The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-05-03

ana SNOW cause MS OeLtHtlOn. HicT lana LOT
Ornrr Counrs Nothing of public interest done.
szzz-s=aszEs5zsz@Erzz--zuaHtzza
Correspondence Ncao Fork Tiasesl
CURIOUS REVELATIONS OF TIE RECENT
DEFENCELESS CONDITION OF FORT Nc
HENRY.
Fort McHENRy, April %. 1851.
"The Stqr Spangl"d Banner" still waves over
the parade ground Of Fort McHenrF. The safety
Of this tortifcaticn is due to good fortune and
ne,hing else, for the murderous assault Of the Bal
timoreauS on the Massachusetts, volunteers. last
Friiay week, took the officers here conn letey BY
surprise, and had the rabble extended their opera
tons embrace this fort, they could have taken it
without the slightest trouble.
On the 18th inst. we had not single mortar in
position for firing, there single round of
grape or canister for the heavy guns, although
three months had elapsed since the preparations
for defending the lort had begun. In fact, while
civil war was raging in Baltimore, not even our
srntinelS post had their 'Iuskets loaded, nor was
there teld-pece to protect our TANKS or curtains
nor grenade to throw over our walls against the
assai!ants The tplegraphic reports of our Smelling
the city of Baltimore were totally without founda-
ton, such step being physically impossible. The
Oniv pieces of ordnance here which can throw a
shell into the city are two ten-nch sea-coast NOR
tars, aud for them there are neither carriage
platforms fuzps. We have neither carriages
nor ammunition for our forty-two Founders, but
have six thousand eighteen pound balls and not
Il JHR ~ 'HNt cbtbTe 1T me post. FOR want OF car
riages two-thirds of our heavy guns dismounted
AID aft~r first dicharge most of the other third
ar likely t. be in the same condition.
On Saturday, the 2Oih, were informed, both
bv Official letters from the Baltimore Board of Po-
lice and by private messengers from Union men in
Tire city, assault would be attempted on the fort
that night Hsaty preparations were made to re-
p~l an attack Of that kind, but fortunately the
night passed oil without any hostile demonstrations
a thousand determined men, with tiremen's lad
derS, could nave captured u.s.
On Mauday, the 22d. messenger was dispatched
to Washington city to inform the authorities of our
Condition, and 10 rndeavur to procure guu-carria-
ges, tar-brds and ammunition, which ought to have
been sent three months ago. The messenger found
everyb 'dV at " Washington completely absorbed in
their local affairs; nobody knew ANYTHING
about Some supposed we were worsted by
Ma -yland troops, others that we had been reiuf,rc
ed by Rhode I>la:d volunteers After a lcno
search, the requistion which had been made in
January for ordnance, and not filed, was found
Then the Chief of staff inquired very innocen "
of the messenger where the articles coud be got
aud finally wound up by informing the messenger
that 1t was very doubtful whether the articles
could be furnished to us, and that we must get
along the best way could. Sure enough, we
haven't got these articles, nor are we likely to:
while the Confederate Army, by robbinc our
Southern forts and arsenals, has suppliad itself
abundantly.
Ga Friday (the 26th inst propeller from An
napolis brought up here Col. Keves of Gen Scott's
stall, accompanied by Lieut.. Snyder, of the Engi-
neers, and guarded by Capt. Briggs company Of
Massachusetts volunteers. Col. keyes has kind
OF rowing commission from the Lieutenant General
and came W to see how we were getting along
During his stay here bis guard was cooped up on
tue Onller-deck OF the propeller, with every aper-
ture closed, for fear the Baltimore chivalrv might
discover there were Massachusetts, soldiers in the
haroor. This company would have been
very useful acquisition to our slender forces
but the Colonel declined leaving them, on
the GROUND that Massachusetts men would be
peculiarly obnoxious to the patriotic citizens of
Baltimore.
If we are to have war with the South, we must
have Generals who combine actirity with military
knoWiedge. II our present Generals are opposed
10 Beauregard and Bragg, 'cfcte seniority must
yieid to energetic youth 1t is no reproach to our
present crop OF Generals to assert that age has dis
qualified them for active service.
SINGULAR STANDARDIZATION the celebrated
Urouus was imprisoned in the castle of Lou esten
his WIFE Marie de Reigesberg, followed him thither
10 endeavor, by her presence and affec;iunate at
tehti,n 10 alleviate the miseries OF long captivi
". while she was with bin. her tenderness sug-
geSte" a ngC!ar Stratagem for his escape.
0rolns was at that time engaged in writing the
works which acquired for him so great celebrity
anu having occasion tor great number of books
ne requested and obtained permission to borrow all
mat he should require. He sent large trunk for
these books, into which he likewise nut his own
these books and was done with them they were re-
turned, and fresh ones brought in like manner
After ABOUT year and a half had elapsed dur
Ing which Grotius had undergone riporOus can
tNity' Marie observing that the guards weary of
hndinE nothing in the trunk but books and linen
10 longer took the pains search it, persuaded
Erotlus to place himself in it instead Of the books
having previously made some holes in tba parf
"heFe MS head would lie, to admit the air. Duripo
Two GAYS before the execution of this project She
maze MN stay near the fire in arm chair, and
she pretended to be much afflicted at her husbands
lndispnsltiOn. On the day that the books vera .,
be taken away. having put Grotus in the trunk
she drew the curtains of his bed very close and
the man who fetched away the box to do
1t as quietly As be could With much difficulty he
placed it upon his shoulders and carried it ont
complaining bitterly of the heaviness of the bur
den. In this manner was GrOtius conveyed to Cor
cum to the house of one of his friends and from
thence he went to Antwerp, disguised as a miller.
immediately after their departure, Marie had
dressed herself IN her husbands clothes and AIKEN
a seat by the fire, lest the TAILOR should come in.
but when she thought her husband in safety. she
went herself to inform the guards of his escape
nporading them with the little care thew took of
their prisoners. Ashamed to construe this CON-
[rivance INTO crime, they permitted her to reioin
GARIBALDI ON AMERICAN AFFAIRs-THE HERo OF
Sicily DEPaECATEs DIsuYIoN.-Mr. Edwin n R,U
OF tins city, has received an autograph letter from
GaribaId1, which we are permitted to translate.
GENOA, April 5, lSGl.-Mr. Edwin Bull III ia
indeed painful to my heart to observe that. while
the Italians are using every endeavor to reunite
themselves, the Americans, hitherto united, are
now working equally hard to separate. TRY to
avoid 1t. Your great people, like those of Rome,
ought to understand that its mission is to form one
treat family from the North to the South. Do so,
nd you VIII be blessed both by men and God.
Yours, G. GARIBALpI.
You've LADY Drowned Ar WINDSOR, Mass.-A
nourntui accident occurred on Saturday afternoon
pleasure party OF young ladies from Maplewood
institute, in Pittsteld. While they were on an ex
ursl"n to Wahconah Falls, in Windsor, in care OF
ne principal, Lille, daughter of Col. Reeves
49, w ue U. ,. army, and still in Texas
a re INTO the deep pool below the fall and was
mePt away by the eddy and drowned. Helm was
irresistible. uiiuei en' was
+, 1919 10 ooM rAIRoNs'rBoth of the propr;etors of
ns p nu' one oi Tue compostofs in the office
cave 10 Gay Tor Richmond, to engara in ~ a.
ence of the State against Iincoin, ID tne de-
ordes from the North. "'e 'enary
The above is at the head of the editorial co,r,
f the Christiansburg (Va.) Star, and seems to
how the spirit of the people of Southwestern Viz
mia.
The Philadelphia Press, of YESTERDAY, says:-
We understand that body of engineers and
'orkmen, well protected, will leave this city
pday, Tor Maryland, to ect, speedily as posi-
Ne ~ new bridges over Bush and Gunpowder creeks
tailr DAD. ""N D"'iNh0ie
"a t Hohnrssary of the Southern Conf ederat tie army
maxim. LUIS city for several days past, engaged
+ LARGE b arrangements for the accommodation
rSars,eod 'uuy OF troops soon to arrive. II is
vim reach bere DJmeve' that the first detachment
vi, n reach d mere about Thursday next by the Vir.
inian, Of Monday. Aynchour3 Vsr-
The following is dated since the Pras;s,
lamation of blockade. eSioents Pro-
Treasury Department, Montgomery, An,u %
o reason yet to change former instructions 4 q
olicy is not to violate hospitality. Let vessels en
aged in private commerce go until war is decIoeas
y Congress. G. q. MEMMINsER.
Secretary OF the Treasury.
inc Government has just purchased twenty |
,ousand straw hats.
opped.