New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-27
FROM HARPER'S FERRY.

The following letter has been received by gentle
man in this city from friend Of his, now Virginia
volunteer at Harpers Ferry. II contains an interesting
account Of affairs in that locality:
HARPIRs FrRRY, May IL, 1861.
TIE number Of Virginians here is about 49, Add
10 tbes. 100 Alabaulans, 500 Mssissippials, and
battalion Of 800 Kenuckans, and you have an aggre,
gate Of nearly ZOO fighting men, all well armed and
eauiuped The Alabamians are reInark arkably line set
of f,lows full OF spirit ard ready TO march, neces
serv' into Washington itself An the extreme South
e1ners here have been desirous Of pushing forward
20 the Relay House. and dislodgng the Massachusetts
Regnt nj from their posliioni bnt Their ador has o
course been resrsned by the military necessities OF
the occasion. Boih the Alabanitns aud kentuekians
now occupy the Maryland nights the former in the
batteries at the several points, and the latter ar rifle
men. As body Of rlemen, 1 suppose there IL not
their equal in the entire Southern army but ss regards
drill tLey are irregular i'll their movements ss
tribe of wild Indians.
One OF the State cadets'was in their encampmeet
day or Jw ago ard while conversibg with tail ken-
tuckn expressed bic regret that 10 fine body of men
were 10 poorly d dplined. Cant help that, said
Keutuck; - we amt much on follerin drum and
whistler but when II comes to t.ll traveln after Abe
Liacoln's sogers, iest count us In the pile" "See
here he continued ".his is our drill" Ard taking
his bowie from bis sheath, he stuck it in tree with
tie edge outward then, marching away distance Of
fifty yards aimed his ne and islit the ball upon the
blade.
Their dress IL plain blue shirt like coat, gathered at
the walst and drab panteLons. They also wear
black felt hat turned the side. The dress OF the
Alabamans is dark green coat and grey pants bnt
the majority wear tber flannel shirts without any out
side garment Many Of the privaes are men OF great
wealth In one company-the Governors GuLrd-
Their are no less than thirty men ssd TO be worth
Luodred thousand dollars each and one worth mil.
lion ard half There are editors, lawyers-plenty OF
the latter am toldthree or four doctors, one pCies-
cor and the balance composed Of planters, planters
sons and gentlemen generally Taking the regiment
tbro,gh there are Of course, goodly proportion of
ep from the interior Of the State Who have no
particular social position beyond that Of plain
but they are all robust hearty, good horseinen ahu
reckon good fighters. IN OF the coqpanfe mere
ore tIitv-eiQt men who have been marked WIN pls-
III shot or bowie knife about thirty OF whom IL
tiled their man in street ARRAYS or duel One wonu
harriy take them 10 be such terrible re-eaers IRON
the gniet bearing here. The MississiPpsns 90 not
Know 70 much about not yet having met them II con
yers.tion Physically, they are like the other ooa'
erners, and Just now very dirty with The dus' VI
travel. 49,, T. ,h. o,l
We are encamped, or rather bsnacfed, IN the ora
government honses or workshops, and also I'D Pfl'ae
fouses such O. they are, which have been evi ua.eu
NV their former occupants; consequently, IN metS,
ye arc enabled to make ourtelyes comfortable thoue
Won would smile al the shifts we resort 10 secure so'
!3isnk a eosy corner and the little extras "n,cn
ssbrewdnsss and stratsgem place within reach. Inc
nInjoeI difficulty with which we have TO contend
that Of going up hll As yon have probably peeh M
formed by the newspapers, II you have never oeen
here in psrsOn, Harpsrs Ferry 10 suTr0un0ea y