Des Arc semi-weekly citizen., 1861-07-06
War Movemeats in Virginia.

A letter from Richmond. dated the 10th instant, contains the following interesting paragraphs;
 The greaiest secresy IS very properly observed by the authorities. concerning military moVements. the strength of the fnrces, and similar matters. But the un- bounded confidence of the people and the troops in our glorious president makes them feel sure thai everything he does is for the best The evacuation of Harper's Ferry, at first, took tsie public by surprise, but military men united III pranounGing It iudicious step. and 1t was soon evident that the occupation 0f that place and the reports set afoat of it's iInpregnahIljty were mere rusea to altraGt the enemy attention to it, while the real design of Gen. John stou was 10 give battle at a point further up the Shenandoah Valley, nearer lo Gen. Beauregarti'a positions.
 The almost universal opinion of militia " men here, founded on our experience in the recent encounters. Is that the Lin- cun troops are not vat sufficiently disci- pIined to act efficiently, and that they are very poorly aficered Their movements m battle are unaAillluliY executed and the men LOO unused to firearms t8 act with the boIdneaa and aeif-eonidence that dis tinruish Southern soldiers. These fah- ings were conspicuous at Great Bethel. I had thought that possibly cae immense preparations. of our Government had made money scarce with 1t, but I was agreeablY surprised to learn from member of the Cabinet that 1t has more money than li can find use for.
 The arrangements for q continued SUD- ply of arms from abrodd are believed to be very skillfully made and the manufac- tories of arms to be erected nere and at Fayetteville in North Carolina, from the Harper'a Ferry machinery, will soon be in active operation. Sull the task of ere- ating an army to contend against an old established government, places us under many disadvantages, and the spasrlodlc energy with which lhe Lincoln admIpIstra- tiGn IS eDdeavoring to overwhelm Virgin la, may give 1t partial success In the be- ginning, and compel US fo remain on the defensive, exhaualiug our faes by dispu- ting every inch af ground But we gain in strength every day, and whatever the. result of the summer campaign, we expect to be vastly in the ascendant by the ap- pruach of fall. By that tiu1e cur arm fac- tories VII be ia falEl operation, poFEdef mills erected ar great many points, cur war department thoroughly organized, and our whole governmental machinery In first rate order.
 This guvernmenmeul E entirely saris- fled with it's foreign relations. The sym- pathY of England and, though in a more cautious way, of France and Spain, Is considered fixed fact
 4 letter dated the 2Iat from the same place, contains the following
 Manassas Junction IS still threatened, and ls the center cf attraction 4 battl. at any hour at this place would not surprise the country. Beauregard IS in command and has a force, advance and reserve, suf- | fGient for any emergency. The advance companies of the two armies are now with { m sight of each other, and each can mark time by the beat of their enemy drum. - This Is close work, but before this reaches you they may have come together, if so, f there will be terrible slaughter. " hen our army commences it's march, do not think any power on earth can stop them- ! before reaching Washington. Scouting parties continue to rrirate the yankees no day passes without one of lheir heads paying the forfeit of invasion.
 NOBLE G1RL-We have had the pleas