The New York herald., 1861-12-07
T RIPPLE SHEET,
New York, Saturday, December ., 1851.
THE SITUATION.

THE SITUATION.
Among variety of interesting news from the
South which we give to-day from rebel journals,
will he found the first portion of Governor
Letoher's Message to the Legislature of Virginia
1T contains very valuable summary of the pro-
ceedings Of Virginia in the initiatory stages of the
rebellion, and the precautions which that vencra.
BILE State took in advance of the outbreak to pro-
vide herself with arms and ammunition. Aided
by Mr. Floyd, it appears that vast
quantities OF arms and gunpowder were
stored away for the purposes of the intended
treason of Virginia. For some time anterior to
the secession--says Governor Letcher-she had
been engaged in the purchase Of arms of different
kinds, ammunition, and other necessary articles.
and in mounting artillery, in anticipation of the
event which subsequently occurred. And how
explains in the following Way On the 2sth day
Of February, 1916, the Legislature directed the su-
periendent of the Armory to sell, under the direc.
tion of the Executive, all such arms and accou-
tremcnts then in the armory were not worth re.
pairing. This order was construed by Governor
Floyd to include the iron six Founders then at the
armory. and by an order dated February %, Is49,
the Superintendent was directed to sell them at
not less than twenty-five dollars each Fortu.
natey for us, there were no bidders at that price
and the guns remained in the possession of the
Qfofa nd 30 81
field, and they have proved to be equal to any
guns of like calibre now in service. How
small circumstance Che means the treachery
Of Floyd conrols the greatest events.
What embarrassment would have attended
our operations in this important struggle,
Il these pieces had not been in our possession"
Governor Letcher says, that Virginia has now in
the field 70 900 men, and that the expenditures Of
che State since April last have been six millions Of
dollars. He deplores the detection of Western yir
ginia and the unhappy condition Of Maryland, but
declares that there can be no compromise with the
tLncoln government" The war is to be war to
the death.
There is nothing of Importance to report from the
Army of the Potomac.
We publish to-day some very interesting news
from Port Royal, Beaufort and Tybee Island, by
the transport Vanderbilt, which arrived here
yesterday, bringing us valuable correspondence
from Hilton Head, South Carolina, of December |.
Among other statements in our letters we have the
fact that the rebels have obstructed the channel in
the Savannah river, near Fort Pulaski, by sinking
two hnlks filed with stone. They evidently expect
to hear from soon. AS it is, our gunboats at the
mouth Of the Savannah river keep up desultory
fire night and day on Fort Pulaski. The enemy
return it with vgor, but their guns are inferior in
range to ours. This dsposes of the rumors from
rebel papers that Tybee Island has been abandoned
by our troops.
The recent victory Of Parson Brownlow over the
rebels at Morrstown, East Tennessee, is an impor-
tant affair, and the account comes entirely from
rebel sources which confirm it as "a victory,''
there can be little doubt Of its truth. We give to.
day map Of the battle ground at Morrstown, and
sketch Of the renowned parson Brownlow, who
has 50 galanty stood up for the Union in the midst
Of his rebel countrymen.
From Kansas City, Mo-, the intelligence Is that
all communication between that point and Inde
pendence is cut of, that the rebel General Hays
entered the latter town on Monday, with force Of
800 men, and seized all the horses belonging to the
Pacific Stage Company, and made general con
6scation Of all the property Of Union citizens.
On Wednesday party of exasperated citizens
of all parties attacked gang of returned .abel,
from General Price's army, under Captains Young
aud Wheatley, near Dunksburg, about twent.