Norfolk, Va., July 23, 1861.
The Message of President Davis, received here yesterday, excites much satisfaction.
It is an able and candid document, and as such commands an attentive perusal.
A salute was this morning fired from the battery at Fort Norfolk, in honor of the victory of our arms at Manassas.
A large fleet recently came in the Roads and occasionally ran in the neighborhood of our batteries, then ran away again, fearful of receiving a shot from our guns, from which they have already learned a lesson. The main object of this reconnoitering is, if possible, to gain the location of our batteries. On Thursday nine or ten "crafts" were counted off Craney Island or Sewell's Point, and from their position, one would readily suppose that an attack was immediately to occur; but they very soon went seaward. This movement is attributed to the fact that they are greatly apprehensive of a certain personage at the Gosport Yard, who is superintending naval operations for the Confederacy, which will have an important bearing in our affairs.
The young men, Smith and Rust, charged with shooting and stabbing Reynolds and Knight, were acquitted yesterday before the Corporation Court. An interesting spectacle was witnessed after the verdict was given.--The Captain of the Junior Volunteers, of which Messrs. R. and K. are members, by request, delivered some feeling remarks, regretting the casualty which unfortunately had befallen his company; but hoped that harmony would again unite them with their brother soldiers in breasting one common enemy — the invaders of our soil. This drew out some happy remarks from the Colonel of one of the Alabama Regiments, of which Messrs. Smith and Rust are members, who, like the Captain of the "Volunteers," deeply lamented the occurrence which had taken place between the members of the two companies, and assured him that Alabama was the daughter of Virginia, and that hand in hand they would fight for the glorious cause in which they were engaged with unity of heart and willingness of hands. A young, but talented lawyer of the regiment being called upon, happily responded, and the utmost good feeling prevailed.
Thus ended the unfortunate difficulty between several of the soldiers of Alabama and one or two of our volunteers. Let this be a lesson for others to refrain from that worst of all evils, which was the cause of this trouble — ardent spirits. The result of the trial was gratifying to all concerned. Messrs. Knight and Reynolds, I am glad to say, are both out of danger.
The Rev. Wm. A. Smith preached on Sunday to the volunteers at Craney Island. His remarks were feelingly delivered, and there was scarcely a dry eye among his hearers. It is, indeed, gratifying to see this religious feeling pervading our troops. Dr. Smith was formerly of our city, and is devoting his attention to the troops in this quarter.
Segar, the former proprietor of the hotel at Old Point, who has taken sides with the Black Republican despot at Washington, we understand, sent word to his daughter, in this city, to join him at Fortress Monroe; but, with the spirit of a Spartan mother, she refused to obey the injunctions of her father, and is still in our city, an advocate of our cause. Mr. Segar has one son, who is now in the ranks of the Southern Army.
