl young
fellows, but the majority don't know as much
about handling firearms as a pig knows of the
Psalms of David. They are drilling constant
ly, however, especially with reference to load.
lug and firing, and, if they possess sufficient
backbone, must make good soldiers.
Just on tn" edge Of the bay, but in the yard
OF the naval academy, is o round building,
called 1.-THE Battery" but with the reservation
Of two thirty.two Founders, as many mortars,
and q few rounds Of ammunition, it is virtually
nothing but q store house Of provisions
With q moderate force, the place might be Ia
ken, and ! have wondered that the idea has
not been entertained of suddenly pushing
o column through the Relay, driving the
few soldiers there from their position, dis.
posing of those at the Annapolis junction in the
same manner, and advancing upon Annapolis.
1t could all be done inside Of two days. The
road between Washington and Baltimore would
be torn up, and in our possession: the people
Of Maryland would whip out the invaders, even
without arms bridges would again be DC.
~ -1-ol and tta ,..,' -, T .ho ,,f ,r,n,ll ho
relieved from the odious military oppression
with which they are now afflicted. Simulta.
neous movements might be made elsewhere,
and before Abe Lincoln could don his Scotch
cap AMI plaid cloak again re would And at his
heels an avenging army OF Eirginians. Thus
far NC have acted purely upon the defensive,
You will find Kentucky, Maryland, and perhaps
Missouri herself dropping iuto line, and 'keep-
ing step to the music Of the Southern Confede.
racy.", 1t IL not back. bone tina. We need so
much as a little spring to it.
Among the objects Of interest nj Annapolis
is the famous steam gun, concerning which
the Northern papers have exhibited such a d.
arrhea Of delight IL is, however, useless to
all intcnts and purposes, and Butter might as
well have captured SO mulch iron ware.
That the Inventor has the power Of render.
ing il formidable, the machine az it stands,
is Il sufficient indication, but, unfortunately
for the Yankees, he made Il personal attach.
Incnt Of the parts most valuable, and they are
now in his possession. You need not be sur.
prisr,l some fine day to see u duplicate stand.
ing in the van Of the Southcln artny and spite.
fully fulfilling its destiny.
just across the river from Annapolis * the
sixth regiment OF New lork-Herman. Hero
lager beer and sour kron, p]rcdominn,r. Their
war cry is rira Lbtrte Fl mdcDroni. Both Of
lcers and soldiers will tici, for villa, they
most lack-onc for honor, the other Tor money.
Two or three feeble batteries nrr there thrown
NJ, but like most al there cn'rruporancUus
works !h-y have erected, lfry are more form.
dahlc IN nnrnu than IN pfacuco
The pending cut!l CT het"""u lhr sup enc
Court and tho supreme l]incn.n. iist-tIstra, IN
the case II NJ rrl iunu rrt1tH CalNsisIrf, iap
created inlrnF" 0NcitninrFl a,n Sp. ali ol,srg3 al
out community. The ld,s, Have w. II gov
more fOrcihlo than rTti, sHtI Iisy SO ~lrtrpatsd
10 tess, Ia ,ln kEiir III. in-, uHi ~iitpfsn,
tisi' Iati"h ~ their tights ~ ritGPbs ~ The
United siaira The eyeHis pf tho lpfh al
April Nr,s ioi'nwFd iy 4 Gninn 80 sr,ion
bu, the counter iffits'Iua tuifefed sine.
That tin,r - gisiGslty bringing n,ul,tI
another 10 sttiDit. uIt ]lmEhtisisu II, 80 efsr
sctsf, So. a strong; detI seated sraitrisn; al
patriotism shieh mtiat ana its} fiuai q 'sHt
Tbs rsephq ara ehssing naist ,ltti; ftstf. MIA
foH see II ih ,htir tsrSs ~ ihss encounter ths