The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-27

THE VC ACr hANSs
Renforcements continue to be sent from Wash
ington across the Potomac. Since Saturday the
Fifth Massachusetts regiment, the Eighth New
York and the First New Jersey regiments were
despatched over Long Bridge. The Massachusetts,
men took up position on the road to Alexan.
dria, and the Eighth were posted on Ar
lington Heights, near the residence Of
General Lee. All the encampments on
the Virginia side are to be placed in imme-
diate Geographic communication with the
headquarters of Gen. Scott. 1t is confidently
stated that no further advance Of the federal
troops will be made into Virginia until the forti-
fcations now going on are completed, and the
army of invasion has received the benefit of the
training discipline and experience incident to a
Campaign.
Alexandria has been put under martial law by
Col. Wilcox who is in command of that city.
Fifteen hundred troops from Harrisburg ar
rived in Baltimore yesterday, en- route for Wash
ington.
1t is believed that an important military move
ment is to be made on Harper's Ferry by the way
Of several country roads through Washington
county and Frederick county, all of which con-
verge near TO Maryland Heights.
Major General Sanford has made his headquar.
srs at Fairfax, town in Virginia, some twenty
niles from Alexandria, and from that point has
20 fba 49, hat lie
trict assuring them that hostile intentions are
entertained towards loyal and peaceful citizens;
tina. they may continue their business avocations
without fear Of interruption, and that the United
States troops have entered Virginia only for the
purpose of suppressiDg unlawful combinations
against the government of the United States.
General Butler, who had taken up position at
Hampton, near Fortress Monroe, was reinforced
yesterday by about 5000 men from New York
aud Maine. Among them were Colonel Duryee's
Advance Guard of Zouayes. 1t was rumored in
Washington that the Sewall's Point battery had
been captured yesterday by combined move
ment Of General Butler by land aud Commodore
Stringham by water, and that several had been
killed and wounded on beth sides, but it is proba.
BILE that the news is premature.
Four thousand Virginia troops are said to be
concentrated at Manassas Gap, on the Orange and
Alexandra Railroad, about twenty-seyen miles
from Alexandria. If this be true the outposts Of
both armies are not very far apart.
Rumofs are prevalent in Baltimore that the fede-
raj troops now occupying the Relay House will be
moved to-day towards Harper's Ferry.
by the arrival of the transport steamer Phila-
delphia we have advices from Pensacola TO the
18th and Key weA to the 10th of May. The
blockade at Pensacola is effectual ALI vessels
with food and supplies for the Confederate forces
under Gen. Bragg are cut or by sea. They were
constructing railroad 80 as to evade the block.
ade, which was to have been completed about the
18th. II is stated by one Of the passengers
on the Philadelphia that one Of the Confederate
States officers was heard TO say that Gen.
Bragg would not be ready to attack
Fort pickens until the 25th of June, and 1t was
B0uttahy utHtNtu huht uc WVulu uUuuuuu Tue at
tack and march North with his besieging army.
They are reported as being poorly equipped, and
with only "a portion Of their batteries mounted
The heavy guns not having arrived before the
blockade, they cannot get them until the railroad
is completed.
Six hundred government troops have arrived at
Havana from Texas, in destitute condition. Tho
Governor General Of Havanait nediateIy supplied
their wants and made their stay comfortable.
AS the votes on the secession question come in
from the different counties in Virginia there ap.
pears TO be large majority for the Union In
deed, the law and order sentiment would appear to
prevail there TO considerable extent, for we
find some Of the secession leaders appealing to
General Butler TO restore some Of their runaway
slaves, who sought refuge in his camp, under the
provisions Of the Fugitive Slave law, TO which ap.
peal General Butler replied in Characteristic STYLE
at the same time putting the fugitives 10 work in
the camp.