Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-06-06
LATEST NEWS.

Parkersburg, the termination OF the y orth-
western Virginia Railroad, and took pos
session of that road towards Grafton, at
which point accounts stated that two thou
sand Virginia troops were gathered. At
the same time a still larger force of FEEDER
al troops crossed into Virginia near Wheel
ing from whence the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad also runs to Grafton. These two
bodies were thus equi- distant from a COM
mon point of concentration.
From Fortress Monroe, we learn that
General Butler had placed two thousand
FIVE hundred troops on Newport News Point,
where they were engaged in throwing up
entertainments The troops were conveyed
in transports under convoy of the Harriet
Lane They were fired on from Sewell's
Point, but no damage done. Newport
News Point is at the mouth of James riv-
er, six miles above Hampton and on the
same side of Hampton Roads. 1t is oppos-
ite to. and about six miles distant from
Sewell's Point.
A despatch from st. Louis states that
the United States troops have taken posses
sion of Birds Point, an important mill
tarv position on the Missouri shore, oppos-
ite to Cairo. General Harney has author
lied the formation of companies of Union
Guards at various points in Missouri The
Missouri State troops have disbanded
AT Cairo a large force has been engaged
two days in tearing down buildings at the
extreme point, to make way for the propos-
ed Notifications. A heavy construction
train is bringing in earth from a point
twelve miles out, on the line of the Central
Railroad, to construct cross embankment
from the Ohio to the Mississippi levee, so
as to enclose an area of about six acres.-
When this embankment is finished, as laid
out, the troops here will be amply protec-
ted on every side by breastworks.
The Border State Convention assembled
at Frankford, Kentucky, on Monday week.
Hon. j. j. Crittenden is President Mis-
souri, and Kentucky are the only States
represented.
Mr.. Russell, the London Times cores
pondent, writes an interesting letter from
Charleston in relation to Fort Sumter and
its surroundings, the material portions of
which We reprint. Mr.. Russell expresses
the opinion that with proper force and
the necessary munitions of war Fort Sum-
ter could have been successfully defended
by Major Anderson.
Last week the editors of the Baltimore
American had a prolonged interview with
a gentlemen direct from Norfolk, who has
resided for some years in that vicinity, and
being opposed to secession, thought it bet
tho i'll
tration of all kinds of business, to leave.
lie denies the statements put forth that
those in favor of the Union have been
mobbed or ill-treated. 1t would of course
not do for them to express themselves too
strongly, but those who remained quiet
were not molested. There were but six
Union votes cast in Norfolk, and eighty in
Portsmouth; Of the latter, seventy were
members of a rife company, which was
Immediately disbanded and their arms ia
ken from them.
The troops in Norfolk and the vicinity
are variously stated, but he did not think
that there were more than 1000, and that
they lack discipline very much, though we'll
armed and equipped, and will fight if prop
erly brought in the field Numbers of
boys from fifteen to eighteen years of age
he represents as shouldering their muskets
and doing camp duty with all the energy
Of veterans
y schooner loaded with heavy cannon
was despatched a short time since through
the canal which were destined for Fort
PickenS
The battery at Sewell's point was under
stood in Norfolk to be nearly destroyed by
the Monticello, though a large force Of
hands were at work repairing and strength
ming it again. 1t was understood to be
the view of General Butler to land his for
ces at Ocean View, on Hampton Roads,
about six miles from Sewel's Point, and
about ten miles, by two good roads, to Nor
folk. There is a fine sandy beach here,
and the guns of the Cumberland can eff
fectually protect the landing of troops
This will enable him to move on Norfolk
by regular seige movements, unless attack
ed by an advancing army.
General Huger, late of the Pikesville
Arsenal near Baltimore, was in command
on Tuesday evening when our informant
lett, though General Beauregard was ex-
pected to arrive the same evening.
A force Of three hundred negroes, from
North Carolina, arrived at Norfolk few
days since, and were put to work throwing
up entrenchments on the roads leading from
Norfolk to Ocean View.
The prostration of business at Ports
mouth and Norfolk is most thorough and
complete. The Navy Yard, the truck
trade, and naval stores, on which the bust
ness and almost existence of the two cities
is based, have ceased, and were il uot for
the abundance Of vegetables and fish, there
would be much suffering among the poor.
The truck gardeners are giving away their
peas and tra1rhnrr;nS q, a.r.-- -. III