The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-07
THE SITUATION.

New York, Saturday, September 2, 1861.
THE SITUATION.
.oissance was made yesterday along the
whole line Of the Union army, from Alexandria to
the Chain Bridge, and the condition of the troops
proved to be most satisfactory. There are no
longer complaints of decentralization or want of
discipline, and the spirit of the men is described as
most excellent. The War Department is receiving
fresh troops as fast it can assign them positions
Some heavy firing in the direction of the Chain
Dridge yesterday created the impression that
Conflict was in progress, but it proved to be only
The rebel pickets however, in the vicinity Of Bal
ley's Cross Roads and Munson's Hill, are within
some seven or eight hundred yards of four compa-
MES of the Thirty New York Volunteers
company E, commanded by Captain Kavanagh
being in the advance and completely under the fire
of the rebel batteries on the hill.
The most important news we have to chronicle
to-day is concerning the condition of affairs in
North Carolina resulting from the late naval victo
ry at Hatteras Inlet The rebels, alarmed at the
vigor of the expedition under StrnghAm and
Butler, have abandoned Ocracoke Inlet spiking
the guns before retiring and leaving the
white flag flying. The government is thus
In possession of Albemare ana Pamlico sounds
and with tho exception of Beaufort. virtually
commands with its navy the whole coast of North
Carolina. The War Department sent orders to
General Wool yesterday to hold Fort Hatteras
permanently, and the fate Of Beaufort cannot long
remain doubtful. The moral effect of the capture
OF Hatteras forts upon the Union men Of North
Carolina has been most striking. They are
pouring in by hundreds to Hatteras Inlet
to take the oath of allegiance to the
federal government. and otherwise demonstrating
their fidelity to the only authority that can pre-
serve their State from the horrors of despotism
which is endeavoring to overrun the whole South
The loyal citizens of North Carolina have perhaps
been made the victims Of this despotism as much
IS any Of the border States. On the 2sth of Feb
tusry last the people Of North Carolina voted on
he proposition of the Legislature to call a State
Convention, and the following was the result -
Against Convention Al. 269
For Convention Observation-Disclosures. 46627
Majority against Convention. ....... 642
Of those who voted for convention it was said
that over One-half were Union men who took the
affirmative side, under the impression that our
difficulties might be healed by body Of repre-
sentatves fresh from the people. Notwithstand-
ing that there was clear majority of the voters
opposed to Convention, as it was exhibited
through the ballot box, Governor Ellis convened
the Legislature in extra session on the LIST of May
for the express purpose of having q bill
passed calling q regular secession Con-
vention, which was done in conformity with
the Governors wishes. On the goth of May
the Convention 80 authorized met at Raleigh, and
on the following day they tumbIed the old North
State out of the Union. Is there any wonder then,
that after this proceeding loyal men Rock to the
standard Of the country wherever an opportunity
offers! Governor Ella, after thus endeavoring to
deal death and destruction to the State, soon sue
cumbedto the fell destroyer himself for he died inn
mediately after the contamination Of this nefarious
scheme.
Accounts from Leesburg report seven thousand
rebel troops there, and considerable activity in
throwing up intrenchments at the junction of the
Little Falls road with the Alexandria and Lees
burg turnpike. The pickets Of the enemy line the
shores of the Potomac above Leesburg, though
there were no large bodies of troops there. We
give some details to-day of the late skirmish at
Conrad's Ferry.
We have very important news from Kentucky,
via Cairo. General Grant, with two regiments of
infantry, company Of light artillery and two gun.
boats, took possession Of Paducah at eleven
O'Clock yesterday morning. He found the
rebel flags flying, but they were imme.
diately torn down by the Union citizens on the
approach Of the troops He took possession of the
telegraph Offices, Marine Hospital and other public
buildings, and issued proclamation to the people,
which we give in another column, The town was
In great alarm at the rumored approach of 500
rebel troops, which were in close proximity to
Paducah.
Wehave to record to-day one of the most horr
BILE episodes that ever dsgraced modern warfare on
the part OF the rebels in Missouri the de-
struction of railroad bridge on the Hannibal and
st. Joseph Railroad, over Platt river, nine miles
east Of st. Joseph, by which whole passenger
train, containing nearly one hundred iaoflen.
eive people-men, women and children-was pre
nipitated into the river, and seventeen killed and
Sphers horribly mangled. Nappears that the timber
supports Of the bridge had been nearly burned
hArough, and the fire then extinguished, thus leav
Og no suspicious appearance about the structure
% sAst when'ths train entered the bridge at night