The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-05-31

l1ey ie bassd upo, the actual observation Of resident
q that place The tern OF Hsrpars fcry stustsd
poin. Of land formed by The conference OF tho Potom
AMI Shenandoah rers, md Is eltress susrolnde and
overlooked by the mountains the vg mia and Mary
lind side; the monnt the latter sds called the "Pn-
nsco,o She most commanding point Of .hs vicinity,
and the key 70 the position. rhs point
pied by he ConedesA,es after they had stationed the
selves st the town, and q, ms Elk hundred and 'ty
Ksntackiaas he'd 1t. They were, and are stIi, poorly
AIRED, however.
Nearly al the troops there have been withdrawn at tho
urgent remonstsancss Of Maryland and there
but coapie Of tents, very forcs, and two
ss poundeys, upon the bridge, whish 10 q covered
wooden one. There Ia, Of course, guard by which
one without answering satisfactorily certain nsrroga
ieries pass INTO vrgnia any leave for
Maryland without pass from the Confederate sommsn-
der rbe bridge pseparet for destruction, In case
Of staek by sss placing barrels about Il. These
were removed however, and Of oak wood, firmly
screwed soge.hsr and f'led with powder, with com
nuI icatng fuse enclosed in metal tube sub
stued rbs csses placed upon the stone ab ten,s
ind oereAth the tnbcrs resting thereon; similar mines
are paced upon the BRIGGS above aDd bcIov the ferry
there being .. Berlin, twelve miles, and another at
Point OF Rocks, siyteeD miles below; Aso at Shep-
hsTdstowD, twelve miles above
The s,wn OF Hsrper's Ferry is almos. deserted by
civ ans, abca four nths Of s population having left
alter good deal OF unjust and hard treatment many
abandoning their eects the remainder excepting Ave,
are II BON men, who, however, keep ebniy, ami who
would leave they could. The condition OF the troops
heie any hing but encouraging to their There
from Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee
Kentucky ana Virginia The latter are the c.eam being
sp Intelligent, respectable ard fre looking set. Tnsie
are no Indians, bas good macy while men who
general appearance 0eicg Of the toughest and most ouc
cbMacter. The supplies from Baltimore, intended Tor
their outht. having seized by the federal
many are obliged TO wear handkefchsfs and ca'fskio
skull cs2s for hats u regulation pattern ard
almost saas utos they are as cheerful as they can be
der the circumstances With nothing - d. kept upon
eGpxi,rs bench and having often " cont themselves
with one meal day ihs!r eide arms have been taken
away dangerous TO themselves and Others though
they are Improved in discipline nov, as tho Liquor has
run out, much having been destroyed by the officers
pouring out and pouring in 10 this latter way Gene
rh Hslper, who superseded by Colonel jackson,
who In his turn, has been supcrscaed s ead TO havo
.s vsp9
being handsomely equipped and others, regu
lar Io.dy looking co ncrackerso Ihsro are at Hir-
pere Ferry about twenty four brass field guns upon
ragss bu TO couple Of days since four "a and one
80 pounder bs ft 10 placed upon eminence back Of
the mcrptain at tie Ferry, and commandog the route
necessary approach Il in the rear !; weighs $500
pounde) ~crc the only heavy guns there. rifle fac
tory as, ct The vest sito Of the tovn, at the She
randcah bridge has been engaged in usi3g tho undc-
stoy ed ma.crt skcks barrels, &c In manufacturing
gyms, tuning out aboo; forty 70 ff diem but these
exhausted hnd many cf the guns thus m lde
arc ine II lent the steel II lock springs has
10 fB temper aAd the barrels not TO BIO relied
% FOR n ' 4 ,ns's sss or os sos s
moresrs n. ynginiaps have s,outs out down the
railroad TO PoiN Of Rocks (at which place there
town t. give the alarm upon the approach of enemy
nTi atoRb Eecesei0nbJ rather scarce ab )ut this
seoE Il there are enough afford the CJnfet
cvest ss stance IN tho way or iusormston. The ms
hinc,y az Halls factory "a now moved away there
esusr, ctee molasscs at tie Ferry, ana there
ieavs OF &fsmue before harvest. large proportion or
he the bands OF the Southe troops toe old
ant lob and tie git Of coo stan OF arms Baltimore
some tine since TO promoe accession in this State, Is
regretted Ic~.
fRxpEsIcx, Nd. May &C. 1881.
uneassneu Apaons 0e Rebl the Po,m1c-TAU Of Eoa-
esaiirg Wliampcr-re.e Of the Troops for S.,csion-
Itica Men On he Fersz-Repatd Defea: OF hs Fsdra
FbYees at Rai,for, dc
Since the capture of Alexandria there good deal
uneesness manifested by the Conedera.cs along the
Potomac, who, believing they TO be Immediately
attacked from all quarters took immediate steps 10 keep
OF the enemy At the Point Of Rocks the rails OF tho
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad torn up, and wide
and deep gully dug the roai report was in cir
cualion anoLg the vrgni ms uso that federal troops
had advanced from Pennsylvania to Hsgers,own and
Frederick and great activity displayed in making
ready to receive them at point opposite Wilamsport
IN Mary land, a, which place there is great bend
in the Potomac towards Pennsylvania, and where
is believed the Northern troops, should they In
this quarter towards Virginia, would cross. There
eight hundred virginans there. There Is bridge
here the river being crossed by ferry, though Il is
fordable and s By wsding that the soldiers
the other SIDE who forbidden intercourse with the
baryl,LdeIs, communicate occaonally with them, and
make their escape when they get tired Of soldering.
In view Of the hot work reported be going down
Alexandria and Fairfax some Of these troops said TO-
day that they about abandon their present posi-
on and ward. They like all the other troops
see-sck and tired Of doing nothing The county they
IN tEalu dAl fhQ,r
msority for Union This has a very dsc,ursR,pg efeo.
uycn the troops and indeed " this their weakness
Nine riGes and are remarkably nne looking body OF
men, wen equipped In all respscis They cannot heartily
Sebt for came hoxeyc Mhion they are opposed Dy
them down there is generally some Union sentiment ds
covered.
At shepherdstown there are couple Of com oanies OF
men, and more expected Immediately. There is
bridge there well guar led and small battery
OF brass guns are stationed the Virgins
beights, Commanding the Maryl,od approach an the
bricgo. The men here arc Virginia mountaneers well
armed athletic, active, INTEL gent men, Tnoigh engaged
Ia the service of the Confederate army they are by
anxious for fght and speak hopefully Of peace
ful solution Of the present difficulties They say II the
fght must they viii defend Vrgnias soil 10 the
last They fro about the centre OF Virginia and
their county gave large Union majority at the
time Of the election Yet out Of these said
(atout 1907 only three votes cast for the Unon
they stationed 10 Jefferson county now and the vote
there Friday abou 600 in favor OF secession,
though great many Union men did not vote. There
coercion in voting Some ioers thrown out su Ii
care goipg TO vote for niger thought you
white man" &c, &c; but large proportion OF the
Union the fence and, therefore, their action
IN not voting looked 70 the future and not the present
The people Of the towns along the river are very much
worried at their posioD and prepared for stampede
whenever necessary and many quietly dspos'ng OF
their property TO 10 Maryland north ward
There number Of corps Of youths 10 Virginia of
from twelve seventeen years who dr constantly and
who prepa ing 10 defend their homos They quito
proficient in the drill and the use OF arms.
report OF an engagement a, Fairfax Court House be-
tween the hostile forces In which the federal troops
defeated with great loss has been current In these parts
for the last twenty four hours AM has created great
deal Of painful anxiety in the Union men, but the
sionlsts openly betrayed their satisfaction
The yrgipiaps say they ha plenty OF caps and an.
munton now. The foreign troops 10 Virginia did not
vote, they say, on scocesion.
IMPORTANT FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
OUR HARRISBURG coRR.s roTDEEcE.
HARRISBURG, May 30, 1861.
The Peop< IN the Bofdr C1S,ies fearing an Laras1nty