The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-12
FRIDAY, APRIL ID, 1861
WAR PROSPECTS.

fFROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.
The State of Feeling in Washngton--The
Naval and Military Expedition TO the
GuIf--EnrOliment of the Volunteers Of the
District of COlumbia--The Plan of Opera
tiOns Against Fort Sumter--What is said
about 1T.
WAsH1NGToN, April ll.-An intense feeling OF
excitement prevails among all classes of persons in
this city. The first surprise which the Admins
tration sprung upon citizens, was with regard
to the naval and military expedition which has
sailed it'll sealed orders, but which, as you al
ready aware, is intended to operate against the
South. The second surprise was the calling out Of
volunteers for the defence of the District These
two events, occurring almost simultaneously, have
created here a profound sensation. The call for
volunteers was responded to by seven companies
numbering each sixty-four or four hundred
and forty-eight men in all. The aggregate nun
Der of men belonging to the various mill
tary organizations within the limits of the
District, may be set down roughly at two
thousand, so that only about one-fourth o
them have been enrolled Quite number of
those who were called into the service of the
United States refused to take the oath which, from
well-founded doubt of their loyalty to the Admin
istration was a condition precedent to enrolment.
OF those who consented to do so, large majority
acit or open understanding between them and their
officers that if Maryland and Virginia seeded they
were not to be required to fight against either the
or the other of those States. Southern men
themselves, by birth, it is very doubtful whether
they could be brought to bear arms against the
South any consideration.
The city wears. now quite a military aspect.
Flags flying at all the armories. Soldiers, Ell
ther unteers or regulars, encountered either
singly or in squads at every turn. At head-quar-
ters men are regularly on duty, and may be seen
pacing up and down the pavements with drawn
swords. The artillery, of which there several
batteries, is protected by similar guard. Taken |
altogether, the city may be fairly said to be turned
into a military camp, but whether the government |
can place implicit reliance upon its protectors, is
to some Of the most knowing and observant cit-
zens of Washington, a matter of considerable
doubt.
1t is undoubtedly true that the primary object OF |
the expedition to the Gulf is the relief of Fort Sum
ter The Administration has, however, one other
purpose in view, if the first movement results sue
ssfullyand that is, to land the larger portion of
the troops that board the feet, at some point
in Texas which has already been decided upou.-
The first thing, however, to be undertaken will be !
the provisioning, and, in all probability, the rein
forcement of Fort Sumter. The policy of the Ad- |
ministr alton has undergone an entire change in |
this respect within the past two weeks. The evac-
uation of Fort Sumter was at time actually de-
cided upon, and Major Anderson instructed to |
hold his command in readiness to embark on board |
the steamer for New York. 1t is now stated that |
vigorous remonstrances were made to the Admin |
istration by certain prominent men in the South |
ganst the measure, being wholly destructive to
the Union sentiment which still showed some signs |
of vitality in that region.
These representations might not have produced |
much effect had it not been for the fact that the
Northern ultraists were demanding of the Admin |
istration the inauguration of vigOrouspolicy The
combined pressure produced that modification in |
the programme which the Republicans assert is to
prove to the world that we have "a strong govern
ment." Before the expedition was determined upon
officer recently arrived from Charleston was con-
suited upon its practcability, and the plan of at
tack which was then devised was pronounced to be
one which could scarcely fail of success. At that
time Major Anderson had provisions sufficient to
last him for twenty days-this was about ten days |
ago-and orders Immediately were sent to New |
York to fit out with all haste the expedition which |
has since sailed from that port.
The plan of relief and reinforcement in It's gene |
raj outline, is this The store-ship with provisions
will first be sent in, to test the temper of the South
Carolinians. If it is fired upon, it will immedi- |
ately return and advance again, under protection |
OF the war ships in the oing. From some of these |
ships, and under of their fire, troops and ar
tillery will be landed on Morris Island, to attack
the batteries In rear whilst the other vessels as
sault them in front. Fort Sumter will also open |
its fire at the time, and whilst the besiegers
are defending themselves against the weight ofthis
triple assault, provisions and reinforcements will |
be thrown into the tort. Such is said bv one who |
is in the confidence of the Administration, to be |
the plan of operations which orders have been |
given to carry out, subject however, to such modi
fcations the exigeneies of the occasion may
render necessary. Will be successful? The friends
of the Administration assert that all the details have
been thoroughly considered, and all the arrange
ment are so skituuy made that failure is out of the
question. There are others, however, who assert
quite as confidently that the relieving squadron
will be repulsed, and such, outside of the Govern
ment circles, is the general impression. The |
strongest Union msn here declare that by under
taking to provision and reinforce Fort Sumter, the
Governmnnt instead of dsvAlapine and strengthen
Jog tle Csioa feeline OF Jne SOUTH,
out utterly; that if the battle which now appears /
inevitable should take place it will be bloody
and desperate than any that has ever occurred in |
be to consolidate the whole of the border slave |
States in opposition to Administration which at |
the bidding of a sectional party has recklessy pre-
cipitated upon the country all the horrors attend
ant upon civil war. MARYLAND.