New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-05-31
Guarding the Sacred soii-Location OF q
New Encnmpmrnf-Thc Rebel Bnfter'e"
-Disordcrly TrcJan..

NrwroRr's News, Mouth OF James River, Va,
May a. 1861.
Another nvasion of tie soil Of the Old Dominion by
Federal ,roops took place tody. The circle begins to
contract Tie reconnoss nce ty Gen. Butler, Saturday
evening. was followed Say by an advance of body
of troops numbering about 500 men, 10 the mouth OF
James River ind the establishing of an encampnent
TO lie followed Immediately hy tie erection of field
works II, tue point from witch date this letter.
About 6 o'eiock this morning tie Star took on board
Col Phelps, and two companies Of The Vermont
regiment, and Capt Stewart of the United States
Engineers and came direct TO this point She was
followed by tie Cataliue with the remainder of the
Vermont regiment, convoyed by the Harriet Lane
Next came TIE Bowman with the Massachusetts, dh,
and tie Empire City with the German Rifles New
York regiment, WHO arrived yesterday, conveyed by
tie Quaker City. This feet made formidable ap-
rearsnce 40 it steamed through the roads and no
doubt was not without liz eiIrct On the rebels who
could wiines TIE expedition en- the batteries on the
Norfolk bay side.
TIE debarka'ion WIS without opposition there being
no Rebel forces within hang distance. A single
incident marked the landing. When detachment Of
marines from the Star Went ashore, man mounted on
horseback seen fleeing at full speed. The men
fred volley and the fugitive made haste TO dismonnt
and give himself up. Col Phelps severely reprmanded
the men for tho act and assured The that no vo-
lence would he offered him. The boys" promised TO
do better next time, and so0n were on the best OF
terms with tee fugitive, who PofesFed himself good
enough Union man. No one disputed his statement,
though nobody believed IT, He begged that his name
might not be printed in the THE TRIBusE. lie tried
SO very hard he civil that will grant bis re-
quest. That the correspondent OF TBE TRIBUNE should
be attached the advance guard of the expedition is
fact of sI ecial interest TO him and tie half-dozen
other natives who have MT fled tie rancho
Another appeared not 10 think AZ Ill OF the in-
trusoD. He made qnck sale If r'izor-shaped pig,
AID seemed proud Of the fact thatbe couldshow the cas
for the same. If the sale not at tee point OF the
bayonet, certainly the pig WE when saw nun.
Though the money Paid wae fully enough, yet the
dellcacy was considered cheap.
The spot chosen for the encamlment is a held Oh
wheat on plateau elevated sone 20 feet above the
water and surrounded for the most psr by FORFEIT
The Foil is dry and good water abouds in the vlc'n'
ty. Capt Stewart Laid out the camp, and tie men
marched in, formed 10 column, and took posserson
The battery in the hands Of the regulars, commanded
| by Lieut. Gebhard was planted in commanding po-
| eition.
l
country around leaving fields almost ready Tor the
sickle and the boe and almost everything else except
ing "a few personal Effects. A perfect panic prevails
among the population which can hardly fail 10 conmu-
| nicate itself to tie rebel troops.
There are some hafdozcu dwellings within an area
Of three miles around the csnpmen and rs bear as
/ Gm able to ascertain but three white men remain.
Negroes are st work in the field In several places.
| The distance from Newport News. across 70 the op-
posiie shore--which is tire Isle of Wight CouDty-s
| about seven niles. To Warwick above. il il about
fifteen miles, the distance TO Yorktown 10 slid to he
about twenty miles. and " Jamestown about forty
miles. From OLD Point it is about twelve miles.
As we pass up the Roads could zee that bate.
res had been erected BY the rebels ut different points
Oh the opposite side OF tie number Of troops oongre.
gated within this circle nothing il known. though the
most Trustworthy reports do not place the number st
very high figure.
Virpiniane with whom have convesed here confess
that the effects Of the blockade severely felt by sl
classes There lie scarcely any -four TO be bad Bust.
ness of every description is suspended, and money 10
| correspondiney scarce.
The propeller Stars and Stripes arrived here last
evening The Harriet Lane brought in two prizes,
schooners, loaded with naval stores, both Of North
| Carolina
Nothing new is known concerning Sewalls Point.
1t is not likely that it will receive attention at once.
The arrival of the Naval Brigade is looked for with in
terest In connection with that subject.
sorry say that the Troy Regiment bids fair to
win reputation for lawessncss and insutordnation.
1t IL probable that COL Duyee will be placed in com.
mand of the encampment composed Of his own regi-
inent and Col. Cars Troy Regiment with the powers
Of Brgadier-G General. The Colones Zouaves are the
lions Of The cay. The officers Of the regiment have
recognized military capacity.