New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-06-16
NEWS FRom VIRGINIA DERECT.
The wsbeI Strength ut Norfeik-Richmesd
almost Defenseless-Troeps st Manassas
and Harper's Ferry-Provisisns Scarce.
WAsHiNGToN, june Il, 1861.

WAsHISGToS, June Ia, 1861.
Your correspondent. some TWO weeks ago, was
seized with an irresistible desire visit the City OF
Richmond, and other points of Interest in ''e Old
Dominion" A minute account Of the means used to
satisfy this desire would be inc nsisent with my design
at no remote period repeat the VISIT and would be-
sides compromise others. / SHALL therefore, confne
myself to an account of what 1 saw. left Fortress
Monroe about June l. crossing in fsbboat TO point
opposite Newport News point. did not consider it
advisable to 20 within the lines of the pcketguard at
this point but gained the following information upon
which full reliance may be placed;
The Notifications on Elizabeth River guarding the
passage 10 Norfolk and Portsmouth, commence with
the valley ct Sewslls Point. There are also batteries
at Pig Point and at the Marine III, sptal, and the
Navy-Yard buildings are strO glyN fortified In fact,
there ia a continuous line Of Notifications, mounted
with heavy guns taken from the Navy-fard, along
the river each side. There also sandbag breast
works the coast extending from the hip kaps peio"
a point called Ocean View. The whole number OF
troops of Norfolk and in these nenchments Is about
1900.
After making such inquiries and observations 30 l
deemed prudent, took the Norfolk and Petersburg
ears for Richmond. Passing through Petersburg l
saw but few troops, they having been sent from this
place to Norfolk.
Until within the last week nothing whatever has
been done by way of making Richmond defensible,
and assert positively, that il an advance is made
upon it within reasonably short time, it will find that
city completely unprotected. Some time ago move
ment was made to foitify Richmond. About 200
negroes taken from the tobacco factories act at
work in the erection of batteries but being
toned to aborDg in the they accomplished almost
n otclock cd IN 90 N
their labor at a distance OF miles from the city.
The march was made the occasion for general joif-
cation on the part of the negroes They formed COM
panes chose officers, and wi hootings and shouts,
bearing Confederate flags marched out, reaching the
place where the works were being thrown up, be.
tween 10 and IL o'clock. Twenty ordinary laboing
men would have done more work than the whole of
these negroes. This attempt TO turn the negroes 10 &C
count has been abandoned and about 60 cOnyics from
the Penitersary have taken their place. This is the
entire force now employed the defenses Of Rich
mond.
The soldiers do not work on the Notifications but
are encamped on the opposite side Of the city. Within
the last few weeks the forces al Richmond have varied
from 500 TO 5000. Seldom has there been, al any
time more than this latter number, and at present
there are not more than 5000 AS fast as troops ar
rive st Richmond, they forwarded to other points.
Up to June 5000 troops had arrived from the Cotton
States during my stay, up 10 last Sunday, about
1000 additional had arrived.
Most of these have been sent TO Harpers Ferry.
Most of those at Manassas Junction are Virginnns.
There lie gcat scarcity of arns IN Richmond, and some
Of the trcops now there are awaiting supplies The
arms given ont are mostly Of the old pattern. The
machnery ficm Harper's Ferry is now be ne set up at
the Tredeear Works but it will be time before it
can be mad available.
The troops arriving in Richmond arc many Of them
u most miserable and destitute condition The hos
pitals fun. The change of climate and water tells
severely upon the troops coming from the Cotton
States 81 the extreme Southern climate would upon
Northern men. These men, miserably clad, weak and
tottering many Of them, present ptiaee sight, as
they pare through the street. seeming like sheep going
90 the slsueiiter.
One regiment, the Louisiana Zouaves, looked like
~cannibals, ragged and filthy, many Of them nearly
black. Three Of them were shot few days ago for
iisogdery conduct and the citizens declared that,
they were allowed to be about town, they would
shoot them ut sight as they woad mad dogs.
There il doubt of the sincerity Of the hatred to the
Federal Government on the Iart of the people, but
this has been induced by the most outrageous msrepre-
.enlsons Stories of the incredible outrsges per-
WAS told with the mort pcriee. assurance that when
the Federal iso5ps took possession of Newport News
two Of the oen went to private house. and while
Of them held pistol to the head ofhe father the other
violated It's DAUGHTER. BY accounts such these the
feelings q tie people have been wrought up to the
;AteIeest hatred Even the women and children share
in this and / verify believe that the women would
light ike she gers. Persons calling themselves gem
.euen ar heard fairly raving with basphemOus abuse
of the Federal officers Gen. Scott coming in for the
largest Share. The aDguageI heard used is too pro-
Zane and obscene 10 give even 0n idea Of. few
DAYS ago report was in circulation that Gen. Scott
rad died. and there the widest rejoicing. AS l
came on m the cars the little boys at the stations were
shouting Old Scott is dead Old Scott is dead !"
The people are armng themselves with every con-
.ceyabe wesp0n; backsmitbs are forging Bowie
knives and tire Ike. rode in d stage-coach with
Vircfaia geaGemaH carrying one OF these homemade
knives, wtb blade at least twenty inches long, and
weighing two pounds. OF course / expressed the
HIGHEST admiration for the patriotic style of equipment
IF my feIlow-iraveler did not tell him that the only
cne had ever seen longer the one presented tie
Potter for backing down ehivarous Virgnian with
weapon Of = similar character.
JEFF Da,is Is stopping at the Spotswood House
The "Dererment" clerks are occupying temporarily
che United States Custom-House at Richmond. From
indications venture 10 predict that they will never oc
cupy the new Treasury Extension in Washington, and
.sat they viii have but short lease Of their present
quarters finished Just previous to the Rebellion by
Uncle Sam, at a cost of s2J00OO.
saw Gen. BeaUegard at Manassas Junction. The
yireinians assert that be has visited our camps IN