Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-16

the balance not armed at all. Only 200 Ken
tuckians are there now, and one company of
South Carolinians. The resident militia of
Harpers Ferry is very FESTIVE under existing
circumstances. Only one days provisions were
on hand. All supplies are cut off from western
Virginia by the people of that section. The
supplies within reach, in the surrounding coun-
try, must be exhausted within two weeks. Pos
itively not more than 1000 stand of arms were
found in the arsenal wreck and some of these
in bad condition. The rebels cannot manufac-
ture more than twelve rifles per day. They
have only 600 men on the MARYLAND side of the
Potomac. No batteries have been erected on
this side, and the rebels show no disposition to
erect them. All their preparations indicate de-
fensive purposes, with no disposition for for
ward movements. They must soon retreat or
be provisioned. This. however, does not con-
tradict the probable advance of the main con-
federatc army by that route on southern Pen
s%ylvania, when jeff Davis discovers the impos-
sibility of breaking SCOTS lines around Wash
ington.
Fight in st. Louis.
Gen. Frost's brigade of Missouri militia, en-
camped at Camp Jackson, on the western out
skirts of st. Louis, surrendered unconditional
ly Friday afternoon on demand of Capt. Lyon,
commander of the United States forces in that
city. Capt. Lyon marched on Camp Jackson
with some 5000 volunteers, surrounded it, and
planted eight field pieces on the adjoining en-
i%nences. This is the first victory of the war,
and apparently a most important and encour-
aging one.
A release on parole was rendered the officers
and troops, about 800 in number, providing
they would take an oath not to take up arms
again against the government of the United
States, which they declined on the ground that
it implied they had already taken up arms
against the government, which they disclaimed.
Just before the troops left for the city, and while
the state forces were drawn up between the two
lines of volunteers, several rocks were thrown
at the volunteers, and a few pistol shots fred BY
excited parties in the surrounding crowd, which
was composed of n large number of citizens,
including many women. One shot took effect
in the leg of Capt. B%lantowski, and as he fell
he gave the word to fire, which was obeyed by
some two or three companies, resulting in the
death of 20 persons, including two women and
several children, and badly wounding several
others.
Intense excitement existed in the city. Large
bodies of troops were thronging the steets. The
Democrat and ARzeiger offices were threatened
by the mob, but through the promptness of the
Chief of Police, any violent demonstration was
prevented. All gun shops in the city were
guarded by an armed police force, and about
two hundred were detailed TO protect the DEM
Ocrdt and Anzeiger office.
Gen. Frost's brigade of secessionists was re-
leased from the arsenal at I O'Clock Saturday
evening. The officers were liberated on their
parole of honor. The men took an oath not to
bear arms against the United States during the
war.
AT Camp Jackson, there were captured by the
federal troops, three 32-pounders, with balls,
homie cpNarol pinnoe &C a,t;lor,, -, lo.o, I Dnn
rifles, model pieces, six 6-inch mortars, one 10
inch iron cannon, several chests of new muskets
hive boxes of canister shot, about 400 shells,
20 kegs of powder, a large numbsr of musket
stocks and barrels, and a considerable quantity
OF camp tools. The number of prisoners taken
and now confined at the arsenal is 80, and five
officers.
Tennessee sold out.
The formalities gone through with by the
Tennessee legislature, and their effort to take
the State out of the Union, in defiance of the
recent decided popular vote against secession,
were as follows: An act declaring Tennessee
independent of the United States, which is to
he submitted to the people on the Sth of June,
was passed by a vote of 20 to 4 in the Senate
and 46 to 2l in the House, 8 members being
absent or not voting. The military league
made by the government, by which the militia
ry of Tennessee is transferred at once to the
control of jeff. Davis, to be used against the
United States, without regard to the will of the
people, was ratified by the Senate BY a vote of
ii to 6, while 3 were absent or refused to vote;
and in the House by a vote of ~ to 16, while
Is were absent or not voting. The Union men
declare the irregularity and invalidity of both
these acts, which is evident enough, but power
is unfortunately in the hands of the traitors,
and the Union men can make no stand unless
sustained by federal troops.
The Confederate Pirates.
If the Davis government had made it an OBJ
ject to cxasperate northern Indignation, and to
excite disgust and hostility Throughout the civil
lied world, no measure could have been pitched
upon so certain to accomplish that object as his
scheme of piracy upon northern commerce.
The Montgomery Congress has not only sane
toned Davis's proclamation, but has engrafted
upon it an offer of head-money as an extra in
ducement. The bill provides that "a bounty
shall be paid by the confederate states of 500
for each person on board any armed shin or
vessel belonging TO the United States, a, the
commencement OF an engagement, which shall
he burnt. sunk or destroyed by any vessel COM
missioned as aforesaid, which shall be of equal
or inferior force, the same to be divided as in
other cases of prize money-and a bounty of
S25 shall be paid to the owners, officers and
crews of the private armed vessels, commits
stoned as aforesaid, for each and every prisoner
by them captured and brought into port, and
delivered to an agent authorized to receive
them, in any port OF the confederate states"
Secession for the Union. Il
Western Virginia will beyond doubt form n
separate state, to include about As counties.
The convention at Wheeling is harmonious in
its purposes and action. About 2000 troops
are engaging in the federal service, and two
Ohio regiments are ready to cross the river at
a moments notice and defend Wheeling. The
secessionists will be entirely cut off from trans
portation over the Baltimore and Ohio railroad.
The convention was more fully attended
Tuesday than the day before. Resolutions were
reported condemning the secession ordinance
of the state convention; f%avoring a declaration
of independence and the organization of n new
state TO be called New Virginia, which was
modified, after a tempestuous debate. between
Mr.. Carlisle and Gen. Jackson. These prop
ositions were all referred to the committee on
federal relations.
Miscellaneous War Items.
Gen. Wool is soon to take m at For
tress Monroe, by order of the War Depart
ment.
The President has a commission of Major
General made out for Senator Douglas. 1t is
known that he will accept it.