The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-07-26
Condition of the Rebels at Norfolk

FROM the Jersey City Standard, July III.
We had yesterday the pleasure of an in
tervlew with young gentleman just arrived
from Norfolk, who had been impressed into
the'service of the Confederate navy at that
place, with the rank OF masters mate. He
gives US some items of intelligence which
may be relied upon as correct
lie says the rebels have succeeded iu rails.
ing the Germantown, the Plymouth ard the
Merrimac. These, with the United States,
which was in ordinary, they have converted
into batteries, placing them so as to defend
the entrance to the navy yard opposite the
island OF st. Helena. Owing to want of
means and materials, they have been unable
to rig them out with masts or sails, and are
content to make them stationary batteries.
The remaining vessels are being rapidly
provided with their quota of guns. There
are about 1000 troops in Norfolk, and be-
tween Norfolk and Sewall's Point there are
10000. Immense entertainments have been
thrown up on st. Helena, and the batteries
at Sewall's Point are on very large scale
and in most complete condition. The
navy yard is completely fortified, the walls
having been pierced with port holes, and
deep Entertainments thrown up inside the
walls. Most of the guns and heavy ord.
nance have been recovered, and though
spiked-the work having been done hastily
and Intellectually with wrought nails-were
easily made ready for use. There is also
heavy battery at the hospital. There is the
greatest suffering in and about Norfolk, and
general sense of encouragement prevails,
the officers of the army and navy not hest.
tating to declare that, if England or France
do not in erfere, their cause is all up"
No order or regularity exists in the rebel
navy at that point, men being indiscrimi-
nately shipped and the officers 10 induIging
in carousiDg and excess. These last all con-
tinue to wear the United States uniform,
even to tie navy buttons, which they are
unable to replace with those of the confede-
racy, though they have designs for naval
button, but no one to make them.
Many OF the officers cover their buttons
with Grape, as an indication of their changed
relations to the United States. Business is
completely Frustrated at Norfolk, and the
streets are deserted, except by the soldiery.
Among the soldiers are many Northern
men, the majority of whom serve willingly,
but some are impressed. Great jealousy
exists between the troops of the different
States, those from Virginia and North Car
clina af6Iiating, and those from South Car
DINA and Georgia. They do not hesitate
to express mutually for each other great
dislike. The Georgia troops are by far the
most efficient, and bear things with high
hand, carrying matters pretty much as they
please. There is an absolute scarcity of
caps and powder, and they are impossible
to be obtained, though they have an abun-
dance of excellent arms and of heavy rihed
ordnance.
Our informant describes the effect pro.
duced by the Sawyer gun, which, as our
readers are aware, threw shell into the ene-
my's quarters at Sewall's Point few days
ago, from the Rip Raps, four miles distant.
He says that the first shell which fell into
the entertainments astounded everybody.
No one knew whence it came, it appearing
to come from the clouds. Being fired from
about four miles off, no explosion was no
ticed, and the first intimation they had was
the shell falling in the midst of them. The
troops beat hastry retreat, and our inform
ant says if party had BEEN prepared to
follow up the effect produced by the shot,
Sewall's Point, which is the most powerful
of the rebel Notifications, could have. beap
taken without the loss of man.
1t is almost impossible for person desi-
rous of escaping or DESERVING from Norfolk
to do so, the boats of all kinds being under
the control of officers detailed to them, and
in the day time are hauled up to the docks
and at night are cruising around the vicini>
ty of Norfolk and as near to our fortified,
lions as they dare, with view of picking
up vessels or gaining military information.
Our informant states that general dissatis-
faction prevails among the rebel troops, no
pay having yet been gwen them, and all the
money circulating there being deprecated
species of shinplaster currency. So great
is the generalization that orders must be
given two or three times before they are
obeyed, and there is total lack o. alacrity
and spirit. His impression is that if vote
could be taken to-day, in all that section of
country, including the rank and file OF the
troops, and if men were not overawed and
inundated, it would result for the Union
by an immense majority. Nothing but the
extraordinary exertions of their leaders and
men of influence Onpratao IN ma ko them ra.