Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1861-02-15
The National Crisis.

Business at the Portsmouth (Va.1 navy
yard IS said to be quite lively again. The
work on the Portsmouth and Germantown is
being rapidly pushed ahead, and both vessels
will be na;nined and put in commission as
soonfas completed. I he supply of coal now
in the yard is represented by the Transcript
to be enormous; enough at least, under ordi-
nary circumstances, for. five years.
A quantity of arms for the Eastern Shore
of Virginia arrived at Norfolk on Saturday
from New York via Philadelphia. The rea-
son they were not shipped direct from New
York was the fear that they would be seized
by the police:
On Sunday evening collection of 1888
was taken up in Henry Ward Beecher's
church Tor the wives and children of the de-
tenders of Fort Surfpter, now in restitution
at Governors Island. Thesum is to be plac-
ed in the hands of Commodore Stringham
for the relief of the sufferers.
Capt w. I. Sherman, late of Ohio, who
was formerly in the army and has spent some
years in Louisiana, and there had charge ola
military school, resigned his post on the pas
sage Of. the secession ordinance of that State,
and is preparing to go North. Capt. Sher-
man is brother of Hon. John Sherman. SON.
in-Iaw of Hon. Thomas Ewing, both Con-
gressmen from Ohio.
Lieut. Craven, of the United States steam
er Mohawk, has issued an appeal to his broth
er officers of the navy to remain faithful to
the Union.
Montgomery Blair, of Nd, is spoken of
for Secretary Of War under Lincoln.
Mrs. Willard, of the Troy On. w Female
Seminary, has arrived at Washington. bear
ing petition signed by several hundred Ia
dies. soliciting settlement of the present
difficulties.
1t is reported that the iron steamttg James
Gray, belonging to the towing company of
Richmond; Va, has been sold to the govern
ment of South Carolina for $50; 000
Major Hayne, of South Carolina; has late
ly purchased in Cincinnati and ST. Louis AZ, !
600 Bbls of pork, 1000 casks of bacon and
several thousand bushels of corn fer the use
of the Carolinian army.
A meeting was recently held at Holly
Springs, Miss, for the purpose of raising
means TO equip a company of volunteers, and
$4,000 was subscribed on the spot. One of
the subscribers was lady, who stated that
her hus and and two sons were ready to
FIGHT. and that her three daughters would
make CARTRIDGES, lint and clothing fer the sol
diers.
Lieut. Putnam, of the army. who vas dis
patched some days ago By the Secretary of.
War to Pensacola, with dispatches to Lieut..
Slemmer and Capt " alker, commander of the
Brook has just returned with dispatches,
to the government from these officers. He
( left Pensacola on tho ! th inst: he says at.
fairs were tranquil when he left, but does not
know how long they viii remain so, as there
were good many who were beligersntly i'm
sclined. The Mississippi troops had returned
home The A labama troops, however, were
still there. aud seemed determine to precipis
tate a collision.
Major Chase was doing every thing IN his
power to prevent an attack His conduct
was seyerel condemned By the Alabama,
Mississippi and Florida troops They were
and still ara anxious to make an attack upon
Fort Pickens
1t is proposed 10 light the ships of the
British navy with gas, manufactured ON the
vessel.