Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1861-05-16


bill received the governors signature. Capt.
Pope of the regular army-the same upon
whom President Buchanan ordered court
martial two months ago-will be brgader-gen
eral of the Illinois forces.
Western Virginia Faithful.
A large Union meeting was held at King
wood, Preston county, Va, on the 4th. A res
olulion was adopted expressing the unalterable
opposition of the people, and favoring division
of the state. Delegates were appointed to the
Wheeling convention to be held on the l3th.-
Nothing has been heard from the Kanawha re-
gion, but there is great increase of Union
sentiment in all the western counties. A great
deal of enthusiasm is manifested over the re-
ceipt of 200O stand of good arms from the fed
eral government which arrived at Wheeling
Wednesday morning.
About 30 counties of western Virginia will be
represented by delegates in the Union conven-
tion which meets on the 18th. The convention
will probably provide for the immediate election
of governor, members of the legislature,
United States senators and representatives in
Congress, and will prepare to act in all respects
as If the loyal West constituted the sovereign
state of Virginia. Secessionists are invited to
leave.
Two companies of volunteers have been mus
tered into the service of the United States at
Wheeling, and 20O0 Maryland rifles have been
received there from the government.
Security of Cairo, Ill.
The strategetical importance of Cairo is fully
understood by the war department, and militia
ry men now say that no apprehensions need be
entertained for the safety of the place. Heavy
ordnance are the only things needed to make
the post impregnable to rebel attacks, and such
ordnance are expected soon. There are five
batteries now erected, having a sweep of three
miles on the Mississippi river and two miles on
the Ohio river. The heavy ordnance when re-
ceived, will be planted so as to command Bird
Point on the Missouri shore, the only practical
BILE site for batteries offensive to Cairo.
Reports of movements of hostile forces from
Tennessee under Gen. Pillow, upon the federal
camp at Cairo, have induced Cen Scott to con-
centrate more troops at that point, and it was
believed that before Saturday night there would
be 10000 men there. a late dispatch says
there are no southern troops worthy of mention
nearer Cairo than Corinth, Miss, where there
is large body. Cairo is to be put at once in
the best military condition, and Secretary Chase
has issued orders to all the Western collectors
to grant no more clearances to steamboats, go
ing to the rebel States, and to search every YES
]
and provisions intended for any State on the
Mississippi, except Kentucky and Missouri.
The Fire zouaves at Work.
| Early Thursday morning, a large building in
Washington, next to Wizards Hotel, was des-
stroyed by fire. Many of the New York Fire
Zouaves rushed from their quarters at the Cap
itol, broke open an engine house, hurried to the
scene Of conhagration with the apparatus, and
rendered highly efficient service in saving the
hotel from destruction. They performed vari-
Gus acts of daring, pulling down walls, &C., in
the presence of thousands of admiring specta-
tors. They failed not to salute the flag over
the hotel, and heartily greeted Major Anderson,
whose chamber was adjacent to the burning
building, and who appeared at the window, wit
Messing the proceedings. The Zouaves per-
formed wonders in extinguishing the flames,
and were publicly thanked by Gen. Mansfield,
the commander of the federal forces at Wash
ington. The building had been fired in four
places by the secessionists.
Troops Passing Through Baltimore.
Thursday afternoon 1900 troops arrived at
Baltimore on the steamer Maryland and other
transports, from Perryville, and were landed a,
Locust Point, within half a mile of Fort Nc
Henry, where they took the cars at one of the
termini of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, and
started directly for Washington. The railroad
track over which they passed goes through only
portion of the suburbs of the city, and joins
the main track near the Camden station The
mayor and police commissioners, with two hun
dred police, crossed in a ferry boat to Locust
Point, and were present at the debarkation.-
The transfer to the cars was accomplished with
! out ii ltv md hos oth
er than that which proceeded from the curios
ty of the people to witness the proceedings
The Harriet Lane stood off the point with hel
ports open. The troops consisted Of five com
panes of the U. S. third infantry, 420 men
one company of Sherman's battery Of light ar
tillery with pieces of cannon and 10 horses
under Major Sherman and the First regimen
ten companies of Pennsylvania artillery, Col
Patterson armed with muskets, and numbering
800 men. Two hundred men were left to TAX
charge ot the horses, provisions and baggage
and these were to be forwarded at later hour
The Rebel Program.
The New York HerdldS Washington CORES
pondent states that the government has bee
put in reliable possession of the projected move
ments of the rebel army in Virginia. a south
ern force is to march on Harper's Ferry, ant
from tnence attempt 10 force tnelr way lht
D Pennsylvania. The object Of this moyemen
= is to draw off part of the forces in Washing
e ton, when another division of the southern arm
l will make an attack on the capital. Wigfal, i
writing to friend in Washington, states i
great confidence that the confederate army wi
q capture Washington and Lincoln and his entir
cabinet unless they leave before the middle
June. He says they have nearly one hundre
d thousand well armed troops already, and thI
2 in less than two weeks from the date of his lei
. ter they would have over one hundred thousan
/ in the neighborhood and on their way to Wasl
! ington. He says he expects TO Winter in Phi
d adelpha with the confederate army.
s Military and Naval Matters.
The New York Evening Post says; 9Th
designations in the army, while they are coun
- terbalanced in a great measure by the offer 2
services from many retired officers, have mad
u it necessary to detach from unimportant duty
e number of officers of ability and experience
10 The War Department is now engaged IN order
, inc home the senior officers who command o
= the frontiers, and replacing them by Juniors
y California and Oregon have some forty or hit
d of the best officers in the service many of whor
n are to be Immediately recalled, their supero
e requirements being needed in the departmer
y of the East.
n A report of the progress of affairs at Fol
Monroe has just been made. 1t says that Ii
artillery school is of the greatest value to tn
= volunteer regiments there, who take the grea
r est interest in learning the most difficult an
. indispensable part of military tactics. Th
+" spacious parade ground covering an area ,