Maryland free press., 1862-12-12
Additional Southern News.
AFFAIRS AT RICHMOND.

Correspondence of the Charleston Mercury1
RICHMOND, November 20.-What the Her.
aid calls ''the situation" is not very clear A
force of 110, 900 abolitionists is concentrated
near Fredericksburg. Northern papers tell
us that Burnside is waiting only for supplies,
and our own papers assure us there is every
indication of great fight, which may come
off any day. Fredericksburg, already COM
manded by the encmy's batteries, will doubt
less be shelled, if any resistance to its occupa-
ton is made, There will be resistance, but
so long as the river is between the two armies
general engagement is improbable. How
ever, the occupation of Fredericksburg is mere
ly preliminary step in the contemplated
grand attack upon Richmond, which will be
made in overwhelming force by land and wa
ter-by column from Fredericksburg, anoth-
er from Suffolk, and feet in the James.
On the other hand, jackson has not left the
Valley, as many suppose, and there are move
ments, accomplished and contemplated, in the
direction of Petersburg which seem to indicate
that our Generals do not expect an immediate
general assault. In North Carolina the Yam
KEGS have gone back to Ncwbern, it is sup
posed for the purpose of concentrating in this
vicinity at the proper time. All signs go to
show that John Van Buren's scheme of carry
ing Richmond will be attempted on scale
greater than ever before. Z We are not unpre-
pared for the attempt, and await the issue with
tranquility, the people appearing to feel more
concerned about provisions, when the armies
reach this vicinity, than anything else.
Anticipating speedy attack on Drewry's
bluff, the Secretary of the Navy issued per-
emptory orders for the mounting of a formi-
dable piece of ordnance, the novel construction
ofwhich has excited the attention of military
men for some time past. An iron target was
in preparation to test the powers of this piece
but the Secretarys order allowed the inventor
only time enough to try it on hastily bull
wooden target. Thecxperiment was eminent.
ly, satisfactory--the range, accuracy and
strength of the gun fulfilling the inventor,
most sangline anticipations. Yankee Doodle
will get taste of this monster before he il
prepared to let us alone.
The Richmond Dispatch considers foreign
intervention hopeless, and adds:
eve would have the very word interven
ton expunged from the Southern dictionary
and the bare thought dismissed from the mint
as guilty and shameful thing. We are abl
to establish our own independence, and no in
dependence, obtained in any other way, woul,
be worth having. AS for those government
which stand aloof from us in our hourof trial
after having by their intrigues brought abou
the present state of things, we leave them t.
reap the fruits hereafter Of their sinister ant
inhuman counsels. If we succeed, they cal
expect no special favors at our hands if w
fail; we shall faif With honor, but our fall will
sound the death knell of their own power up
on ta;0 continent, ond, perhaps, their stabilit,
&. home" .-... ....
GEN. SIGEL AFRAID OF JACKSON
lFrom the Richmond Enquirer, Nov. %
SigePs retreat from Manassas and Centre
vile towards Alexandria and Waehincton i