, 1861-01-10
The Seizure of the Mobile Forts.

kEfua 1ne AooLc Ae5lstcf, Ja1nnry 5th-
A corps of observation. consisting Of three
| Of Alabama, took = pleasant trip dom ii. bar
last night, leaving ut 10 O'Clock. 1t is sup
posed that they have gone to inquire whether
there arc auy cool and clever officers of tic U.
s. Army about, ready to practice stra:egical
warfare, and TO block up the only port OF tue
herself 'sunt" Of the ring OF the Black Repub!:-
can administration. We hare no official iufor.
nation on this subject, but circumstances Iead
US to believe that the rumors alloat in relation
to it are true. After Fort Sumter experiences,
1t Is quite natural TINT it should be true. Mis-
!, sissippi. Lonisank and Florida, have some
"stsattgical" points on their coasts, which it
were cheaper to look after now tlan hereafter
After the horse has escaped, there Is no call to
ehut the stable door.
Since writing the abnve, rumor has It that
trip to the Mount Vernon Arsenal, in Wash
ington county, IS miles above the city, has
been projected and was executed Inst night. Il
detachment Of three companies, to wit: the
"Mobi1c Rifles" Capt. Woodruff, the st WASH
inyton Light Infantry" Capt, Garcie, and the
"Gardes Layfayctto," Capt Belloc, c,wcrc detail
cd for this service, and embarked on board tie
steamer Selma late list night
The company detailed for Fort Morgan were
the " Cadets" Capt. Sands, the Is 'Fuslticrs,"
Capt Steinhcry, the 44Iutiependent Rifles"
Capt: Stikes, and the ARTILLERY" Capt
Aetchu11.
From the New Orleans Picayune, G,h1
The telegraph gives us an account Of the
seizure Of the U. $. Arsenal ut Mount Vernon,
and of Fort Morgan, on Mobile Point, by the
soldiers iron, Mobile.
We are no. apprised Of the authority under
which they acted, whether it was spontaneous
popular movement, ,or On act authorized By the
State authorities. The impression conveyed IL
that it was Of the former character.
IA 3fr,1,{
upper end cf Mobile county, few miles from
the city.
Fort Morgan is on Mobile Point, command
ing the month Of Mobile Bay, at the lower cx-
tremity Of Baldwin county, whicl. Us on the
EASTERN side Of Mobile Bay, and extends some
II OF Monroe. Baldwin, although SO large in
extent, extending castwardly to the Florida
boundary, + very sparscly inhabited, except
when Mobilians occupy summer quarters
along the coast opposite the city.
Fort Morgan was intended to be powerful
fertilization, but it Is in IN unfinished stale
and was but slightly garrisoncd. Both that
and the arsenal were incapable Of defence
against any we'll concerted surprise, or to sus-
tain siege Of any length Of time without ma
terial succor. It was not difficult, VIC think,
to take them by asa,dden popular movement;
but the question may freely be asked whether
it was wise because ncccssury-and it could he
only wise at all because highly necessa.y-to
take possession at this time aud in that man.
ner. They were the property Of the Federal
Government, with the consent Of the State Of
Alabama, which is yet one Of tho States Of the
Union. No ordinance or act Of the State of
Alabama has get authorized the release to her
citizens of the obligations to the Union, and
until such act is tiually adopted, all steps like
these which arc taken to remove the federal
authorities or take possession Of tho federal
places or property, are simply Revolutionary,
both US against the State and against the Fed.
eral Government.