The national Republican., 1861-08-27
SOUTHERN NEWS.
rlE REBEL CAMP AT MANASSAS.


CorrespoL dence of the N. o. Picayune, Aug 10
The weather for the past -four days has been
intensely hot. fear we may have much sick
ness in September, If great attention Is not paid
TO the preservation OF health. The atmosphere
10 impregnated with oil kinds of impurities,
arising from the battle field and the camp. The
fUtid odors proceeding from the decaying
bodies Of men and beasts, and the offal and
filth Of camp, are enough to produce fevers and
cpidemics. He who has never visited q fresh
battle field and camp on grand scale, can
never Imagine the immense emount Of decaying
matter scattered about. This putrid mass, ex-
posed to the burning heats Of August and Sep
tember must have very deleterious effect
upon the health of the soldier. The filth at
Manassas Is beyond conception No one seems
TO consider what will be the result from Its
accumulation and decomposition. The soldier
talks over his battles and looks forward for
other victories. Death is disregarded, and a
human corpse II regarded scarcely more than
that Of dumb beast.
| CHALLENGE FOR A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT.
We learn that on Saturday last the Confede-
rate war steamship Patrick Henry, formerly
the Yorktown, came down the James river to
within mile of Newport News and offered a
challenge for combat to large United States
trisate lying Off that point. So great was the
agitation and confusion on board the frigate
it is said, that they did not take time to iurl
their awnings, but pulled them right down and
beat to quarters. The Patrick Henry stopped
off a, her posi- ion, with her ports open ready
for combat if she could induce the Yankee
to come from under the guns Of the shore bat
terry but the latter positively declined the in
vitation, and stuck TO her safe place. 1t is be-
lieved by those who witnessed the operation
that the Patrick Henry would have venturet
| battle regardless of the shore battery, but fol
the presence Of two or three Federal gunboats
Norfolk Day Book.
RICHMOND DRAINED.
The following extract from letter writer
by an officer in the rebel army to bis friends il
South Carolina, shows the condition Of thei
uartermaster's department:
"DEAR SIR Il am instructed by Capt. JOhl
: Cordero 10 request Of you to insert o notice il
each Of the daily papers of the city, asking on
kind citizens to send, for the use Of his com
t. pauy, any blankets which they may have +
nt any price, nor can they be procured iron
: the Army Department. In fact, Richmond
entirely drained. We are not able even
procure tin cups or plates for our use"
POSTMASTER AT PENSACOLA
: From the Tallahassee Ne,cs we learn that th
e postmaster at Pensacola has been acting tn
e scoundrel on large scalc. He has been rob
ling the mails OF the money sent by the so
n diers to their families, on being paid off, iC
!, their service Some nine thousand dollars hav
y been stolen, it is said, in this way. The pos
n master has been arrested and will probably b
!, shot for tn, offence committed. Large quaint
q ties OF letters have been burnt, and a bushe
q found that had been opened and robbed of thci
. contents.
J. y TENNESSEE POWDER.
! We met with the agent of the military boar
!, Of this State this morning, who is returning lro
y y the mountains of Arkansas, where he has bee
= investigating the caves and has succeeded
!, making contract with Messrs. Smith IL ThomI
son, of Independence county, to furnish tn
I. State with 100000 pounds Of saltpetre, whic
!. will be converted into powder by Samuel Wa
,e son, Of Nashville, as fast as it is received
!, Memphis Bulletin.