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Valley Spirit: June 1, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Important from Fort Monroe
(Column 01)

Summary: A force of 2,500 federal troops made an entrenched camp near the mouth of the James River near Fortress Monroe. About 100 slaves arrived in the camp, were given rations and put to work. Col. Butler met with the President to ask what he should do with the fugitive slaves. He was told that the government endorses his policy of protecting them and putting them to work.

Important News from Western Virginia
(Column 02)

Summary: The rebel troops have evacuated parts of Western Virginia and Union troops have moved in. Gen. McClellan issued a proclamation stating that his troops came as friends, that the property of the local residents would be protected, and that "no interference would be made with their slaves; but on the contrary, any attempt at insurrection would be crushed with iron hand."

From Washington
(Column 02)

Summary: "Secession forces have thrown up earthworks of perhaps two hundred feet square at Manassas Gap Junction, and commanding the track for perhaps a mile. They are under the command of Gen. Bonham of South Carolina."

Miscellaneous News from the Capital
(Column 03)

Summary: The Union navy has changed its signals, since the Southerners know the old signals. Gen. Walbridge urged the government to sign up four or five hundred thousand men into the army. "This demonstration, it is thought, will make the war a bloodless one, and establish the military character of the nation abroad, as well as overcome treason at home."

Affairs at Alexandria and its Vicinity
(Column 03)

Summary: The Secretary of War made application for large quantities of the rolling stock of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad for use on the Orange and Alexandria road. The Union army will probably first attempt to seize Manassas Gap Junction, which is a highly important position on the Richmond Road. "The citizens [of Northern Virginia] appear to submit to the new occupation with a sort of sullen can't help myself feeling; they stand around in small squads, but appear desirous of avoiding the military."

Sad Condition of the Troops at Lancaster
(Column 03)

Summary: The poor conditions in Camp Johnson, where the 14th and 15th Pennsylvania Regiments are quartered, have utterly demoralized the troops. The commissariat serves the volunteers rancid meat and an insufficient amount of bread.

Maryland Union State Convention
(Column 04)

Summary: The Union State Convention met in Baltimore and adopted a series of resolutions in favor of Union.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: "The people of Missouri have been assured that the President will not require that State to take sides in the present conflict. No aggressions will be made on the rights or property of her people."

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: "An enormous rifled cannon is just being finished at Pittsburgh for Fortress Monroe."

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: The Tennessee papers report that the hay and corn crops are not likely to be good this year.

[No Title]
(Column 04)

Summary: See the above transcript.

The Attack on Fort Sumter
(Column 05)

Summary: Major Anderson's account of the bombardment on Fort Sumter.

Origin of Article: South Bend (Indiana) Register

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: A Democratic State Convention is to be held at Syracuse on July 4th. "Its probable purpose is the harmonizing of the party."

Origin of Article: Syracuse, NY Standard

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: "Schuyler Colifax has arrived in Washington from Indiana, for the purpose of urging the government to accept the services of six regiment of volunteers from that state."

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: "Henry S. Foote, Jr., son of the ex-Senator, has been appointed second Lieutenant in the Confederate State Army. He is a resident of Nashville, Tennessee."

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: The Board of Aldermen of Louisville have invited Major Anderston to visit their city.

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: Miles Greenwood of Cincinnati has a government contract to make eight hundred rifles and muskets per day.

Cavalry
(Column 01)

Summary: A company of cavalry from Carlisle Barracks will arrive in Chambersburg by the Philadelphia turnpike on Saturday.

Accident
(Column 01)

Summary: Mr. John Fisher, Hotel Keeper, shot himself in the abdomen while handling a Sharp's Pistol. The wound is very serious.

Death Among the Soldiers
(Column 01)

Summary: Three soldiers died in Chambersburg of camp fever.

Full Text of Article:

A soldier belonging to a West Chester company died, at this place, of Camp Fever, on Wednesday night last. His remains were sent home to his friends. On Thursday night two deaths from the same disease occured in the Hospital. There are no new cases of this desease now among the soldiers at this post. Two of the cases were among the troops that have just arrived and the disease evidently existed in their system at the time of their coming here.

Campbell's Artillery
(Column 01)

Summary: About 45 men left Campbell's Artillery because they would not enlist for three years. The remaining men were ordered to Uniontown, Pennsylvania, with the cannon to recruit more men. They were not provided with horses.

Shame!
(Column 01)

Summary: "The 4th and 5th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers are familiarly known in Washington as the ragged Militia. Is this right? or is it a burning shame on those who should have taken pride in putting them into the field in a condition at least equal to those from New England and New York. Are the homes of men who will act so worth defending?"

The Troops and their Destination
(Column 01)

Summary: Ten regiments are now encamped at Chambersburg. It is believed that, soon, a total of fifteen will be here and then will march on Harper's Ferry. "They will make short work at that point; but we still hope that the rebels will see how wrong they are acting, lay down their arms and swear fidelity to the Constitution and the Union, and not provoke the slaughter that must surely follow if they attempt resistance."

The Virginia Election
(Column 01)

Summary: The western counties of Virginia voted heavily against secession while the eastern were almost unanimous in favor.

[No Title]
(Column 01)

Summary: "Augustus Jenkens has been mobbed at Portsmouth, New Hampshire, for saying we ought to let the South go in peace. Zene Farrington and Cornelius Miller were mobbed and much injured, in Wales, Mass., for declining to hoist a flag on compulsion."

"A Strong Smell of Thieves"
(Column 02)

Summary: The Republican papers don't appear to be surprised that Mr. Purviance resigned as Attorney General. They knew he was an honest man, and no honest man "can long stand the strong smell of thieves that fairly poisons the atmosphere around Gov. Curtin." The Spirit believes that the Republicans made a mistake when they nominated Curtin, who is hopelessly corrupt.

The Position of England
(Column 02)

Summary: The Spirit believes that the British government's position vis-a-vis the Confederate States is correct. Its recognition of the Confederate States as a belligerent merely means that it will take no part in the struggle.

[No Title]
(Column 02)

Summary: "On Sunday about two hundred Virginia troops reached Little Georgetown, seven miles above Williamsport, and have encamped there, using the church as a barracks."

Arrival of Troops
(Column 03)

Summary: About eight thousand men are now encamped in Chambersburg--2nd, 3d, 6th, 7th, 8th, 10th, 21st, 23d, 24th Regiments and the Scott Legion of Pennsylvania.

Choice Language
(Column 03)

Summary: The Spirit has found a "choice morsel" from a paper published in Boston and New York by a group of black and white men. The quote states that "If freedom can only prevail through the agency of vengeance, so be it; if the Temple of Liberty can stand securely on the corpses of slaveholders, so be it . . ." The Spirit believes that the black publishers are taking advantage of the present turmoil of the country, and that the liberty to express such statements will be curtailed.

Kentucky
(Column 03)

Summary: A correspondent for the Louisville Tribune states that Union feeling is strong in Kentucky.

Metropolitan Railroad
(Column 03)

Summary: A letter from C. F. Fletcher states that the war has shown the necessity of a railroad from Washington to Frederick and Hagerstown, Maryland. He hopes that, with the aid of the government, this "important opening through Maryland into Pennsylvania and the far Northwest" may be completed.

Origin of Article: The National Intelligencer

[No Title]
(Column 03)

Summary: "Nearly every exchange paper we lay hands to now-days is filled with letters from soldiers in the different Camps throughout the State as well as outside of it; and nearly every one we read complains of either the clothing or the food. The general complaint is of the clothing, they appear to have been wofully [sic] cheated, and somebody has made money."

Captain Campbell's Flying Artillery
(Column 04)

Summary: About one half of Captain Campbell's Artillery did not sign up for a three-year enlistment.

Origin of Article: Harrisburg Patriot and Union

A Card
(Column 04)

Summary: The men of the Curtin Guards, Company B, 10th Regiment want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Ross and many other residents of Chambersburg for providing them with cakes, pies, and bread.
(Names in announcement: J. Riddle, Sidney Moffly, Wm. Bell, Thos. Quay, J. Myers, Geo. Campbell, Jas. Myers, H. Benner)

Topographical Notes
(Column 04)

Summary: Brief geographical descriptions of certain key locations, including Pensacola, Montgomery, and Richmond.

A Good Suggestion
(Column 04)

Summary: Recommends that, when corresponding with a soldier, the writer include a stamp in order to ensure a reply. The difficulty of obtaining stamps may prevent soldiers from writing letters.

"The Ragged Army of Penn'a!"
(Column 05)

Summary: Complains that corruption is the order of the day in Harrisburg. Pennsylvania residents have paid liberally to outfit their volunteers, but the men are poorly clothed and fed.

Origin of Article: Philadelphia Inquirer

The Situation of Affairs
(Column 05)

Summary: Description of the current position and status of the armies.

From Fortress Monroe
(Column 06)

Summary: Everything is quiet at Old Point Comfort. Captain Engel of the Navy believes that the rebel battery at Sewall's Point is impregnable.

From Washington
(Column 06)

Summary: A gentleman who just arrived in Washington from Centreville, Virginia reports that there are 4,000 troops in the area. He also stated that prominent Union men in Virginia continue to be seized and held hostage.

Collision and Loss of Life
(Column 06)

Summary: Two trains, one of which was filled with Confederate troops, collided on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad.

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: "Hon. Wm. A. Graham, of North Carolina, who ran for Vice President in 1852 on the Whig ticket with Gen. Scott, is delivering stump speeches in the tar, pitch and turpentine State in favor of secession."

[No Title]
(Column 06)

Summary: "The body of Col. Ellsworth was buried at Mechanicsburg, New York, on Monday."