The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-06-08

|
10 our disappointment, two of the steamers did not
cross the oar, but the third, the flag ship ran cut
towards us uhtil she came within three miles and
then put about and stood in towards the land
Tatnall, the Confederate Comman ander is brave nsl.
liant and almost reckless but knows well the Dnwer
of this powerful ship, and even he will hesitate long
before he attacks her.
Important Reports from Manassas Junction.
| WASHINGTON, June Ga gentl sman who arriv-
ed from Manassas Junction this morning, states
positively that the rebels at that point number
| fourteen thousand. lie says General Beauregard
is there; that he knows him, and saw him; that
General Beauregard had been to Harper's Ferry
| and returned.
Another statement is that there 10000 troops
at the Junction. This fact has been communicated
| to General Scott. Whether he believes the state
ment or not, cannot say; but the suppoSition is
that he does believe it, inasmuch Immediately
after receiving it, orders were issued to the com
mander of the forces the other side to call in
the outposts and concentrate the troops in position
to meet the attack.
The statement made bv the messenger who
IN from the junction this morning is that the rebels
do not contemplate making attack upon the gov
eminent troops, bat will remain where they are
and act on the defensive.
A secret agent of the government, who arrived
here this morning direct from Richmond and Ma
nassas junction, reports that there is large num-
per oil troops at the former place; that they
irving from the South at the rate of three trains
per day, each train containing about five hundred
troops. As fast as they reached Richmond they
| WCulu De moved OH, some TO NOTtOlk and to
Manassas junction. This messenger confirms the
| report that Gen. Beauregard is at the latter place
in full command of the forces there, and that they
number about fifteen thousand men. Colones Miles
and Preston, Of South Carolina, acting aids to
Gen Beauregard at Manassas Junction.
Captain Shaitler's company of rifles, that seeded
from this city, and Captain Tupletts flying artil-
| lery, and the three hundred South Carnlinans
are stationed three miles this side of the Junction
! -Four railroad bridges were burned between Fair
fax Court House and Alexandria last night. One
Of them is fourteen miles from Alexandria, the
next ten miles, two are about seven miles, and the
fourth about four miles This destroys the use of
the railroad for the purposes to which the federal
| troops intended to put it.
| The Blockade of Savannah.
| From the Sdrannah Republican, Afdy 311
| 1t having been reported that Federal bockad- |
| ing squadron off bar the Russian Consul
and the British Acting Consul for this port charter
ed the steamer Resolute yesterday, and went down
to enquire into the exact status of affairs One YES
sci, the Union, observed at anchor off the bar |
and as they approached her, when about a mile |
of she fired two shots in their direction both of
which fell short. The ResoIute had the British |
nag lying at her masthead, and a small white fla
at her stern, which appears not to have been dis |
covered, as she heading directly for the Union |
She tackled so AS to display her colors, when the |
| firing Immediately ceased.
Upon reaching the Union, which is a small pro- |
peller OF some six hundred tons, armed with four
eight-inch cOlumbiads and six-pounder cannon |
with about one hundred men on board under COM |
IL
vlted on board, and handsome apologies offer
ed for having ignorantly fired on neutral flag.
| Upon inquiry as TO the purpose OF the Union, |
| the C'nsuS were informed that the blockade Of
Charleston and Savannah and the intermediate |
coast commenced on Tuesday, the 2Sth inst that |
| neutral vessels would be allowed fifteen davs from |
that date to leave the port, and that vessels of
nation would be allowed to enter hereafter, nor
| Confederate vessels to depart. The bockading |
squadron, he stated, consisted of the Minnesota,
the Wabash, the Union, and fourth, the name OF
which was not recolected.
As the Consus were returning to the city thev
were approached by parties in a boat from the
camp, on Tybee. who informed them that on Tues
day night rowboat containing officers and ma
rlnes came in from sea, and when short distance
from shore fired the SentipelS. The latter re.
! turned the compliment with interest, when the
boat Immediately tackled about and retired. Their
| object, doubtless, to discover whether or not
the island was guardcd-a fact of which they were
| informed to their entire satisfaction. 1t would
be well to keep sharp lookout for these follows,
for there is no telling how many troops the Mime
| sofa has on on board and what they will attempt
| to do when they get here.
We omitted to state above that the Union is the
only vessel OF the blockading squadron now in
sight.
That Invasion.
Two months since we stated that the valley of
| the Mississippi would be the great battle-ground
between North and South, that whatever defenses
might be erected its banks, the great river
| would witness attempt by our enemies to com
mand and ''possess' it from mouth TO source; that
blow would be aimed at Memphis; and that the
attempt would be made a scale commensurate
with the advantages attendant on its success; and
now to-day the 7erificat II OF our prophecy is
dered certain.
The attempt will be made within fifteen DAYS,
and we warn the citizens of Memphis, of Tennes-
see, that batteries hare been passed before now,
and that it behOOves TO be ready to meet the in
vader foot to foot and hand to hand
Don't be deceived, reader the attempt is a GER
tainty--Homfhis Arg"s. June l.
Preparations
Britain.
Correspondence ". T. Herqldl
WASHINGTON, June G.-Owing to the threatened
and critical aspect of affairs between Great Britain
and tins country, growing out of the unhappy
quarrel between the two sections, the government
has determined to bring all the available naval
vessels imme mediately into active service Additional
orders have, it is said, just been despatched to
various navv yards, nstructing the commandants
to employ all their force in fitting out and arming
the vessels in ordinary, and to use their utmost
Efforts In expeditlng the work now in hand.
Private advices received here from distinguished
Americans residing in London, tate that in recent
conversation with high official of the British
government he informed him that it had been de-
termined bV the ministry to send most formida-
BILE naval feet in American waters; that accord
lngy there were fitting at many Yards a large
number OF the largest class vessels, ostensby
1t was understood, tor the Gulf, but really intended
| to operate along the Southern coast. He saws it
was becoming more manifest every day that the
British ministry strongly sympathized with the
|
ernment, he says, assume bold and determined
policy towards England, and all may vet be well.
Governor Letcher's Order to Destroy the
Bridges.
The Wheeling Lnteligenccr SAYS the following
letter from Gov. Letcher to Col. Porterfeld mas
been found by the troops:
RICHMOND, Va, May %.
| DEAR SIR:-When you get matters in proper
conuitlon at GRAFTON, take the train night,
run up to Wheeling and seize and carry away the
arms recently sent to that place by Cameron, the
| U. S. Secretary Of War, and use them in arming
such men as may rally to your camp. Recover the
State arms also recently seized by the malcontents
at kingwood. 1t is advisable to cut off teegra-
phc communication betw cen Wheeling and Wash
ington, so that the dsaifected at the former place
| cannot communicate with their allies at headquar-
ters. Establish perfect control the tele-
graph, (it kept up) so that no despatch pass
without your knowledge and inspection before is
sent If troops from Ohio and Pennsylvania shall
| be attempted to be passed on the railroad, do not
hesitate to obstruct their passage by all means in
your power even to the destruction of the road and
bridges.
Having confidence in your discretion, am sure
you Will manage all things wisely and well.
| Yours truly, John LErCHER.
| Col Porterfeld, Grafton, Va.
We subjoin another one, written by Porterfied
(in pursuance of the above instructions) Col. W.
j. Wiley, wAo is now prisoner at Phippi:
! GRAFTON, May 25.
| DEAR COLoNEL:-From informs alton Just received
it is essential to the safety of my command that the
bridges be destroyed as far west as possible. You
will please proceed on the next train and have it
carried into effect without delay. Yours,
| q. A. PoRTERFIELD.
| The United States Navy.
Below give list of the total force of regular
ships and guns at the command of the Government:
VrSSeLS Guns.
Sailing liners 5O4
Z SAILING frlgates. O9O
IS SICops of -war,,,.... ,...... .......... 1896
BrRs-of ....................... L.