Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1861-06-06
Inn p0rtant Letter from Maryland".-MiIi-
tary Affairs .-DIspOsitiOn of Troops, &c.

tary Affairs --DisPOsittOn OF Troops Ac.
Correspondence of the Richmond Enquirer.
RELAY House, MD, May %, lS6l.-Your CORES
pondent being detained here train, will oc-
cupy few moments in sending you an account OF
the position of affairs here, and the disposition of
the several forces in this vicinity.
Two Massachusetts Regiments occupy the heights
Just across the viaduet within pistol shot of the
railway station. The entire force numbers about
eighteen hundred men, and is composed principally
of old organized companies who volunteered for
three months service the first requisition of Pres
ident Lincoln. They mainly mechanics or mill
operatives, and in consequence OF the hardening
process through which they have gone In doing the
duties of camp life, a robust, active looking
corps of soldiers. These Massachusetts, volunteers.
however. ere an exception to the general rule. and
having had the advantage of long drill and familiar
ity with their arms may be placed IN the same
rank with the regular regiments from New \ ork.
One of the regiments is the sixth, the same that
passed through Baltimore on the famous nineteenth
of April, and wherever they get an opportunity of
wreakng their hate upon citizen Of Baltimore, be
it man. woman or child, they do not scrupie at any
act which does not render them Immediately liable
to military punishment. Under cover OF their or
ders to examiHe all suspicious srtiees or lndlv1d-
uals who pass this point, they abuse boxes break
open trunks scatter ladies apparel upon the Oor Of
the cars peremptOrily demand the keys of the bag
gage, raise ladies dresses if they happen to be
spread too voluminously, inspect private parcels,
and commit other descriptions of personal indiy-
nifty within the scope of their duties as 9Grde a
espionage.
Commanding the Baltimore and Ohio railroad,
upon the track q few rods from the Relay House is
a battery of two brass field pieces, six FOUNDERS,
belonging TO the Boston Light Infantry. Another
battery just the opposite side OF the Patspsco
but venture to say that they could be taken at a
single charge, being mere constructions Of railroad
ties and sand bags, which rifle balls alone would
make untenable.
Nine miles from this point at Annapolis junction,
is the Twentieth Regiment of New York, Col Pratt
This is composed of volunteers generally, from the
country districts. A good many are boys; all the
men are guant, raw boned looking geniuses, dirty
heavily clad and uncomfortable looking general
ly that after leaving them one feels as If be had
| been reading ghost stories. Their dress Is blue
black coat, and grey pants, surmounted by a filthy
white felt hat upon which is written IN charcoal,
| twentieth Regiment" Detachments of this regi-
ment guard the track to Annapolis thirty miles in
length.
At Annapolis is the Thirteenth Regiment, Col.
Smith, made up of Brooklyn clerks and William
| bureh fremen, 800 strong They generally
genteel young fellows, but the majority don't know
/ as much about handling firearms as pig knows OF
the Psalms of David. They are drilling constantly,
however, especially with reference to loading and
freing, and, if they possess sufficient backbone,
| must make good soldiers
Just on the edge of the bay, but in the yard of
the naval academy, is round building. called The
Battery" but with the reservation of two thlrty>
| two Founders, many mortars, and few rounds
! of ammunition, it is virtually nothing but store
| house of provisions. WiA q moderate force the
place might be taken, and have wondered that the
idea has not been entertained OF suddenly pushlng
a column through the Relay, driving the few sol>
diers there from their position disposing OF those
at the Annapolis junction in the same manner, and
advancing upon Annapolis 1t could all be done
inside of two days. The road between Washington
and Baltimore would be torn up, and in our posses
sion; the people of Maryland would whip out the
invaders, even without arms; bridges would agein
be destroyed and the people Of the State would be
relieved from the odious military oppression with
| which they are now afflicted. Simultaneous move
| mepts might be made elsewhere, and before Abe
Lincoln could don his Scotch cap and plaid cloak
azaIn he would find at his heels an avenging army
| of Virgnians.
Among the objects of interest at Annapolis is the
famous steam gun, concerning which the Northern
papers have exhibited such diarrhOea of delight.
1t is however useless to all ntents and purposes,
and Butler might as well have captured so much
iron
That the inventor has the power of rendering it
formidable, the machine it stands is sufficient
Indication, but unfortunately for the Yankees, he
made personal attachment of the parts most valu-
able and they now in his possession. 1ou need
not be surprised some fine day to see duplicate
standing the of the Southern army, and spite
fully fulfilling its destiny,
Just across the river from Annapolis is the sixth
regiment of New York-Germsn. Here lager beer
and sour krout predOninate. Their war cry Is Utrd
fight for what they most lack-one for honor, the
other for money Two thr 90 feeble batteries are
there thrown up but like most of these extempora-
neous works they have erected, they are more for
| midable in name than IN practice.
| The pending conflict between the Supreme CodTt
and the Supreme Lincoln, illustrated, in the case of
| Merryman versus Cadwallader has created intense
excitement among all classes of community. The
idea, Have Government? has been brought
| home 10 them more forcible than ever and they
are prepared to resist to the knife this last and s
grant usurpation of their rights citizens of the
United States The events of the 18th of April were
| followed by Union reaction but the counter irrI
tation suffered since that time is gradually bring
ing sbont another reaction, not impulsive in its
character but strong, deep-seated sentiment of
patriotism which must one day find vent The
people are chafng under their restraints. You see
it in their faces they encounter the soldiers in
their streets and hear it in the muttered epthets of
hate which follow the retreatng footsteps Of these
minions of AboltiOnism. Loyalty to the Union,
under such circumstances is a farce. At best, the
sentiment is no deeper than the pockets Of few
personally interested in the preservation Of the city
of Baltimore. But the bent reed must snap some
time and when that event occurs, neither personal
interest br:stling bayonets will stay the aveng-
ing arms of an oppressed and insulted people
OLD VIRGINIA.