The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-04-08
o"t ne -'eo York Express Of Saturday Euening i
HIGHLY IMPORTANT ARMY NEWS
Resignation of Majors Holmes aud John.
SON. Reported Disaffe ctiOn Among the
Troops Hurried Preparations for EN-
barking Lar e Force.

Army circles are in a state of intense excitement
to-day Saturday. In the midst of the hurry of
emoarking large force for a destination as yet
unknown but generally understood to be Fort Pick
ems, Major Holmes, Commander-in-Chief of all the
United States forces at this station and General
superintendent of the recruiting business, tender
eo MS resignation TINS morning, and withdrew from
his headquarters on Governors Island. 1t is also
reliably reported that Major Johnson who is ON
duty at this post, has resigned his commission
rather than continue the warke preparations now
in progress
Major Holmes is native of North Carolina. and
has been in the service for thirty-one years He
has distinguished himself on various occasions and
has always enjoyed the confidence of the War De-
partment. His resignation was totally unexpect-
ed, and occurring at such a crisis the present
when as executive head Of this important station
his services very necessary to the successful ex
ecution OF the orders Of the War Department. its
effect was to throw the garrison into the utmost
confusion. Major johnson, also tried officer is
a kentuckan.
The resignation of these two Majors has been the
theme OF general conversation in army and navy
circles to-day, and intmations are thrown out that
there may be more of the same kind before the ex-
pedltlon at present fitting out shall finally set sail
Neither officers nor at the various forts pre-
tend that these designations have any cause but a
dsincllnatlon to draw the sword against the South
| ern forces.
! The soldiers who are to form the expedition now
preparing. do not half like the duty they are going
| on. Though they have not been informed as to
| their destination, hardly man of them doubts
! that they are bound to Fort Pickens. They are a
! very intelligent set of men, and appear to be-
thoroughly posted up to the state of the country
| Their conversation among themselves, and with
their friends does betray any superative desire
| to light Gen. Bragg's army. They show no hesita-
tion in obeying the orders of their superiors,
though there is no doubt that large number of
them disaffected.
This morning all is hustle at the forts on Govern
| or's Island and down the bay. Troops are busy
packing up at Forts Columbus and Hamilton, and
arms and accoutrements are being prepared with
| the utmost dispatch. The troops from Fort Ham
| ilton will probably be taken on board of the ves-
sells of the expedition as they pass through the
narrows. From Governors Island the men will be
conveyed in launches. large number of trans
port boats from the Navy-yard are alongside of the
Governors Island wharf, to be used in this duty.
The loading of the steamer Atlantic is almost
| completed. The work of putting stores on board
OF this vessel continued all Friday night gangs of
men relieving each other in regular watches. Dur
ing the night large quantities of army stores were
| shipped from pier l, E. Il. Carts were passing to
| the pier until early hour this morning, with
loads of pork, beef bread, -four, beans, SOAP vine
gar, hams, shoulders, preserved meats and all the
various articles that constitute we II stocked COM
missary department. Over one hundred barrels of
cement were also shipped by Delateld & Baxter.
which lay at pier Al, E. r. At noon to-day the
ship had steam on, and will probably sail in few
| hours She is very deep, and must the bar,
| II she sails to-day, before p NJ.
A detachment of the lst Artillery eros sed the
| Hamilton Avenue Ferry, on their way from Fort
Hamilton, this morning. There were four guns
and about forty men. They form part of the At
| lantic's transports
The transport steamship Illinois lies at pier g. E.
| X. She was to have sailed for Hsvre to-day-but
has transferred 40 first class passengers, and So
third class, together with Sl05 600 in SPECIE the
City of Baltimore which sailed at noon for Liver
pool, via Queenstown. The Illinois has 500 bbs
OF Hour remaining on board, which were shipped
on owners account-and remain subject to govern
ment OF ders. She will take in ordnance, stores,
&c.
SCENES AT THE NAVY YARD, BROOKLYN
The Navy Y ard, at Brooklyn, has not presented
so animated an appearance since the Mexican war
as it does to-day Saturday.
The hustle and excitement appear to increase
hourly. This Saturday morning officers were
hurrying hither and thither orders were hastily
given, and the men were working as if paid by the
piece and not by the day. The frgate Powhatan,
it was thought, would sail on Friday afternoon,
but she had not yet taken her departure this morn
ing, though prepared to leave at a moments no.
tlce, having all her stores and crew on board An
departure.
telegraphic despatch received from Washing
| ton at late hour last night created considerable
excitement and much inquiry.
Its purport could not be ascer tanned. 1t is
thought to be something in regard to the brig
Perry, which was hauled out from the dock, and
preparations for reftting her up at once were
menced.
About forty men were placed on board, and set
to work to prepare her for Many rumors are
rife but at present is hard to get at the Truth
everything is kept quiet possible.
SAILING OF THE STEAMER ATLANTIC WITH U. S. TROOPS
SCENES PIERS.
The pier foot of Canal street, where the steamer
Atlantic was moored, was this Saturday morning
the scene of extensive preparations, previous to
her departure the secret military expedition for
which she had been chartered by the Federal Gov
ernment.
From six O'Clock Friday evening till three
o'clock this morning gangs of men were busily
freight which lay on the dock; and at six o'clock
this morning the work was resumed with unceas-
ing activity,