The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-12-31

SNr "S's AZ
-, Washington Constitution Of yesterday
ncas thai the resignation of Hon. John
Nr,,ra Secretary Of War, was rendered on
,isy. and accepted by the President
-. S.Sr OF The evening before, foreshadowing
~, result says
'Sp p,. N stt Of the day, Immediately around
+bA, Secretaries Floyd, Thompson, and
" - aI Of whom believe in the alleged
Ib'-'T,,fiousl right of secession it will be re-
aep-rsred have formally notified the Presl-
"' 'r4 Thsl they will resign their respective
of...,-I,s uu iess he accede 10 the demand of
pSsulh Carolina Commissioner that orders
ri hs issued TO Major Anderson directing
,'n, - ~ back 30 Fort Moultrie from Fort
,,sr - with all his force--of course thu.
'Sn1dnripg The latter TO the sse. rsionists.-
~s,s rurnor is probably true 4 y we may
,lpspproprlately add, that il sych orders
~ ,ssued 10 MAJOR Anderson. Secretaries
T5ssy. Holt Black and stanton will probably
sgo Bat have not the least idea that
.hs President Will accommodate the secession
'-nm,ssicners IN this connection-none what
ever.
From The Charleston Courier. of Fridayl
FoRr NoULTRIg.
,h-cushout the city yesterday the greatest
s..kmeat prevailed IN relation 10 the news
-, Forts MouItrIe and Sumter. As early
Lsshl o'clock in the forenoon the rumors of
sr, sud the occupation of the latter by the
i-,r, .! ths United States, were circula ted -
~ ,r4s a. fTst currently reported aud believed
rs, Fort Moultrie had been laid in ruins
,T., ,ae guns were spiked, and the carriages
=. ,ssether with the barracks burned and
-. the post had been entirely Abandoned
Tss reports spread like wild fire, and soon
lei currency in every part of the city
X gGs q citizens anxICuSly inQuiLed OF each
or,:r the latest intelligence in resa1en to the
sftlr squads collected on every GAI1er Of the
.l-e.S and III front Of the public resorts, TO
cAafEss The subject.
The newspaper offices Were besieged, the
hotel halls were throDged, and even the grave
asi serious gentlemen composing the State
C.uvenllon shared i'll the general excitement
ga sill hands anger and indignation was ex-
pressed Al he supposed perfidious eondaot Of
me Federal authorities, 1T whose instance it
Vas st first thought the movement was made
.as people were greatly incehsed At the idea
u 4 w!liul breach of those ass urances OF nom
ae.iou which had been volunteered by the
Government ST Washington and upon which
g much reliance and confidence had been
vacsd ty the entire population that every i'm
pulse 10 take the necessary precautions for
:ae.rown safety had been restrained.
lasunCuvely men flew TO arms. Orders
Vsre Immediately issued TO the following
c upanIes ts hold themselves in readiness for
service Washington Light Infantry, Capt.
C. II. SimonJoU; Carolina Light Infantry,
Capt Il. q. PinCkuey; Meagher Il Guards Cant
.au OF the Regiment of Rifles, commanded hy
C1I. J. J. Pettigrew and Maj. Ellison CaperS
s!-o, 10 the Marion Artillery, Capt. j. G
hiae; Lafayette Artillery, CAPT J. J. pope
y Washington Artillery. Capt. G. IL. Walter
German Arliilery, Capt. q. Nohrden; all un.
DIR command OF Lieut.. Col W. O. DeSaussure
All the military forces thus ordered out
promptly obeyed the summons, and the
streets were soon enlIvened by the appearance
o! individual mem oers of the different organi.
zAlious il their uniforms.
About noon the excitement In the streets had
attained the highest pitch. The Convention
was known 10 be in secret conclaye and it wa.
believed that this was the subject matter o
tnelr deliberations. The streets swarmsd with
people. Additional flags were displayed from
lhs stores and houses ON the principal streets
The Custom House, and other buildings for
merly in the possession Of the United States
Government displayed the bunting of the in
fAui Republic of South Carolina. Every on'
llr ked upon the war as actually begun y ane
al seemed 10 feel that their brethren we're il
tae field, and themselves began TO grow res L
less 81 the prospect Of inactivity and suspense
Later in the day, however, the exsiiemen
Was somewhat abated when it becah known
that the movement on the part of he forces o
Tie United States st Fort moultrj4 was not a
The Instance OF the Admins ira Hon at W ASH
iLgton, but was merely a precautionary meas
aTe taken by Commander Anderson, unde
conviction that his position within the fortress
or Sallivan's Island would not be tenable !
attacked in IL by well organized and disci
pllHed troops. The contradiction of the frs
reports in relation 10 the damage done the for
by the troops that had evacuated It. also ha(
tendency 10 alIay the excitement Of the oc
casion.
FORT sCMPTER AS OCCUPIED.
In order 10 ascertain truthful stetemsnte q
the actual damage done to the Forss Of tn,
causes of the movement, and of the state O
afArs generallY r.. reportaFs -sxeFe ffspatS nee
10 The scene during the loren oon. On the way
across the harBor, the hosting OF an Americas
- f-1Ff Of
ciselY II o'clock, gave certain INDIGESTION tha
the stronghold was occupied blythe troops o
Ibe United States. On nearer approach tht
fortress was discovered to be occupied, tbs
guns appeared TO bs mounted, and sentinel
were discovered on duty, and the place to giv'
every sign OF occupancy and military disci
piine The grin. fortress frowned defiance Oh
every side-the busy notes OF preparation re
sounded through its unfor bidding recesses
and every thing seemed 10 indicate the utmos
Blacrity in the work on hand.
BORT MoULTRIE AND ITS CONDITION.
Turning towards Fort Moultrie, a dense
cloud of smoke was seen to pour from the end
facing the sea. The flagstaff was down, and
The whole place had an air of desolation and
a0Endonemsnt quite The reverse OF its busy
look one week ago, wheh scores of laborers
wsre engaged i'll adding to its strength all that
work, skill and experience could suggest.
Ia The Immediate ylclnIly or tae rear OF
landslide entrance, however, greater activity
was noticeable A. the time of our visit, d
deliver I'D their implements for trans porta-
uOu 10 Fort Sumter. Around on every side
were The evidences OF labor III the fortltication
Of the work Ia many places, portion of the
de!euces were strengthened by every applI-
anee that art could suggest or ingenuity de-
V.se; while, in Others, the uncompleJed works
gave evidences of the utmost confusion. On
ali hands the process OF removing goods, fur
Liture and munitions, was yet going on. The
heavy guns upon the ramparts or The Fort
Wcfe thrown down from their carriages and
SPIKED. Every ounce OF powder, and every
caI!Edge had been removed from the maga-
ziLes and, in facI, everything like small arms,
cI0lLIng, provisions, accoutrementE, and 9TH
snuuiIions OF war, had been removed off and
asposl'ed-not othing but heavy balls and use
4ses cannon remained,
The entire place was, TO all appearances, lit
Tered up with the odd ends and fragments Of
wars eesoiation. Confusion could not have
been more com pieto had the late occupants re-
Hfed In ths face OF beseging foe. Fragments
u gun carriages, &c, broken 10 pieces, be-
sIe"ed the ramparts. Sand bags, and barrels
Llled with earth, crowned the walls and were
AfmIy nbedded In their bomb-proof surface
a. al additional lsafeguard-and notwiths ia nd
lhg lhe heterogeneous scattering of materials
&a0lmplemenIs, the walls of the tort eyinced Il
,Asos degree Of energy in preparing for an at
@ef A ditch some fifteen feeI wide and a bou t
tae same In depth surrounds the entire wall
'a tIrec sides. On the sou b side or front, a
t!aels mas been commenced and prosec ted
Eeafiy 10 completion. with d rampant of sand
bsg1. barrels DC.
on one side Of the fort palisado Of Pal
taetto logs is extended around the ramparis
% complete defence against an escaiading
Paity- New enhras sures have been cut in the
'~,lls, 30 as TO command The faces OF the bas-
Iohs and ditch. These new defences are all
piete and are evidence Of the haste with
uHu Ihey were erected. Considering ths in
c Ialot ioree, ia point or numbers, under his
i.aamahd, Major Anderson had paid particu.
attention TO strengthening only q small
ieit Of The fort
greater portion of the labor expended was
rIp pVlt apoA iAs ei itadel or centre OF the west
Es'h. oi The position. This he had caused to
'"engihened in every way-loop- holes
1cit cut and ayArytbinv WAS so arranycd