New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-05-20
VOLUME XIV.



From Richmond to No,tolk- Regirnerta1 Drill
.Ric}tnOnd- War Fever IN N0rtOk-OLd Aces
VdnddlS tStGnlpeIeQ by q L0cOnlOtiBe-IT00pS |
al NortoAk-HeuNt of The LOa,isia1tiars, etc.
Special to the New Orleans Crescent.1
NORFOLK, VA, May Il, 1861
Mr., Editor-We left Richmond for this city yes
terday morning, and, with the usual delays which
seem inseparable from the conveyance of troops,
arrived at our Journeys end just at dark, our force
consisting of eight companies LieutenantColonel
Vincent with the remainder Of the regiment, had
preceded us, in compliance with telegraphic or
der from Col. Blanchard to branch off at Lynch
burg and go directly to Norfolk instead Of to Rich
mOnd SO that the regiment is now complete, and
numbers about 500 or 800 men. The day previous
to our departure o parade and 'reglmental drill
came off at and about encampment, Howard
Grove, The topography of the immediate neigh
borhood was peculiarly suited to such display,
and in this case it was put to good use. The
" Groven is q stnnted scattered growth of pine,
with grassy sward beneath, situated on high
knoll, which would overlook the surrounding coun-
try but for the proximity on every side OF equally
| high kn0iis broad, round and smooth, whose
| grassy surface seemed delightfully."- green and re-
! treshing, seen at short distance. Opposite our
| cncampment, and divided from it by deep raVlne
| and a shallow brook, one of these mound-llke
elevations perfectly free from trees shrubs, rocks,
and all other distractions, and around Its summit
| ana up ana DOWN us steep Sues bue EoOps per-
| formed their various ev0lutions with surprising
celerity and readiness considering the brief time
| they have had for anything but company drill.
| Some of their maneuvers--as the rapid, Louaye-
! like rush, ending by throwing themselves in ranks
fiat upon their bees-appeared to be something
| entirely new and astonishing to the spectators,
| who (most of them adies) were almost as nutner-
GUS as the troops themselves. Ihat night went
| into the city, and among the idle groups at the
hotel and in other places frequently heard the First
| Regiment Louisiana Volunteers spoken of in terms
| of high compliment, the " crack" companies of
| all that had yet visited Richmond, etc. Well, we
| shall see how that is when get into active
service and meet the Illinois BabOon's" legions
| face to face Certainly, if strict enforcement OF
drill and routine duty, with careful attention to
minor details of the service, can make good sol
| diers out of what seems to be excellent MATERIAL
it will not be it's COlnnels officers fault if this
regiment should not, in the hour of trial, turn ont
10 be one Of the finest and most etliclent IN the
| field
| Richmond is very beautiful city, and it would
be difficult to conceive more delightful location
| Flying dust on a windy day-that great draw back
TO the comfort of most cities-s altogether ull-
known in many Of its principal streets, their grades
being so steep that every shower washes away all
deposits of filth or dust, leaving the round cOhble
stones as clean and bright as if Just polished with
| sand paper, while not a drop of standing water
| can be found in the cutters anywhere. This is, OF
course not the case in all parts of the city, but |
found it so almost everywhere | went. Ladies
with pretty ankles can there find no excuse for
showing them by crossing q muddy street; but
this Inconvenience is compensated in q great
measure by the steepness of the grades, particu-
larry in breezy weather.
have seen nothing of Norfolk yet We arrived
last night and in order to furnish our New Orleans
friends promptly with record OF our movements
have to. dispatch it early in the day. Hhlle
write, the troops are being marched to their en-
campnent somewhere outside the city, the Colonel
not being willing that his soldiers should remain IL
town a moment longer than necessary, and, be
sides, not wishing to lose time in pcrfecting theiI
drill.
, From the general tone of conversation the
numerous rumors ahoat, and the enthusiastic
demonstrations of the people last night as the
troops marched. through the streets, gather tina
an intense war feeling prevails here, the course o
events not having tended to abate it since the de
sructon of the Navy Yard. A gentleman told M
!, last nghtthat on that occasion Norfolk and FORT
y | mouth were entirely defenceless. having but lev
| troops and no cannon. aud that when the Cumoe1
| land and Pawnee came up, the greatest tXcteme1
l" and indignation prevailed among the people, som
| of whom, full of fight rashly went to work Slnf
i | ing boats in the channel to prevent them troT
:, getting out again, Had they succeeded in thi:
u they would have been in the condition Of tn
e soldier who captured the Tartar, or Of tina
I. other Tartar who abducted termagant mai
q ried lady, causing the bereft husband to ute
. the pathetic exclamation. q Alas. poor Tartar !
\ The hostile vessels could have reduced Norfoi
e. and Portsmouth to ashes without the least RISK
v themselves. AS it tnrned out, however, they wer
>, frightened away in the most amusing and nnlo0ke
for manner illustrating the truth OF The saving ms
the " wicked nee WNen no nliu puFSuelu. NHt
to the work of destruction had commenced at til
,e Navy Yard, one OF the railroad engineers con
H. menced working his locomotive IN the most furlo'
| Manner putting, snorting and blowing his tr
| mendOus whistle with the utmost energy, while
ly large crowd of people assisted the tun with v
10 ciferous shouting and cheers. The effect OF I'll
IA was speedily visible. The force detailed to destrf
the Navy Yard property abruptly brHke OH uie
Y VandaIic operations, and went aboard the Cumbe
Id land with all haste under the impression, as SIM
an ascevtained, that Beauregard, with large for
= of soldiers and heavy cannon was upon them. WI
u. whatever speed fear could inspire the hostile We
cir sells got under way passed the ohStructonS IN q
nd channel with some difficulty, and were soon b
yond reach of the imaginary soldiers and cann
their guilty fears had injured up.
y, The knowledge that they were frightened aw
fits by q scarecrow of their imaginations, cam
,+n avail them now. The place was detenceless the
but it is so no longer. Batteries have been throw
up and cannon planted at available points, IN Su
cient numbers and strength to beat off or blow q
:, of water any war vessels that may attempt to 9
proach. have heard the number of troops CT
LID centrated here variously estimated at from hVe
seven thousand, but how near this may be to
J.. truth, I cannot say having no better means OF
W, formation at present than such vague surmses.
10 Our regiment is in excellent health, both Office
I,s ,Ge and men. After our long journey to Rlchmo
iys there were qne number of sick cases among
el men, but Major Beard, our SRrgeon, informs
&C. that not single one Is reported this morning. l
ni. Doctor, by the way, appears to be hlghly popu
ICY with the men, and the promptness with VIII
er thew run to him for relief whenever afflicted viii
sar little collie or anything of the sort, argues w
ot lattering confidence in his professional skill.
et is tolerably good looking, too, and while walk
T." with him on the street in Richmond, the other
er actually overheard lady remark to her &C
l! lne panton: "Oh, what pretty nau!' Your c
us us, respondent, having donned an excessively G
M leo tesque and absolutely hldeous cap, OF the pug
jug cious order, which increases the natural ugln
aFn 1 and fcrocty of his countenance amazingly was
'ot vain enough to appropriate the compliment to
M. 1'h self The Doctor hid his confusion under V
ate feigned air of ind ference.
lets shall walk about the town to-day, and perh
y our cross over to Portsmouth. Many persons app
up to anticipate early collision at or near this 20
'ul and the readers of the Crescent may rest assn
yea that ! will give them correct particulars of VI
actually takes place, and of that only.
G. W. s.
THE Lndies nj DrM-A Vessel Seizoa- Recoo
ans of Stolen Negroes-d1l Alabama officer Sh