The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-03-13


ite idea of relieving the invested fort and bate
down the arch rebels of Charleston. But they ar
as yet unprepared 70 face the melancholy probab
ity of an abandonment, at early date, ofthe las
stronghold of the federal power in the State tina
pioneered In the cause OF secession. They contes
that the administration could not possibly b
placed in worse dilemma.
Another correspondent of the Herald affects t.
credit the honesty of the administration He says
We now proceed to give the reasons for inducin!
the belief that the evacuation story is base fabri
cation, got up, as above stated, for the purpose
putting South Carolina off her guard and aiding
Wal! street stock iobbers. Instead of Withdrawing
the troops from the fort it is proposed to send ad
dltlonal men and stores there. The great subject
OF prolonged conference has been how to accom-.
psh the same. The first step in this direction is
now believed to have been the sending of the
steamship Daniel Webster to Texas. AS far back
as then the perfidy of Gen. Twiggs was known,
and 1t was the intention to secure some of the men
under nis command for further service to the Uni
ted States Government.
According to the announced programme this
steamer should have returned to this port some
time ago, whereas she is now leisurely cruising in
southern waters, awaiting additional orders to
those impaired during her call at Kew West So
much for the Daniel Webster and her present
| whereabouts.
On Saturday, as already remarked, the Empire
CITY lett her pier at the foot of Warren street.
She went away well loaded with provisions and
coal, and under government orders. Five days
ago she cleared for Indianola, Texas, but left later
ana under cover OF storm put to apparently;
| IN reality, however, she has gone outside only
little way, and now lies at anchor doubtless await
ing to be joined by the Star of the West The
latter steamship has been chartered by the Gov
ernment Tor two months, and is now being loaded
as rapidly as possible with army stores. All day
Sunday they were receiving cargo on board, and
also during Sunday night, as well as last night
Among the articles shipped is large number of
ambulances, temporary hospital arrangements for
| the benefit of those wounded in battle
| The United States revenue cutter Harriet Lane
| and the gunboat Vixen both ready for sea and
active service. The Crusader and Mohawk are
being rapidly put in readiness at the BROOKLYN
Navy Yard to proceed at once to sea.
In three or four days it is supposed that the ves-
sells named will ali start down the bay together.
Meantime, orders are alleged to have been given
TO all national vessels in Southern ports to be on
hand at certain date off the narbor of Charleston
These ships are to rendezvous, comprising alto
gether probably fleet of some dozen vessels. 1t
| Is also understood that each of the convoy is to
have on board large number of small boats. By
means of these small boats it is said that Fort Sum
ter will be reinforced The attempt at reinforce
ment is to be made on dark and stormy night,
| when the chances of discovery are few, and the
danger OF the experiment propGrtionately lessened.
smart pull OF two hours will bring the forces
| to the United States fortress. In the interim,
should they be intercepted by the guard boats of
Moultrie, they can, by superior strength, easily
overpower them. On stormy night the bate.
| DrOuult into nInV
| any great advantage.
The question of reinforcing Major Anderson is
thus solved, and the facts stated, clearly indicate
that this plan is being steadily worked out. Its
shrewdness no one can gansay, and the feasibility
OF placing any number of men and any quantity
OF provisions and arms at the disposal of the com
mander of the besieged fort is easily apparent
Especial Despatch to the ". ?. Tines
Inc report OF the intended withdrawal of the
| troops has scattered CONSERVATION among the
secesSionists. Wigfall, who is undoubtedly honest,
however fanatical, expresses the greatest concern
on the subject, and says if it is done he and his
| friends are all ruined.
Mason, Hunter, and other secession leaders, are
in perfect agony of apprehension that the report
is true. lfit is done, they say there is no shadow
of chance to push secession any further, and every
Southern man who favored it will be tomahawked.
Andrew johnson freely advises withdrawal, in
the present condition of affairs. He says that as
an original question he would have reinforced,
without hesitation; but now the policy is, not to
precpitate conflict between the sections, but to
leave it to South ern men themselves to deal with
the disunionlsts and to dispose of them.
While no decision has been come to on the sub
ject, am satisfied that the administration will not
reinforce at the terrible sacrifice of life which
Gen. Scott says it would require.
OF course, there are divisions of opinion on this
policy. Wade says it's surrender; but many who
at first doubted its propriety, accept its wisdom
upon reflection.
Especial Dispatches to the Ne,O York Tri6,u,e.I
among the Republicans in the city on account of
the orders for the retirement of the troops from
Fort Sumter. Every man is ferocious at the bare
idea Of such thing. The act is deprecated and
denounced in every form of anathema; yet it is an
act in which the cabinet are compelled to be COM
paratively passive. They merely follow the iudg-
ment of Gen. Scott, who advises the evacuation,
and, of course, takes the whole responsibility Of
the act. But the reason of its surrender must not
be misunderstood. 1t is done wholly because it
cannot be reinforced before the supplies of the
garrison are exhausted.
The rumors about Fort Pickens being given up
IGrCeu, anu- it # III This fnrtress can be rein
An extra session of Congress is likely to be soon
called to supply the omission of the last, and
BILE the administration to assert the authority of
the government. The policy will probably be to
repeal the laws making ports of the seeding
States ports of foreign entry and station nation
al vessels thereat to prevent foreign importatons
WASHINGTON, March 11.--There is no longer
any doubt that Major Andersons com
ter. Gen. Scott decides it to be military
necessity, and his judgment determines the que8-
i0n, as it has done some others nearly delicate
Conferences have been held for several DAYS past,
with Mr.. Bache of the Coast Survey, in regard to
the access to Charleston harbor; with Mr.. Totten,
of the Engineers, and with other distinguished
officers of the different corps.
After full consultation it agreed that the
attempt to reinforce Fort Sumter could only be
made in two ways and then with doubtful success.
First, by large naval force breaking into the har
Dor, through the Instructions in the channel, if
possible; and, second, by landing an army of over
10000 men, and attacking the batteries in therear
which command the entrance to the harbor The
President has army at his disposal for this pur-
pose. Eight companies are now stationed in this
city, and seven at Fortress Monroe, none of which
can be spared. The troops recently dispersed in
Texas will not be available for several months if
at all, and but $50 reported on the way back
The force in Utah cannot be reached Immediately.
Congress gave 30 power to call out volunteers in
| Of, tha .Iz-4
confined to the actual and limited regular force
His hands are tied, and his resources crippled by
the reasonable conspiracy of his predecessor and
his Cabinet. This predcament was deliberately
contrived to embarrass the new Administration.
WASHINGTON RUMORS.
From the Correspondents Of the Northern Journals
THE EVACUATION OF FORT SUMTER.
1t is now developed that Gen. Scott has had the
matter under advsement for upwards of a month";
that he has been in frequent communication with
NJ aor Anderson, and that plan has been matured,
which only awaits a signal from the administra-
tion to be put into what the old General believes
would prove successful operation.
These facts having been spread abroad, apower-
| full pressure has been brought to bear upon the
government from variety of sources, represent.
ing the great interests of the country not the least
among which is prayer from Wall street, with a
view if possible to not only stay coercive proceed
ings but to induce the abandonment of the forts
Up to this afternoon, however, the effort was not
successful, and decision will not be had for several
days.
| In the meantime the possibility of such step
has been thrown out with view to prepare the
public mind for step so unlocked for, and so ut
tery at variance with the hitherto asserted inten-
| tons of the administration; and at the same time
to strengthen the knees of those who believe that
the removal of the troops will tend to disappoint
and disorganize the party. The radicals
wage about the supposed caying in of the Cabinet
| 1t is said that when the idea was first proposed
to Mr.. Lincoln he laughed at it as unworthy to be
! entertained What he may be persuaded to do to
preserve the country from civil war remains to be
| seen.
| The British Consul at Charleston recently mott.
| fed his Government that the obstructions in the
main ship channel, which had been filled up to
prevent the ingress of ships of war, were all re-
moved, and vessels drawing l6 feet could easily en-
ter. This important fact may or may not have
been taken into account. in determining the feast
bility of sending reinforcementS.
| The forts at Key West and Tortugas cannot be
given up, because they may be easily reinforced,
and are of national Importance in military and
mercial aspects. Fort Sumter involved point of
honor only.
| IMPORTANT NAVAL AND MILITARY MOVEMENTS
Dispatches were received this morning at the
Navy Department, from Flag Officer Pendegrast,
with dates from Vera Cruz to the 25th ult. In
compliance with orders from the Secretary of the
Navy, he had left, with the flagship Cumberland,
for Hampton Roads, where he will probably arrive
| to morrow or next day. All the vessels belonging
| to the Home Squadron, excepting the Macedonian,
are also ordered to report at Hampton Roads.
| The Government are concentrating all their
| sells at the various posts the Atlantic. This
looks as though the Administration intended to
carry out the language of the inaugural in the en-
forcement of the laws and collecting of revenue.
| Orders have also been issued for concentrating
all the available United States troops at FOrtresses
Monroe and McHenry, and large quantities of sup
plies have been shipped and are their way t.
| the South, and most ample preparations going
| forward to put the government on a war footing.