The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-12
the NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
REPORTS RELATIVE TO THE EXPEDITION
TO CHARLESTON HARBOR.

WASHINGTON, April III, 1851.
Up 10 six O'Clock NJ the moment of writing this de-
spatch no information has been received from Charles
ton by the Government any individual relative to the
military expedision sent TO reinforce and supply Fort
Sumter.
Those in the secret OF the aods operandi, by which
an attempt win be made to throw troops and supplies
into Fort SUMTER very confident that it win be DONE
Either they awfuy mistaken in their calculations
the repeated assertions that Fort Sumter not
be except very light draught vessels and that 1t would
be impossible for such 70 pass the secession batter
les in safety, have been tissue OF falsehoods.
In view Of the known position taken by the secession
iss that they would resist the government if II at
tempted TO supply the garrison with provisions have
no doubt that commander OF the expedition received
Instructions only to supply the fort with provisions,
but to reinforce 1t with troops. have to believe
that from three nve hundred will be put into the
place the federal forces strong enough to reach it,
From all the plans and calculations that have OF
the different channels in the harbor Of Charleston the
depth OF water each channel the speed and draught of
water of the vessels assigned 10 the difficult duty named
and the actual strength of the various batteries Nor
rs James and suvans islands, and the comparatively
uuskifu and impetuous directors of the several
sonsts batteries, with the fact that the powerful
gnes of death at Fort sumper win be engineered by the
most skilfu and experienced army officers, cool
and bravery undypg laures for them in Mexi
co cannot but TO the conclusion view of these
facts together with other important that am not
liberty to disclose, that win attend the federal
expedition and The policy of the administration to hold
occupy and possess" the FORTS will become fixed fact
II the secessioniss open fire upon the government
sels and battle ensues is expected that anything
reliable will be received by telegraph nasmuch as the
wires are controlled at Charleston by the secessioniss
Information that the government
poets will be received through other sources.
1t is believed here, at this hour, that the government
vessels must have arrived, and that firing has com.
rnenced If 1t is to commence at all Toe silence OF the
wires is no evidence of peace
The feversh anxiety for information from the South in
which everybody has lived here for days, increases
as the time of the appearance of the relief feet in the
Charleston harbor draws But little was, how
ever furnished by the telegraph to satisfy the general
morbid appetite for news, and hence the public fed
mostly on bood-srring Of the most exaggerate
description.
There is a settled belief in administration circles
that matters viii come TO a head tomorrow Men Of
the highest political standing, who are in constant
and intimate communication with the President and
the heads of departments have insisted to-day that there
viii be lighting about Fort Sumter, but decline giving
their reasons. The President wholly realizing the mo
Nervousness Of the hour shows camness of spirit that
affords striking consrast to the universal and intense
excitement around him. He is animated with the con-
vcton that he has done nothing but hs duty and pre-
pared to take the consequences. The mettlc of the
friends of the administration increasing They lament
war, but ready for it.
No information concerning the arrival Of the fedora.
fleet al Charleston has been received here up 10 eleven
O'Clock night The belief in administration circles is
that the supply vessels have arrived at Charleston but
that the secessonsts refuse 10 allow the fact TO be tee
graphed anxiety manifested here to hear from
Charleston.
Capt Talbot has not yet returned owashngton, which
ia a subjeo. .. surprise ~ many.