The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-08


The Powhatan is a first class wheel steamer
Of 2,415 tons bnrthen, and was built at Cos
port In 1850.
She carries IL guns and about 800 officers
and men. Her service list includes two gene
raj cruises and one special cruise. She re-
turned from China last summer, and was
about to be put in ordinary when she was or
dered suddenly to the Gulf of Mexico, and
mad nearly been stripped at brooklyn on Mon
day when the instructions to get her ready for
sea came from Washington. She is the only
steam frigate ever converted from the Lying
up" condition into the commission 9 tate In the
space OF three days. This is something that
could be done in very few yards in the world.
There were not two companies of marines put
on board the Powhatan, as stated by an even.
Ing paper She has regular guard.
sAILINa OF THE ATLANTIC.
The New York Express, OF Saturday after.
noon, says:
The scene on board the steamer Atlantic
was remarkable for its activity. The lighters
were drawn up on either side of the steamer.
| on which men were busily engaged in rernoy /.
| ing their cargoes through the ports.
One OF those lighters was loaded with COAL
and the entire deck of the other was covered
with 49, pound shells. The shells were care
fully slowed In the lower deck. and numbered
| about fifteen hundred
On either side of the forward deck were
erected seventy two horse stalls for the use
OF the animals belonging TO the mounted artiI-
| lery. The hold was full of breadstuffs and
ammunition, and the berths in the lower
sleeping deck were fitted up with bedding
sufficient to accommo oda te eight hundred men
The monster tanks of the ship, together with
| fourteen large casks, were filled with water
| sufficient to last the yoyagers at least six
weeks. On the table of the cabin were the
charts of Charleston harbor, and some pein Is
on the Florida coast, which were delivered at
the Quartermaster's office on Friday, as no.
| ticed in the Express.
The Array and Navy officers are making no
preparations for a prolonged stay of their
steamers, wherever they are to go. The coal
taken in for I" the round trip - is enough to
bring them back.
No ceal transports have been engaged, but,
on the contrary, both the War and Navy De-
partments have declined transport ships to-
day.
The inference from this is, that the steamers
are to make no long stays anywhere
Passing through Green wich street about 12i
o'clock this afternoon, our reporter met CON-
| pany "A OF the first Flying Artillery. They
were evidently bound for Canal street to go
on board the Atlantic. There were about ten
guns, which, with the ammunition wagons
ana troops. extended = long distance. The
Atlantic will probably sail before this accoun t
goes to press.
The Illinois will go to Canal street this af-
ternoon, taking the dock of the Atlantic, to
get her supplies. She has nothing now on
board except the supplies taken for her trip to
Europe.
These will be retained for use. She has been
stripped OF all extra nice furniture.
ARMY MovEMExTs-REsIGSATI OF OFFICERS
Army circles are in q state of intense excite
ment to day, Saturday. In the midst of the
hurry OF embarkng large force for destina-
ton as yet unknown, but generally understood
to be Fort Pickens, Major Holmes, Command
erin Chief of all the u S. forces at this sta
| tion and General Superin tendent of the re-
| cruiting business, rendered his resignation this
morning, and withdrew from his headq uar-
| ters on Governor s Island. 1t is also reliably
reported that Major johnson, who is on duty
at this post, has resigned his commission ra tn
er than continue the warlike preparations
now in progress.
Major Holmes is a native of North Carolina
and has been in the service thirty one years.
He has disting uished himself on various occa-
slons, and has always enjoyed the confidence
OF the war Department. His resignation was
| totally unexpected, and, occurring. at such a
crisis as the present, when, as executive head
| OF this important station, his services are
| very necessary to the successful execution of
the orders OF the War Department, its effect
was 10 throw the garrison into the utmost
confusion. Major Johnson, also a tried Off
Ger, is a kentuckian.
The resignation of these two Majors has
been the theme of general conversation in
| army and navy circles to day, and intima tions
| are thrown out that there may be more of the
same kind before the expedition at present t
fitting out shall finally set sail. Neither otfi-
| GERS nor men at the various forts pretend that
| these designations have any cause but q disin-
| cllnatlon to draw the sword against the
Southern forces.
|
now preparing. do not half like the duty they
are going ON. Though they have not been in
| formed as to their destination, hardly a man
OF them doubts that they are bound to Fort
Plckens. They are a very in intelligent set of
men, and appear to be thoroughly posted up
| as to the state Of the country Their conver-
| sation among themselves, and with their
friends fri does not betray any speculative desire
10 nSht Gen Braggs army. They show no
| hesitation In ooeying the orders of their supe-
| riors, though there is no doubt that a large
| number of them are disaflected
This morning all is hustle at the forts on
Governors Island and down the bay. Troops
are busiiy packing up at Forts Columbus and
Hamilton, and arms and accou trements are
| being prepared with the utmost Dispatch
| The troops from Fort Hamilton will probably
| be taken on board the vessels of the expedi-
| ton as they pass.through the narrows. From
Governor s. Il sland the men will be conveyed
in launches: A large number of transport
| boats from the Navy Yard are along side of
! the Governors Island wharf, to be used in
| this duty.
THINGS IN WASHINGTON.
A Washington dispatch announces that the
Pawnee sailed from there for Norfolk, Satur-
| day, and adds
The mission of the twenty five carpen ters
| at hve dollars per day, all single men, sworn
| to secrecy, each man armed with hatchet
and saw, creates much discussion. They
! are supposed to be part of the Sappers and
| Miners, whom they accompany. These facts
| ohN 'ifo hotoi WdTU movements IOWafdS
| Pensacola, are sure indications of an ap.
| preaching collision
! The Commissioners have teIegraphed to
Jefferson Davis "to prepare for war" The
| answer they received was, ''we are all ready ;
| let it GOMEZ"
Four Dahlgren boat howitzers We're sent
| from Washington to New York last night,
| which confirms the belief that the troops are
| expected to effect an armed landing
The Departments of War and Navy are
| alive with the proceedings necessarily ante
| cedent TO great undertakings by sea or by land
| Messengers are continually passing to and fro
| between the offices of the members of the
! Cabinet.
BY TELEGRAPH.
rHrH q