Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1861-05-24
WASHINGTON, May 20.

WAsHINaT0N, May 20.
There was fight at Sewalfs Point be-
ween two United States vessels and q rebel | I
,attery, it being the eighth and last work
low in rebel hands defending the approach
IS to Norfolk, and is regarded as an import
mt work against blockading James river,
where there are prizes laden with tobacco.
The steamer Star commenced Saturday noon
shelling the works, soon after aided by the
Freedom, driving out the rebels She then
proceeded to Washington with dispatches of
Commodore Stringham, she captured two
small vessels on Sunday, near Cedar Point,
one Of them having fifty men on board for
the rebel army.
The Postmaster General has issued orders
10 cut off all the steamship mails on the
coast also all mails on the river steamers |
plying to seeded States.
Tribunes Correspondence.-It is under. |
stood that Gen. Butler has been ordered to |
proceed at once to active movements in Vir- |
ginia, and will directly remove distractions
in Norfolk harbor.
Gov. Letcher has met with q loss. He
had made, for his study, accurate military
maps of Virginia. These having been finish
ed at Washington were on their way to the
Governor, when they were seized by order Of
the War Department.
The adjourned meeting of the Wheeling
Convention of the 4th of June, will be at
tended by delegates from counties east of the
mountains, and the convention will be urged
to declare the conduct OF the authorities of
Virginia usurpations of power, and the actors
rebels and traitors. Instead Of dividing the
State, the policy will be provisional gov
ernnent for the whole State, and an election
will be proposed of a Governor and State Of
6cers.
Four regiments will beaccepted from Mich
igan instead of three, on account Of the ia
vorable impression made by the one now
here.
Tines Correspondence. Post Office
Department has discontinued the steamboat
mails on the Mississippi river, all the way
from st. Louis to New Orleans the steam
boat mail from Mobile ola Lake Ponchartrain;
the steamship mail from New Orleans ola
Pensacola, Apalachicola, Cedar Keys and
Tampa Bay to Key West; also all the steam
ship mails from New Orleans to the sea ports
in Texas. as Saline City, Galveston, Indian
ola, and Brazos Santiago.
The time for the reception ofproposals for
the remainder of the United States stock,
amounting to nearly nine million dollars, I'M
der the act of February, has been extended
to Saturday. Offers regarded as most advan-
tageous to the United States will be accepted.
Ex-Gov. Floyd having been commissioned
as a General in the Confederate service, has
commenced raising brigade in Virginia.
A dispatch dated Portsmouth, from q
Southern source, says that owing to firing
into the.battery at Sewalrs Point, lively times
are expected, and perhaps troops will be
marched to the Point from Norfolk.
BosroN, May 81.
It is reported that the U. s. brig Balm
bridge will proceed direct to Aspinwall and
act as convoy to the California steamers
crossing the Gulf, and protect them from
privateers.
NEW YORK, May 81.
The sloop Time, with $50 kegs of powder
on board, was Sc zed in North river to-day
The Edinburg, from Liverpool on tho 9th
via Queenstown 9th arrived this P M. new
anticipated.
i New YORK, May 81.
The Tribune says that yesterday, by I
bold stroke, the Government obtained pos
session of most invaluable documentary evi
f dence against the sympathizers with Treason
! in the North. At given hour the officer
Of the law visited every considerable tele
graph Office in the free States, Selling manu-
r scripts of dispatches for year. The Gov
ernm ent can now trace the secret operation
of the rebels, and their aiders and abe,ters
} and henceforth hold the northern enemie
of the republic at its mercy,
Especial Herald
CHAMBkRsBRUG, May 20.
A reliable Union man living IN Mary lant
says he was at Harpers Ferry Friday night
and saw 16 Indians in one squad, but die
not see more. He says the small pox i
known to exist among the troops there
but to what extent in unknown. He be
ieves the troops are being scattered ovel
Berkeley, Jefferson, Louden, Frederick anG
Clark counties, to carry them for secession
The legitimate voters of these counties are
larg ly for the Union.
MONTGOMERY, May 81.
Gov. Ellis telegraphed President Davi.
that North Carolina passed the ordinance
of secession unanimously.
CBAMBERsBURG, May 20.
| Seven hundred Virginia troops arrived
opposite WilliaiDsport, on the Potomac. &c
miles south of this point. 1t is believed
they intend making On incurson into the
southern border Of this State.
| New ORLEANS, May 81.
| Mr.. Russell, correspondent of the London
Times, arrived this morning.
! INDIANAPOLIS, May 81.
The report from Martin county Indiana,
last night, about secessionists committinp
|depredations seems to be mistake. There
is, however, a bard of desperadoes in that
county who have been plundering, robbing,
and threatening the lives of citizens. We
learn this morning from good authority that
four men were arrested at Dover Hill, yes
terday by mob of 100 armed men.
| CuAMBERsBURG, May 81.
1t is believed here by the military author
tiles that the Shepardstown and Williams.
port movements are feints. The main
movement from Harper's Ferry on southern
Pennsylvania will be made as soon az
offensive operations begin from Washing ton
on the South, or at Norfolk, along the coun-
| ty road leading from Harper's Ferry along
Pleasant Valley through Holesboro and
Waynesboro. deem this opinion correct
as the Confederate leaders design to avoid
'perations offensive to the people of Mary
land. This is the shortest known road into
Pennsylvania from Harper's Ferry.
BALTIMORE, May 81.
Two Philadelphia companies seized large
quantity Of arms, slowed in an unoccupied
house, comprising 1900 muskets in boxes,
marked Virginia Muskets;' - also, 1000
pixies. They were taken to Fort McHenry.
The arms had been in the custody of the
city authorities.
The Union men Of the Sd District, nomi-
mated G: L. Leary for Congress.
The New York second regiment passed
through this city to-day. They were we'll
received.
Chaunce7 Shaffer made speech to the
N. Y. 9TH regiment to-day, invoking them
by no means to return home before thu close
of the war. 1t is understood they are to b.
guided in this matter by Gen. Scott, and arr
willing to remain if there is prospect for
speedy opening of the compaign.
n.,po Mox,