Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-04-11
ACTIVITY IN THE ARSENAL AT TROY, N. y
WORKING NIGHT AND DAY-THE SABBATH
NOT DAY OF REST-CIVIL WAR AT HAND.


An intelligent correspondent writes from Troy, N. Y,
under date OF Saturday last, follows:
Never since the Mexican war, has there been such an
extraordinary activity displayed at the United States ar
senal in West Troy as at the present moment few day
ago dispatches received ordering Lieut. George T.
Bach forthwith repair to Fort Pickens and report
himself at that post for active duty. In accordance with
orders he Immediately left his post here, aud is now en-
route for bis place OF destination. He accomplished
and energetic officer and ranks one OF the first Lieu
tenants In the service.
Major Mordeca, who has command OF the arsenal is a
Virginap and is absent in his native State. The
command therefore, devolves on Lieut.. Strong VT
is the Oldest officer this post. Lieut. Porter is
the only other commissioned officer now here. ID, s.
patches have been received every day. and
being received for the preparation and shipment OF all
kinds of munitions OF war.
The works are kept going night and day, no nterms-
sion of any kind permitted and the Sabbath day
Is entirely dsregarded. succeeded in visiting the works
last night about midnight and found every department
in full operation. Large numbers of men we're engaged
with lanterns hanging from the ceiling, in filling up six,
twelve and twenty pound cartridges which, as soon
filed transferred TO other parties, where they
were placed in boxes for shipment. In another room
found large number of busiy engaged in charging
bombshells with powder others engaged in filling shells
with bullets and running them full Of melted rosn the
latter were taken when filed to another room and there
with machinery hole about threequarers OF an inch in
we're taken to another room and charged with powder
very ingenious fuse completes this deathdeang pro-
iectle il is made OF lead, OF size just TO I'LL this aper-
ture in the Shells and is registered into seconds so that
the exact time that will eapse before explosion, after
aving the gun be established to second Taken
altogether, this shot il most ugly looking customer.
saw also large quantities of canister and grape, rifle
and musket balls and all other known implements OF
being prepared for shipment. | visited the grounds
again this morning, and the energy and activity which
apparent last night more evident to-day
Two hundred thousand rounds of ball cartridges
being placed board barge lying near; numbers OF
teams busy drawing to the boat cannon balls can
lister and grapeshot grenades bullet and rifle balls,
trdges guns and gun carriages morts, and, III TACT,
every article used in What struck me remark
able the large number of siege guns and carriages
that were going board could not conceive Of what
possible use they could be in the South except the
cessionss unless the administration had determined Ito
carry the into Africa and recapture the forts in the
South h Id by the sacessionsts.
endeayored TO gain some information from the Off
the posts but they either very discreet or
else they knew nothing incline to the latter opinion
They pretended they did not know the destination
OF all or any of the munitions of war which the Govern
ment had so suddenly ordered From what could gather
in conversation and from my observations rs TO the
character Of the supplies that goiug forward and
having little knowledge OF military mltetsl once
belonged to a military company have my theory
and il 10 this The destination Of much OF the shipment
is Fort Pickens and judge the government have deter
mined to make that fort general rendezvous and supply
station having determined to hold il at all hazards they
will fll il with men and munitions OF war; and from that
point all The operations against the extreme South will
be conducted The siege guGs and carriages which
of no use for Defence ard only used to reduce or
fed Pieces will be stored in Fort Pckens Tor future u.s.
or what is probable they may be destined for Texas for
the support fold Sam Houston in his attempt to keep
possession Of the government OF bis State.
You may rest assured from what have seen here,
that civil war Is about be inaugureted There is no
these indications, and fortnight hence will
see the Republic plunged contest which will only
terminate with the exhaustion Of both parties, with
nothing gained and everything lost Truly we have fall
en- upon evil times Demagogues have usurped the places
of patriots. God save our country.