The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-15
THE COURSE OF OUR CIVIL WAR.
HUCCNCT ACCOUNT OF THE LEADING
EVENTS,

TIvITY IN MIL ITAMy AND NAVAL CIRCLES-NLIsT-
AnNTs AND sMBARKATIoNs IN THE METRoPOLIs-
ExCITEwENT IN THE sOUTH-CHRONoLOGICAL
SKETCH OF THE OCCURRENCES PRECEDING THE
WAR, ETC, ETC.
Now that civil war is upon us, with oil It's terrible
reality, and the reduction Of Fort Sumter is still fresh
before the public, have deemed It advisable TO pre-
pare for the Information 0. readers regular and
cpct account Of the various that have gra
daay led 70 the fiery denouement Of Friday and Saturday
last. We have doub; that such synopsis Of these
important events will, q. the present jrncturc, be
ceptable to tire entire community.
is unnecessary to 60 any further back than to the
events Of few weeks. The chose Of the month Of
March was rot marked by any activity the part Of
the federal government, or by any threatening demon
s.rats by the secessonsts Of South Carolina. On the
contrary several Cabne. councils held at Washing
ton, and according to all the reports that TRANSFERRED
decision had been 10 for the evacuation Of the
leagured garrsons OF Forts Pckeps and Sumter This
design Of the government having been repeated by the
press throughout the country, gained confidence
and people began to look forward peaceabe sou-
ton Of the very grave questions which perpexng
the country.
SUDDEN NAVAL AND MILITARY MOVEMENTS.
II was not until the beginning Of the present month
that the federal administration began 20 evince
warke disposition. On the ID Of April dispatches from
suddenly being put q footing, and the knowing
alleged that the movements looked towards Spain,
and that grew out Of the designs of that government
on the neighboring island Of St Domingo 80 firmly
was this opinion imprinted on the public mind that an
ocer Of the navy declared 1t his opinion that rup
ture would with Spain in less than thirty days from
the beginning Of the month Orders were esued from
the Navy Department to several vessels TO hold them
selves in readiness for Immediate service. Among
other ships Of war, the Powhatan whose crew
had been discharged the LIST Of April, ordered
to reshp her full complement Immediately and prepare
for Movements were on foot Indicating the
speedy development Of the governmental policy Greater
activity prevailed in the army and navy than had
known since the with Mexico. Troops placed
board ship with sealed orders all the vessels OF
foreign stations ordered home, and the super
vsors Of the various navy yards directed to
their best EFFORTS making ready every available
for sea.
EXCITEMENT IN THE SOUTH.
These formidable on the part OF the admnis
traon could not fail 10 the vigilance OF the secede
States and moro especially OF South Carolina. Some
leading Southern men 1t once declared tina. the
ments in preparation intended 70 the South
and the reports from Washington that ships be
sent 70 blockade the habor Charleston and the mouth
Of the Mississippi with ready credencs Those who
IN the secrets OF the administration openly declared
that the country would whether the government
had policy or not Meanwhile the ominous silence
prevailed in official CIRCLES and the real intentions Of
government could only be gathered from the events
which were being daily developed.
The excitement the south, conse luen the sudden
movements Of III administration was wide and intense
In the city Of Charleston and throughout South Carolina
the most undsguised uneasiness prevailed. The hest
fancy and delay Of the government evacua,ng Fort
Sumter led them TO believe the reports that secret opera
tons in progress for its ultimate relief Acting
upon this surmse, the strategic defences OF the city
made perfect military skull and excr.ion could
make them and the South C olinaus resting on their
arms, awaited the result. Among the Of the
people the excitement less intense
On the Atm Of April all kinds OF rumors
got into circulation: among others that Fort sumter
would be attacked in few days, and that the aitask
would be made from the forts Nothing but q night or
Unconditional surrender Of the fortncafion would
tolerated. Advioss from Montgomery Of the 9th
directed that the supplies from the city ~ Major Ander
should be cut on and communication between the
fort and federal authorities forbidden and for the st
time, Captain Talbot left with dispatches for Wash.
ington.
SERIOUS ASPECT OF AFFAIRS.
The appearance Of thiogs nov really began 10 DO
very gloomy; the prospect OF danger ~as iEn
minent, and men commenced 10 prepare for
the worst As an attack up0n Fosts Sum.
ter and Pickens became probable, the President
received number Of Geographic exnortat,ons from
ing politicians in al parts OF the North Vest urging
him not to surrender anything 10 the That the
did intend do clearly to be ssen
the centnsed activity in hitting cut Transports AMI
iships OF wars and in The moving 1tou o.
United States troops. at the end o. tie Gfst week IA
April there nothing 70 be heard of but - move
Of troops the city Of New York At Forte Han,
on add Iafay ete, and Governors Island, tie ,,e
Of warlke preparation continually heart. ~
the4 Brooklyn Navy Yard extra wee pu.son
dcty 10 hasten the completion OF the steam soopo
Powhaan, and tine frigates Roanoke, wabesn. Perry.
Savannah and Potomac, and the guard aeet Gao
powder shot she'd asd ali he other desifuc, ageas
Of war, transported from p.a15 70 another p
immense Quantities, giving great signidsnco 70 other
operations.
sUERssED RELIEF OF FORT DICKENS.
In Consequence Of tho nvariabIe silence che adm ns
,fa,on nothing positive had ygt trsnsGrei Is % sac
destination Of the troops aud vessels which
wore being actively prcp.eca Tor some in
portant servioe. About this Tina reports we're
tctlved from -esas setting forth that Gov u1us,oa
was IN precsr.ous position from te daring neirslras
Of 1ndane ard Kexsans tho Texan frontier. aud
the OF st. Domingo, people begao 10 coasoie them.
selves that the expedition was 10 CHECK these oltFaEs
60 anxious we're they that the bolt should fail upoe
the heads u any ba iher own bsotLfoa Bos he sc'si
" in the federal navy ysrds pointed 10 operations Ast
some great foriacaton and as Il was very generally
confessed that suner would have 70 be surendsred al
eyes to Fort Picons Pgusaooa snosi laoIy
to be the defamation Of tie ncet New runers at once
got into circulation that troops would in such be
gent from South Carolina tho assistance OF General
Bragg, who was Investing Port pictens Despa.cscs
from Pensacola al the time stated that Bagg viii
an army Of nearly six thousand states troypF
was ready for immediate action should any attempt be
made to reinforce tn FORT Tho precise condition o'
things inside Of FofL piosens kaoan tu, Il a
thought ha, its stock o, provisions Aoary exhaust
q, and its garrison DsdcslAo 10 neSt the sesl syt
esn army nov besieRing It.
FORT sUgtvz AGAIN.
The popular mind bad scgro. Cettl.1 VA tas rt.rt
shen the w'oe caununty va thrown 1to ans.br,