Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-03-19

I'm, III uiS OWN ullsclllSu anu noolc ucfOlCuucSs
to tho cause of Southern Independence, ar
earnest Of what his State would do in approval
of the recent labors Of the Congress at Mont
gomery.
The immense crowd dispersed at hal(-paS
eight, chcercd and clatcd with what they hac
heard Of the frightening prospects of our be
loved country.
\ few old friends pressed in TO pay their re
spccts To the distinguished speakers, Int al
seemed To think thst it would not be proper tt
fatigue them by friendly attentions Our guest;
left by the r.lnc O'Clock train Of the Grorgia
Railroad.
Snilius or I'm Armed Fleet from New York
Departure of Fire Tth>ets oh q Secret GortrR
mcnt Expedition.
According 10 the World" Rrpublicar
Journal, there were on Thursday, at tue New
York quarantine, five government vessels, with
p-oyisions, arms and troops en board, destined
on some secret government expedition. The
vessels nre the Empire City, Star of the West,
Crusader Mohawk, and storeship Supply
THEY all sailed on Friday, and the "World''
thus spccuates as to the object of the expedi.
ton, and the probability Of their soou being
followed by others:
The present movement Of these vessels Is
careloped in the most profound mystery, and
no one In the navy yard will give the slightest
cine 10 their destination. Our reporter was
informed by the hest authority that there
were not ten persons i'll the country who knew
anything in regard 10 their destination, Or
their future movements"
Rumor says that the Crusader is to proceed
to Charleston, and, entering the la'hor under
flag Of truce, she will takc Oh board Major
Anderson and the troops under his command.
Another has it that, after taking OIL board the
federal troops, the South Carolina authorities
will be notified that the for: has been evacuated,
and at the expiration Of twcnry.ionr hours
notice, is at the disposition of the South Caro-
linisns. But previous to the departure Of the
troops slow match will be applied to the
magazine and the fort blown up, so that it will
be Of no service to the secessionists. Ia the
interval the ship With the troops will have pass.
81 out over the bar and be safely ut sea, and
out of the reach Of the guns of the numerous
batteries which command the entrance to the
harbor This latter rlmor il, however, ~ i'm.
probable as it is absurd.
There is no doubt some truth in the report
that Major Anderson aud his command will be
removed in 4 government vessel; but more ere.
deace is attached to the rumor that these
steamers will sail with the Empire City and
Star Of the West and that utter they have re-.
ceived the United States troops on board which
arc now in Texas. all the vessels will proceed
to reinforce Fort Pickens and the other forts
on the gulf coast. As these forts do not be-
long to any particular State, nor were they
built for the protection OF particular localities
the government intend holding them for the
protection Of the gulf trade, and consequently
they will do their best to reinforce them and
retain valuable strategical key to the gulf.
Whatever may be the destination Of these
vessels, it has been so secretly planned that
there are none bnt the planners in the secret
and 40 confidential conferecs have had any
thing to do with the proposed movements,
hence nothing but time will reveal the Object
ard success of the operation.
The Mohawk is rated as third. class propeller
and is of4G+ Ions register She is bark rugged
and carries ITO men. Her armament consists
Of eight guns-six ,hirty-two Founders, one
twenty-lour and one twelve, and two boat
guns. She WAS purchased in 1858, and was
attached TO tho Paraguay expedition. The
following is list Of the officers for the pre-
sent trip: Lieut. commanding. j. II. Strong !;
licutenanis, j. N. Arnold, i. Z. Carpenter, Z.
Hatfield; master hot yet On bDArd; surgeon,
Delavan Bioodgood; acting chief engineer J.
8. Albert; third assistant engineers, E. L.
Dick, G. D. Enmons, II. Brown captains
clerk, T. Ii. lIeadlty; masters mates, George
Van Duzer, j. il. Humphrey.
The Supply storesh;p is commanded by
Commander Alexander Gibson, aud mounts
two guns. She has 500 tons Of coal on
board, the remainder Of her cargo being navy
stores
The Crusader is screw propeller Of the
third class. She is rated as being Of 549 tons
hur:hen, and on the present trip has full
compliment Of ! 10 men, Qnc!ucIng officers
Her armament consists Of eight brass 24
Founders, OF the Dahlgrsn pattern; one iron
81 FOUNDER, and twO boat hOwitzers, o.
pounders.) Tile following is list ol her
officers:
Lieut. commanding 7. \. N. Craven; Lieu
tenants, james ~. duncan, j. III. Breese and
\. +. r. Bcnhaln; master, K, r. Wallace; sur
geon, j. W. Is. Grccnhnw; first assistant en-
gineer, J. 4. Greer; third assistant engineers
D. II. Lackey, p. ~ Rearick and j. Waters;
captains clerk, I. y. Craven, Jr.; masters
mates, James L. Punket hnd D. II. Warren;
purscrs clerk, Joseph +. Turner.
The Crusader, formerly the Cromwell, ar
rived last month at this station from the West
India walers, where she ilad, like the Mohawk
and Wyandolte, acted rs one Of the Cuban
coast feet whose duty it is tointercept slavers
She was not rut out OF commission, but under
went somc needed repairs Of an uniIpportant
nature.
The Vixen is at anchor oil the battery, and
could be sent to sea in a few hours. She is a
paddle steamer of 3iU tons register, could
mount iiyc guns, and is manned by ninety men.
She was very actively employed IN the MeX-
Gun war.
The Harriet Lane is also of! the battery and
ready for instant service. She carries two me-
dium th;rty.t~o ponuders four twenty-iour
Founders and one thirly-two FOUNDER on the
forecastle. The PUwhatan, jnst arrived, is
likewise anchored oii tho battery. Her arri
val was telegrap phe1 TO the authorities \. Wash
ington, who have commanded her to remain US
she is Tor toe present Neither her officers nor
crew have been detached; and It ii thought She
will remain in commission. There is a strong
probability that she may be ordered away in
very short time. In fact she could Gc got
ready for sea in about twenty-four hours.
The Bibl,, paddle steamer Of 800 tons and
four guns, is nearly ready Tor service. She is
at anchor at the navy-yurd. The Corwin, also
paddle steamer, is now alongside the wharf
undergoing repairs. She is 30v tons bnrthen.
and will mount four guns. The brig Perry, OF
$50 tons ard eight guns, is all ready for fitting
out in about forty.eisht hours.
The storeship Release hsuled alongside o'
the store wharf on Thursday, and will imme-
iiatcly load with navy stores, but for what
place is now unknown. She is attached to the
Mediterranean squadron, but as there is rumor
that the squadron has been ordered home, 1t IS
scarcely probable that she will load for il; and
such beias the case, she will probably take IN
stores for u blocka1ing squadron.
Political Movement I'm North W estern