The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-07-10
Harrisburg News.


Harrisburg News.
! The Harrisburg correspondent of the New
York .'Times," Of date June 9th, writes a
sad and gloomy account Of the prospects of
the Capital Of. Pennsylvania. He says that it
is now credited at Harrisburg that the Confe-
derate forces now. threatening Harrisburg
have been ascertained to number from thirty
to forty thousand men under Gen. Ewell.-
Here is his picture Of
THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.
I hardly like to say it, and still less do
like to believe it, but it is an incontestible
fact, that the spirit of the people is not what
it should be. They do not come up to the
crisis. Various reasons are assigned for this,
but it seems to me they are all superficial.
have already explained how much trouble
and confusion has arisen from the inaccurate
and diverse character Of the orders under
which the troops were enlisted. It may also
be true that the people do not share the anx-
iety and alarm of Gov. Curtin, believing him
to be impulsipe and credulous. But these are
minor matters. AT the bottom there must be
want Of heart in. the cause Excuses are
plenty to those who are willing to hunt for
them. But if man is imbued with the true
fire of patriotism, he wants no excuse; there
are men enough here who are willing to 90
into the trenches and shoot their muskets off
to save their property, but few who are will
ling to volunteer for the defence of their coun
try. met man this forenoon, and he said
to q gentleman who was walking with me,
one Of the leading citizens of the State: 1--WE
have full company Of 16ne hundred and ten
men, and we are waiting to 60 over into the
trenches, but we don't want to be mustered
in." One whole company that was enlisted
here some months ago, disbanded when they
found they must be mustered in. They were
mostly young men, and perfectly free to 90
for six months. The traders who ran off at
first have returned, and are taking advantage
Of the crowded state Of the city to charge
three prices for everything they sell. Some
have even charged the men for water where
with to fill their canteens. It is said that
sixty men have enlisted from this heighbor-
hood, where there are twenty-five thousand
people.
It is true that Pennsylvania has given as
Union, but has the patriotism all died out?"
STIRRING SIGHT.
had written thus far, when I heard the
noise of q drum and fife. and looking out Of
my window, saw band Of fifteen or twenty
old men marching up the street behind an old
and tattered SILK flag. Invent out and followed
them. They were all soldiers Of the war of
1872. The flag they bore was in tine battle Of
Trenton, in l774. They were members of the
Soldiers Association of 1872, of Harrisburg,
and went in body to tender their services to
the Governor, 1t was an inspiring sight.
As they halted in 'front.' of their rendezvous,
q number of soldiers gathered around. and
one Of them said with manly indignation !:
Pretty hard on you, old cocks (irreverent,
but forcible) ''to have come out" This
neighborhood has sent sixty men, and here
are sixteen old ones. These old patriots are
to be armed with the old fint-lock muskets,
and if they have to 60 into the trenches they
will do or die,o you may be sure. It may
be interesting to state that thirteen are Re-
publicans and three Democrats.
The "Times" has, editorially, % word to
Pennsylvania" After abiding to her popu-
lation. and the number Of soldiers she has
furnished to the army, the 'Times" says:
"Under these circumstances, and to pre-
vent the bloody horror that threatens the
commonwealth Of Pennsylvania, one would
imagine that her people would rush to arms
en- nsasse to drive the invaders from her soil
before they obtained foothold upon it."
Such is what the keystone State ought to
have done; but see what the Chimes" says it
is doing and hoe dopo sts3s
We are amazed at the apathy that seems
to prevail among the people of Pennsylvania.
Panic and apathy, apathy and panic, are the
burden OF the successive kilograms and letters
that reach US. At the first appearance of Jen-
kins, the whole State seems to have been on
Its back-we are glad It did not fall on its
belly. When he disappeared, they rubbed
their eyes and fell again into unconsern.-
when he reappeared, they were once more
struck. And now that they have had time to
gather up their wits and brace themselves for
work, we see those of them who cannot be
said to be altogether apathetic, engaged in
paltry arguments as to whether their term
OF service shall. be week or two, or a mouth
or two, more or less.
"fhe fortnight they have already lost has
Deen invaluable to the enemy. It should have
brought at least hundred thousand armed
Pennsylvanians to Harrisburg. Within four
days after New York had heard the news of
the invasion, this State had sent nineteen re-
giments to help our Southern sister-6fteen
OF which were from this city. We have not
heard na OF fifteen regiments being sent from
fhiiadeIphia. nor half Of fifteen, nor FIVE. We
doubt It all Pennsylvania has yet fifteen regi-
ments in the field.
1 What is the cause Of. this? Is it fear Of
the rebels, or confidence in Hooker's army, or