Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-08
TuE APPROACHING CRISIS.
EXTRAORDINARY MILITARY PREPARATIONS
TWENTY.SIX HUNDRED SOLDIERS IN NEW
YORK-THE POWHATAN LOADED WITH SHE'LL
GRAPE AND CANISTER TROOPS ORDERED
Cpou GoVEpNOES ISLAND

EXTRAORDINARY MILL an L hEI AhATlONf-
TWENTY-SIX HUNDRED SOLDIERS IN NEW
YORK-THE POWHATAN LOADED WITH SHE'LL
GRAPE AND CANISTER TROOPS ORDERED
FROM GOVERNORS ISLAND.
From the New York Commercial and Evening Post of
Friday we have the following highly interesting particu
lars of the important military movements in that city:
MILITARY MoykuENTs--PREPARATIONs Fog the DE.
pARruRE OK THE PowHArAS.-The BROOKLYN Navy Yard
has bccn the scene of great excitement throughout the
day IL was rumored in the morning that the Powhaian
was about TO sail for ONE unknown point of destination
and a large crowd of anxious and curious people have
thronged the yard aud docks In the vicinity Of that
sci since an early hour this morning.
Although seutinels placed at the various gang
ways leading to the vessel, or reporter eff ced an en-
trance to the Powhatan and gained interview with
some of the officers and subordnaes of he vessel from
whom he gained some interesting information.
The Powha:an was taken out OF commission only last
Saturday so that the private orders from the Navy De-
parment at Washington TO prepare her Immediately for
sea found everything i'll confusion Her decks are now
covered with prcmiscuous mass OF guns mounted aud
unmounted cordagc ropes, sais, provisions, powder,
shells and every other material that goes towards the
provisioning, sailing or armng of ship. Everything
will he put 10 rights after the vessel gets to sea.
Many of the huge piles OF nine and ten inch bail shrp
mel and canister shot, and the packages OF Duponts
powder seem TO be lust fresh from the yard magazine
The old crew of the Powhaian is retained numbering
about three hundred men, aud nnety fresh men have
been added Two companies Of marines will occupy the
shin, numbering about one hundred and eighty rifles.
1t is currently reported that three companies of United
troops will be takeon board from Governor Islard for
the reinforcement Of some OF the forts our Southern
coast At one o'clock this afternoon the and ma
rucs were taken on board the former from the recev
ing ship North Carolina where they have been stationed
and the latter from their barracks Flushing avenue
near the navy yard.
The Powhatan will leave the dock at six o'clock this
evening and will probably pass the Narrows at daylight
60, Ia IN he n tha begf Sfpat
frgates in the service. She is fine steamer and
cellent saier The armament consists of eleven guns;
one eevcn-inch pivot gun in the bows, throwing 80
pound she'll and ninench guns, throwing 9Spound
shell
She is commanded by Capt. Mercer, who has been her
chief officer for long time.
A great deal of satisfaction was manifested both by
the detailed upon this euigmaca errnnd, and the
numerous spectators shore, who talked though the
reinforcement of Forts Sumter and Pickens fore
gone conclusion.
DEPARTURE THE HARRIET LANE.
The United States steam revenue cutter Harriet Lane
with full complement of men and Marines sailed from
the quarantine this morning She is under sealed orders
A company of one hundred men on Governors Island
has received marching orders and will leave to-day, and
others will speedily follow.
There now over twenty-siX hundred troops at the
different stations in this port including the sappers and
miners recently arrived from Washington and the most
active preparations to transport them are going
PREPARATIONS AT FORT HAMILTON
At Fort Hamilton preparations most active. Men
are constantly employed in getting stores and provision
ready for embarkation and everything in fact denotes
hasy and important movement for the available forces
now concentrated at this port.
The precise object Of these movements, the destiHa
ton OF IN, roofs is wholly unknown, excep. TO the
Administration and TO such officers as are reporting for
duty, aud are awaiting TO be assigned TO commands.
OF course the eagerly pick up and repeat every
vague rumor in relation TO the object Of all this excite
meut Some have it that there is to be mmcdatecon-
ccutraiou of all the available force for tie reinforcement
Of Fort Sumter Others that Fort Pckens is the point
and others yet that the movement has reference the
attitude of Spain But all to be impressed with the
belief that they to have fight somewhere with
somebody.