The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-03
THE CAPITAL SAFE!

Every one will breathe freer at this an
nouncement. And we believe it may be
safely stated, that the Federal Capital is
now garrisoned by force amply sufficient
to defend it against any body of men the
rebel chiefs may bring to bear against it.
The government has re-opened channel of
communication with the North, by which
troops can be poured into the Capital with
but few hours delay over the time occu-
pied in transit, via Baltimore. This has
been accomplished by taking possession of
the Washington and Annapolis Railroad.
and carrying the troops from Havre de
Grace, on the Philadelphia and Baltimore
Railroad, and at the mouth of the Susque-
hanna river, to Annapolis, by steamer.
From that point to Washington, the dis
lance by rail is thirty-nine miles, and by
turnpike thirty.three miles. The dispatches
yesterday announced that on Wednesday
the troops were marching to Washington,
the Railroad being used by the government
for the transportation of supplies.
There arrived at Annapolis, on Wednes.
day, six thousand New York, Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, military, who sailed
from New York on Sunday evening last,
in fleet of transports under the convoy OF
the Harriet Lane. Two thousand Penn
sylvania troops, we presume from Havre de
Grace, arrived the same day-making in all
5000 we'll armed soldiers, under the com.
mand of able and experienced officers, within
thirty.three miles of the capital on Wednes.
day. Five or six regiments, including the
famous New York Seventh, had already
reached the capital via Annapolis. There
cannot be less than $4,000 troops at Wash
ington to-day, including every branch Of
the artillery, dragons, rifemen,
infantry, etc.
Baltimore, we think, now finds herself
in bad " fix" "Old Ironsides' has been
ordered to blockade the mouth Of the Pa
tapsco; communication by rail between
Baltimore and Philadelphia, and Baltimore
and Washington, is under the control of the
government, thus leaving the railroad to
Wheeling the sole outlet of the Baltimore
ans.
The government, in the possession of
Fort Monroe, commands the entrance to the
Chesapeake, and thus all the water ap-
proaches from the sea, to Richmond, Nor
folk, Washington, Annapolis and Baltimore.
This fort is situated on little peninsula,
iutting out between James river and the
bay. 1t is the largest ratification in the
United States. The distance around it is
nearly mile and quarter, and to man it
efficiently five thousand men are not too
many. To show what value is placed upon
it by the secessionists, we may cite the ties.
timony of Ex-Governor WISE, who said, not
long since, that Virginia must possess that
fort if it took 10000 men to accomplish it.
Fortunately, Virginia stands poor chance
of getting it, for besides several hundred
regular troops, one thousand Massachusetts
volunteers we're thrown into it last week,
with the requisite supplies of ammunition
and provisions, and by this time there is
full garrison there. A despatch yesterday
announced that schooner from New
York, towed by tug, was brought to bye
shot from Fort Monroe, which went through
the tug. The cargo was seized. 1t consist
ed of military stores for Virginia, and a full
light artillery battery" This shows the use
of Fort Monroe.