The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-18

onf special Correspondence from the South.
AUGUSTA, Ca, April Is, 1861.
On my arrival in Richmond on Friday last
found an intense excitement pervading all classes
OF tue community The dispatches to Ex-Presideut
tyler IN regard to the condition of affairs at Fort
sumter had been issued in extras, and their mat
ter was the a!l-absorbing subject of conversation
1t was evident that the sympathies of the entire
community, with but few exceptions were with
the Confederate arms The Union men, although
regrettlng the necessity of the assault on Sumter
expressed the hope that the fortress would canitu
late, while the secessiOnists were wild with antbu
siasn, and earnest in their prophecies of triumnh
Everywhere expressions of regret were heard that
Virginia was tamely engaged in the discussion Of
the vital questions, when her honor and her inter-
est demanded that she should have been the laadar
IN the great contest which had Just commenced -
Virginia heretofore foremost in the great strup-
giles for righ. and justice, was now sluggish and
laggard
| was compelled to leave Richmond at too early
an hour On Saturday morning to observe what Ell
feet the news Of the capiuaton of Fort Sumter
had on the already excited community, but have
since learned that 1t was received with the widest
demonstrations of JOY.
left Petersburg on Saturday. being compelled TO
lie in consequence oirregularity in the trains
occasioned by the freshet, which extended through
out the State. The feeling in PETERSBURG has I'M
dergOne radical change since the election of del
egates to the Convention and the secession feeling
| rapidly gaining strength frGm daY to day. There is
no doubt but that in short time the Cockade City
will be almost unit for immediate secession On the
| line OF the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad at ev-
! cry sta ion, thrOngs of people were gathered
anxiously awaiting the arrival of news, and when
| 1t was announced that Sumter had capitulated the
scenes which followed battle all description Some
as soon as they were assured that the was cor
rect, eaped INTO their saddles and dashed off on
horseback to be the heraders Of the news Others
! shouted and huzzaed, and the most enthusiastic
! spirit was exhibited.
About twilight the train reached the station of
beiheid, where large crowd were in attendance.
among whom were Il number of negroes several
| OF whom had banjos and vions. When the news
was announced; the crowd grew wild with excite
ment, and the air was fairly rent with shouts An
Ola ana most esteemed citizen of the place Col
Lucas, az years OF age came to the platform of
the car, and asked for the news and when told of
the captu!ation, tears gathered in his ewes and he
| remarked 81 feel ashamed to rejoice for virginia
Goes not snare tue honor" and then with wave
| of his hand, said, "te them South. that we will
| soon be with them" The negroes shared the oena
raj JOY and as the train left the station the vions
! and banjos struck up "Dixies Land At all the
stations, even until o.cock in the morning, crowds
! OF persons were awaiting the news
The train left Wilmington North Carolina at
| spnrlSe Sunday morning, and at one O'Clock p Al
re-cTossed the line and entered the State of Sortb
Calo iihd Inc news OF the capitulation of Sum ter
had preceded US, but the excitement alone the
route was not abated. At Florence, A few miles
from the North Carolina line, the BAGGAGE Of the
| passengers was examined by the Custom House
| officer of the Confederate States His department
was very gentIemanly, and the examination con-
sisted of opening the trunks without disturbing the
| contents st five O'clock p. NJ, we reached
| BranchTilie, where we met large number of per-
sons returning from Charleston, who had gone to
the city to witness the attack on Sumter They
gave the greedy crowds the details of the pro.
ceedings at Charleston, which were listened
to attentvely, until the relation of some Incl
dent called forth a shout, and tumultuous cheers
were given for the Contederacy, Gen. Beauregard,
| or President Davis.
There is no division of sentiment in this section
OF Georgia. There are reconstructionists. but
unanimitY far surprising my expectations pre-
vals. In Augusta there was a strong DOUGLAS
party, with the C0nStitu,ionaIist at its head and
this morning Col. Gardner (the editor and nro-
prletor) informed me that entire unity pervades
this community, and that / would find the same
state of feeling throughout the State. The stock
ct cotton in this city is very light the receipts not
averaging over 200 bales per day The major Dor
ton OF 1t has been sent to the seaboard and shin
ped Trade is consequently dull, but there is no
distress here. There is fixed determination n
stand totheir position, with an abiding confidence
that success Is not even a matter of SPECULATION
Yours, X,