The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-20
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS.

The papers OF this CITY 1alied to receive
their usual dispatches from Washington on
Thursday night. the Federal Goyernmen
having doubtless taken charge of the tele-
graph. We therefore copy the following from
the Star, of Thursday evening
As we go to press We have to say that 1T is
said and nfident tIy belle we'd by MANY n round
u., that on the day before yesterday the yir-
gnia Convention passed y Secession Ordi-
NANCE and Yesterday caused three vessels to
he sunk at the mouth OF the Elizabeth river
the entrance to the Gosport (Norfolk) navy
yard Fur that the Superin tendent of the
Harper's Ferry armory has, by order of the
Convention, ha u led down the stars and stripes
and hosted instead the Virginia State flag,
and also caused the rails of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad to be torn up on both sides lead
ing out of Harper's Ferry and, further still
that the Virginia Convention have directed
military efforts to take possession of this Capt.
tal to be made as soon rs possible; to which
end three special trains are said to ha ge left
Alexandria for Richmond last night
This alleged news reaches us too late to en :
able us to verify 1t. We publish it for what
it may be worth, that all In our city may be
duly on their guard.
We have to add that the Government s
military movements of to-day seem to have
been made on the assumption that this news
is possibly true. They are therefore fully
prepared for the present defence of the Fede-
raj Metropolis against any attacking force
that may venture to assail il,
1t is thought that if an attempt to attack il
be made, the ASSISTANTS Will try TO cross the
Potomac some twenty or thirty miles below
Alexandria, where they hope to be Joined by
similar spirits from Mary land
r. S.-We have special dispatch assuring
us that there is no truth in the Harper's Fer
ry account noticed above. 1t reached us but
4 few moments ago. We have further dis
patches equally as late, assuring us of the
trath of the Norfolk Navy Yard por tion of it.
A revenue cutter has been seized and three
~ nfllx htyfl flNxr a&zl,.o
1t is now high time that the position of
every man in the District of Columbia be
positively and distinctly ascertaiued, and tha t
every man capable of bearing arms and will
ing TO defend his home against a threa tened
invasion, should promptly enroll himself
While we have no fear whatever that 4
force can possibly be brought against this city
that can stand before its present armed and
organized deien ders. We should be faithless to
our duty if failing thus to advise our feilow W.
citizens Immediately TO make assurance dou
bly, sure by coming forward as one man. each
to do his part in Washing toms defence, if
need be.
We may add with positive certainty that il
Is utterly impossible that an assailing force
sufficiently strong to prove threa tening, can
make its appearance in this vicinity ere there
be AT least twenty thousand patriotic men in
arms standing in our mds I ready to defend it.
Our own belief certainly is that the six To-
conlotives that left Alexandria for Gordons-
Vile, if not further South, last night, Were
intended to carry secession troops back over
the Orange and Alexandria Railroad to the
Manassas Road, and up that TO it's present
Northern terminus, from whence to be march =
ed over 10 Winchester and there TO take the
Winchester Railroad direct for Harper's Fer
ry-to seize the Armory, some time to-day
WAsHINaToN, April 1S.-aIessrs. Carlisle and
Dent, delegates to the Virginia Convention.
arrived here this morning. They are of the
strongest Union sentiments. Their presence
here at this time occasions surprise. They
say there is no further use for them in the
Convention; and Mr.. Carlisle rena rked that
"he left Richmond a sad man.
1t is the III tention of the War Department
to muster companies enough in this District
to yield force approaching 1900 men. The
soldiers of the war of 1872 are about adopJ-
ing military organiZa ton, and offering their
services for the defence of the seat of Govern
ment s- --.
Lieut.. Gwathney, of Virginia, was yester-
day stricken from the roll of the navy
Liauts w. l.. Bradford and FitZrerald have
resigned.
The Massachusetts, and Il h ode Island troops,
and the Seventh Regiment of New York, are
expected hereimmediately.
A special Government messenger has lust
arrived from Pensacola.
There seems to be no doubt that U. s. troops
have been landed from the u. s. slooD- Of war
Brooklyn, at Fort Pickens.
The War Department officially announces
the establishment Of 4 new military depar t.
ment called the department of Washing
ton" 1t consists of the State Of MARYLAND
and the District of Columbia, according to the
latter's original boundary, and therefore in
cludes the Potomac river and Virginia shore.
Col. G.. T. Smith is assigned 10 the command
with his headquarters at Washing ton.
Capt. Talbot, Assistant Adjutant General
is relieved from the orders assigning him duty
in Oregon and has reported at these head
quarters according to. orders.
Major Beall, Paymaster in the Army, re.
signed o-day
The clerks of the State Department have
been formed into guard for the protection ol
the building. Those of the Treasury Depart
ment have received orders Immediately to re.
pair to the department on the first invasion
or alarm.
TIE clerks OF the other Department Is are d i.
rected to be similarly watchful. Additional
military forces have been placed in ;tll the
public buildings.
The rumOr OF an IN tended invasion Of Wash.
ington mas excited much alarm tonight
Whatever may be the ground for such report is
1t is certain the Government Is expeditousi,
making preparations for all emergencies.
The krnsas men now here, about sixty il
num5er, have formed a company called tht
Frontier Guard. They have been given IN,
post OF homer in the East Room Of the Presi
dents House, under the command OF Major
Hunter.
So many houses have been offered by tn,
citizens free of charge for the quartcring O
troops, that it is unnecessary to rent any NOR,
for that purpose.
Robert Murray has been offered the appoint
ment of Marshal lor the Southern Distric o
New York.