Daily national Republican., 1863-04-22
POSITIVE UNION ELEMENT IN NORTH
CAROLINA.
NoRroLK, w., April lnth. 1869

NokfbLh, VA, Apfll lWh, lSOJ.
Since my prcyions letter, of the 18th instant,
there has been but little of interest to record.
except the continuance Of the same state Of
things. Skirmishing on the NansemOnd Is
still kept up, as we know by the constant firing
which has been heard, almost without cessa-
clusion is, that much larger force Is being
concentrated by the rebels than was at first
anticipated.
From letters Intercepted by the guards, some
important information has been obtained Of
the movements and intentions of the enemy.
There is reason to believe that large forces
have been sent down from fredericksburg, and
having succeeded in preventing the sending Of
rcinforccmcnts to Gen. Foster. Ithas, no doubt,
occurred to the rebel generals that now is the
favorable opportunity to invade Norfolk by the
advance of large body of troops over the
Nauscmnnd, below Suffolk, thereby cutting of
communication with this city by railroad and
supplies for our forces. SO far, however, the
rebels have been anticipated in this attempt, a
large number of rcnforccmcnts having been
sent forward to check any further movements.
1t appears that the enemy came on with am
pie preparation in the way of pontOon5 aud
other appliances for crossing the river, and
their operations indicate positive intention to
land large force on this side, take us by sur
mouth and this city.
Many suppose, as part Of the plan, the
Merrimac No. . was to come down the James
river, so as to make simultaneous attack in
front aud rear, but all such fears arc d8pelled
this morning by reliable information Of the
situation of things up the James river. There
Ia no reason to suppose that the rebels have
anything available to send down against our
naval force In Hampton Roads, and as for do
ing us any damage on the Nansemond, no one
can believe II possible. As an evidence, how
ever, Of our activity in the past two or three
days, ! observe a train load of ambulancps
started off this morning for Deep Creek, or
wherever they may be wanted between here and
Suffolk. The killed and wounded however,
are only those on the outer piCkCts, who have
run into the range of rebel slIarpshoOtcrs.
Since early in the morning Of this beautiful
day, the serenity and quictudc of the holy Sab
bath has hccn disturbed by the distant rcycrbc-
ration Of our guns. Al times the firing has
been rapid and we have all the outward evil
dCnccs Of u determination on the part of our
forces to prevent any further advance Of the
enemy. AT every point on the river where he
may attempt to erect batteries, he will find our
gunbOats ready to meet and shell him out
So far as North Carolina Is concerned, Ihavc
| the means of positive Information as TO the sem
| tments of the people; they are mostly farmers,
| and in all the section within our lines, from
here to the AlbGnarle and PamlicO sound even
| down to the ChOwan river, you can hardly lind
a sCcesh, for all these people have been acCus-
| toned to depend upon the North for the sales
of their products, and seem fully aware of the
| fact, that however this war may terminate, they
must ever look to the North for an outlet Of
their commodities. Nothing but the presence
| of guerrlllas and buffalocs prevents them from
being constantly in fear of guerrilla rufnans,
they dare not dispose of anything In the way Of
| produce to go North, lest their Cstatcs should
| he destroyed, and their lives even put in
jeopardy.
! In this state Of things, you can hardly con-
| Cciyc the privAtiOns endured all over this see
ton, there is great destitution, not of food such
as il ls but Of all the little comforts and noccs-
sarlcs usually Al hand. Many families arc dcs.
| titute of ordinary clothing, and obliged to 20
| without shoes aud stockings. II 10 not unfTe-
mPnt TO lind tho children Of "well TO do" fam
| lies, going about bare footed. Think how
kccnly these waRta must be felt, by those who
would have ample supplies, but for the impOs-
| sibility of getting them without smuggling
them over the lines and 50 incurring the liablli-
ty to fall victims 10 gurrillas for pntrOni2ing
| the Yankees.
Tho news of the capture Of the rebel battery
on the Nansemond has had the effect to cXtin-