Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-13
LOCAL NEW s.


Yesterday we found four companies OF the Second
New Jersey regiment at Beltsville, where they
have been stationed for the last week, killing
time the best way they can, and quite unmolested
by the redoubtable Evansville Rangers At
Annapolis Junction was the advance guard, 40
strong. Of the Twentieth (Ulster county, New
York regiment, which, on last night, relieved the
Fifth New York regiment from duty on the An
napolis road. They were licking their C beps over
an arrival OF flesh beef to vary their salt junk fare
and as they had not then (noon) break fasted were
proposing TO save time by throwing breakfast and
dinner into one The Twentieth had a novel
cofee-mill In operation-i. E., sackfull of burnt
conee horsed upon log and mauled with clubs
until adequately pulverized. The Twentieth
regiment left Annapolis at O'Clock on Saturday.
The regiment numbers some $50 men under Col.
Geo w Pratt. The regiment is made up of solid
men, and what 10 quite as much to the purpose,
mas more than an average numbsr Of good marks
men Ia Its membership. They left the Thir-
teentt New York regiment and the New York
.Jearing the Relay House the white tents (Ilo In
nnmber) of the sixth Massachusetts Regiment en-
eamPment stick out quite prominently against
commanding bluff at this (western) end Of the
viaduct. From the eastern face Of this bluff two
brass bankers 70 pounders) show their teeth from
the openings Of an eerthwork, and are placed SO
as to rake the bridge and the railroad beyond.
In the direction Of Baltimore, for perhaps a
mile In throwing up this work the Massachu-
showing their many sided ca pabilites, as the task
required not only some hard digging, but a big
JOB OF tree-felling to get range for the guns The
whole work was effected, however, in a few
hours time. Upon the summit Of the hill are two
o-Pounders. to be used where emergency may
Across the Patapsco, and In a position to com.
nand the Baltimore and Ohio road in the direc-
ton Of EllicOtrs Mills are the other two guns of
the six belonging to the Boston Light ARTILLERY.
They are protected by sort Of sand battery-a
superstructure of railroad sleepers, banked with
sand and topped with sand bags This artillery
company Is Of well trained material, having been
In existence since 1851, numbers 106 men, and has
along g servtceable horses brought from Boston
The New York Eighth Regiment are encamped
on the Yves. side Of the Patapsco, not far distant
nom the encamPment Of the Sixth Massachusetts,
Regiment
On Saturday mig ht the troops at the Relay slept
with one eye open in consequence Of rumors Of
an attack, and during the mig ht some gun firing
IN the direction Of the Eighth Regiment encamp-
ment brought the Massachusetts Sixth swarming
from their tents like many bees The affair
proved to be nothing more serious than little
random firing at troublesome dog.
The STRAIN gun captured at Ellicott's Mills, on
1s wsy TO Harper's Ferry, Is one Of the lions of
the Aassac huseits camp. 1t an odd looking con-
cefn bearing nota single indication to the unprac-
weed eye Of It's murderous purpose. Through the
lntelllgent aid Of Capt. Pickering, who seems to
know what's what about most sorts Of mach inery
we obtained some sort Of a notion how the tn ng
was worked The whole concern, which weighs
perhaps five tons, Is mounted on wheels Ex-
ternally, IL has the appearance of a small two
horse power engine at one end, and at the other
runs on into sharp nose, not unlike an end
of the Winan's cigar steamer This nose how
ever, which 10 merely the sheath to protect
The machine and its operatives, is constructed
OF inch iron and tine expectation Of the
lnvento, was, apparently, that balls aimed at
u would glance OH harmlessly. In the opinion
OF those cOnversant with such matters a MIME
ball would penetrate this sheath while 6-pound
ball would Of course knock the whole thing into
cooked hat. This pointed sheath or covering
Is divided nearly its whole length by a slit three
inches in width, afording an opening for the dis
charges Of the gun. With this moutblike slit
alviding me sheath into ponderous jaws, and
stretching from ear to ear, the affair has the look
OF some deyilish shark nOsed sea monster Peer
ing In al this opening not much is to be seen be.
yond a few cog wheels and bit Of mild looking
cylinder, which, however, Is the mout bpiene of
the centrifugal wheel, which, revolving at the
tremendous rate Of $50 times per minute ffnps
out three-ounce ball at each revolution.
The Massachusetts folks think the machine does
not amount TO much, its unwieldiness being a
fatal objection. If placed to command narrow
passage; IL might, however, do good service
CaPI. flcksring says they will give 1t trial
To-Day, ahVhow, to test its merits The report
mat the machine was boxed up or disguised In
any way wien seized is untrue The scouts of the
U iorSes having ascertained that it was on its
way " Ellicotts Mills, detachment was sent up
ron the relay House to intercept il; and Captain
dear, OF Gen. Buffers staff, who was in advance
of the detachment, found the gun in charge Of two
drivers Of the mule team and two persons in q
buggy Capt Hear, drawing his pistols de-
manded the surrender Of the gun. which was
scceded to by 'he drivers One of the persons in
the buggy, however, leaped down and demanded
by what authority the arrest was made Cant III
responded, BY the same authority by which 1
how arrest yon," and seized his man who turned
out to be Mr Bradford, Of Baltimore The
other party in the Buggy made good his escape
Bradford admitted thai the PURPOSE was TO send
the gun TO Harper's Ferry. He and the mule
drivers were sent to Annapolis as prisoners, but
the latter have since been released
The Massachusetts cam p ha some other trophies
Yesterday morning a detschmen of the Sixth
Regiment, under Capt Sawtslle intercepfed a
2Ganuty OF military cloth, &c, al Elysville, above
EllicOtts Mills, bich had been semi by turnpike
from Baltimore, on its way to the Virginia army
Ia this lot were about 500 yards Of the style Of
cloth called Virginia homespuu, and accompany-
Ing II was aspecimen military overcost of the
same material, the buttons Of which bore the yir
Sinia coat Of arms. the motto Sic Semp.y Tv,an-
ms, &c. a quantity Of military blankets were
also seized In this lot. In the same tent where
this secession oyercoat IL suspended we noticed
the blood stained and et-pierced coat worn
by Young Whitney, Of this Regiment who was
killed in Baltimore
By the way, there was q ap- presentation AZ ,bi.
camp on Saturday, the donors being the Ranter's
American Club, Of the Eighth Ward Baltimore
who came TO the camp In omnibuses. Lieutenant
Dunning, Of Company X, Of Boston, Introduced
them, In a neat little speech to Mai Watson ybo
replied In telling style In behalf OF the
saying, amongst other things, that Balt more had
P1esenSsa her rough and her smooth side to the
sixth Regiment, and this the pleasant side
he hoped this more agreed BILE style Of acuuaint
anceship might be extended
Major Watson Is the democratic postmaster of
Lawrence, Mass who has been refined In of3ce
by President Lincoln, in conse quence of the puh
lie spirit he has eynced in answer to the call for
volunteers
On yesterday there was quite a gathering of
visitors from Baltimore and the sn,ronnS,nn
country, and some dashiDg Baltimore teams made
nne display OF Union hsgs-horses Carriages
lntnates and all being decked with them. Du.
ring the day some unpleasant accidents occurred
George Cutler, Of tie Boston ARTILLERY .hot h,,,