Newbern weekly progress., 1862-05-31
News from NOrlOlk.

BALTIMORE, May "a, 1862.
There is hut little change in the condition OF
affairs at Norfolk The Mayor and members
of the City Council still refuse to take the oath
o, allegiance. General Wool had IN interview
with them yesterday but they continued in
the sulks, so that he now refuses all inter.
course with the people of Norfolk and Ports.
mouth Even the little business they have been
doing in the way of strawberries and peas is
now stopped.
General Wool sent up proclamation to
Norfolk this morning, notifying the people that
the matter was entirely in their own hands.
So soon as they shall acknowledge the snprem.
acy of the government they will enjoy its fos-
ering aid but while they remain in their
present rebolious mood they will be cut off
from all advantages Of trade and commerce,
and the city will be governed by strict martial
law. lie also assures them that no contingency
can possibly arise whereby Norfolk will be
given up to the control of the rebel government,
and that those who entertain Union sentiments
can give expression to them with ample assur
ance Of protection Of all their rights as citizsns
Of the United States
Most Of the stores are now open, and the sale
Of such goods as they have is progressing.
As far us Can be asceraned no one is now
willing 10 receive Confederate notes at par
Business is mostly done in small notes OF the
Virginia banks and other chartered corpora
tions. Government notes are received with
great av'dty.
| The Union men Of Norfolk still held back,
4 tafraid to express sentiments openly, in defiance
\ sf the rsbellous spirit around thc,n.I =
Quite an enthusiastic Union meeting was
4 held At Portsmouth on Thursday night. Not
less than eight hundred were present, includ'
Ing many Union men from Norfolk The
course oil the government in refusing to allow
provisions to como there for loyal people was
severely criticised and the proprlcty Of such
course by 40 means approved. The scarcity
of provisions and necsssares of life is SO great
and prices are so high that the poorer classes
have to live almost entirely on fish and oys
ters.
The scccssionists are nearly all wealthy peo
pie, who can stand high prices and have lalt
in their stock long since
1t 10 estimated that there are now in Norfolk
and Portsmouth not less than one thousant
desertors from the force with which Gen. Huge
lett Norfolk. Those who have como in, an'
are still arriving, in squads of tens and tween
tics, did not succeed in escaping until AtIe
they reached Petersburg. They are IN mos
deplorable condition. a party who came II
to-day say there must be nearly one thousan
more scattered through the woods behn
them. All willingly take the oath of allegiance
, and appear most happy to have escaped iro'
the rebel army.
c The Minnesota will proceed to Norfolk tc
j morrow mornI Z, When tho whole fleet wi
t have abandoned Old Point and taken up pc
s sition at the old naval station.
d The walls Of the Navy Yard buildings are
solid condition, and can soon be put in or@t
again. The machinery was taken out of it
buildings before they were fired, and packs
up with the intention of being removed; b,
4 the rapid action of General Wool prevented Il
, removal.
i, Numerous wrecks sunk in the ha,bor ar
=, river by the rebels are to be removed fort
with, inclaoiug the wrecked Merrimsc. A lsrs
. = number Of fuses and shells wele obtained fro
:, tho latter yesterday.