The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-06
THE DISSOLUTION.
The Fleet for the South..lis Destinations
Condition OF Fort Pickens..An Interesting
Letter from There, &c.

Letter from There, &c.
The Washington dispatches generally point
to the use of force by the Administration
Those to the New York Herald indicate that
a blockade of the Mississippi is threatened
The steam frigate Minnesota, the steam sloop
Powhatan, and the brig Perry, have been Or
dered to the Belize, while sealed orders have
been sent to the Cumberland, Pocahontas, and
Dolphin:
The Minnesota is a steam frigate of 8, 200
tons, carrying 10 guns. She was built in 1855,
and has been lying in ordinary in Boston
The Perry is a brig, carrying guns and $50
tons burthen; she is fitting out at the Brook
iyn Navy Yard. The Powhatan is a first
class steam sloop, of ., AIS tons; she carries IL
guns, and is at present attached to the Home
squadron, She is also preparing for sea at
the Brooklyn Navy-Yard. The sloop- of-war
Cumberland is the flag ship OF the Home
squadron and has been doing duty at Vera
Cruz. She is / 726 tons burthen, and carries
"a guns. The Pocahontas is a second class
steam sloop. She was purchased by the Gov
ernment in 1885, and has been attached to the
Home squadron. She carries guns, and is
694 tons burthSn. She is at Norfolk. The
brig Dolphin is also at Norfolk, where she is
lying in ordinary. Like the Perry. she is of
light drausht, being but 224 tons; she carries
guns. aG
dispatch from Washington to the Herald,
says
At last the ball has opened. The corps OF
Sappers and Miners left here this morning,
and to. day three of the batteries now in this
city received orders TO leave forth with, all
being required TO report at Fort Hamilton.
New York. That these troops are destined
for ort Pickens there can be no doubt. In
less than n week the country will learn
whether we have a Government or not. The
Home squadron is TO be increased and ordered
South, and Pensacola and other Southern
ports will be blockaded. Fort Pickens is not
in need of additional men, but will soon be in
want OF supplies, which will be furnished
forthwith.
1t is believed that Gen Sumner has been
ordered to New York, and perhaps South, to
direct the movement of the troops, as he left
here very suddenly.
Gen. Scott's private secretary also left yes
terday on short notice for New York.
Several interviews have been had 10 day be-
tween the President and Secretary of War,
and the latter with General Scott.
Orders have been issued to day, in the Navy
Department to the several Bureaus, to an ex-
tent that almost precluded every thing else
Every available naval ship will be called home.
Those on the coast of Africa it is said, cannot
be recalled without violating the treaty with
England req uiring the United States to keep
al least eighty guns there.
The Cabinet were in session to day for seve-
raj hours, and Gen. Scott was present. Among
the important questions discussed was the re-
cent affair in st. Domingo. The foreign Min
isters here express the opinion that the Span
ish Government will not countenance the
course of the Governor General of Cuba, in
sending troops from Havana to St. Domingo
10 sus tain the Spanish flag. The Spanish
Minister asserts that his dispatches from
Madrid have contained no reference to the
subject.
Report says that the British and French
Ministers have indicated to the Secretary of
State that, if the United States should inter-
fere in the matter, their Governments will
will keep hands of.
1t is argued in high official circles here that
hast fort IN 1ioiS tS in,
augurate Il war with Spain or Mexico, or
both, as the best means for averting internal
strife
A difficulty is said to exist in regard to the
Appropriation for the construction of the sew
en- new steam sloops. 1t is that the money
was appropriated for the fiscal year ending
lst of j uly next, and that it cannot be used
until on and after that time. This is one of
the reasons why extra session of Congress
cannot be prevented The Administra tion is
crippled in similar manner by other appro-
prlitlons.
Instructions were to-day given to all the
heads OF Bureaus in several of the depart
ments not to hold any further official commu-
nicatlon with any persons residing i'll the Sc
ceded States.
The Secretary of War has been locked in his
private room all day, refusing 10 see any one
except his assisttn Is, who have, however, been
III freq communication with the Presi
dent. Several of those belonging TO the kite hen
cabinet pretend that they know what is going
OIL. They assert that the Spanish matters are
mixed up with IL. Quite a number Of the de-
par tment clerks have been basy for two days
IN hunting up matters connected with the ST.
Domingo Question
A dispatch from Washington, dated the 3rd
inst. says:
Lieutenant Gilman, one of the officers at
Fort Plckens, arrived here this evening from
Pensacola, having left there on the 3lst of
March. He states that no reinforcements had
been landed from the Brooklyn or any other
vessel, but that she had gone 10 Key West for
supplies. He states that the Confederate
troops Were arriving there in large mum bers,
and IN a few days they would have five thou
SAND we'll provisioned. He says it is impossi-
Bile tor the Government TO land troops III Fort
Pickens without the Confederate authorities
knowing 1t, and whenever they attempt it
hostiiieies VIII at once commence. He says
he met large numbers of troops on the rOu te
for Pensacola; that Gen. Bragg will not wait
the action OF the Washington Government t
much longer before they commence opera
tons; lie says the impression there was that
Fort Pickens was to be abandoned. Such as
surances were given out there.
FROM PENSACOLA.
A correspondent OF the New York Times,
writing from on board the United States
frigate Sabine, off Pensacola Bar the 25th ult.
says:
About ten days ago Major General Bragg
who Is IN command at this place. saw iii 10
stop all comm unication between us and the
shore, and Captain O'Hara, of Fort McRae,
sent us word that if the Wyandotte did not
keep little further Off he would fire in to her
Captain Adams, wishing 10 avoid a collision
with these fools, keeps himself and US on
board ship. Our supplies have been cut oft
from Mot;ie, and the New Orleans steamer,
in passing in and out OF the harbor, avoids our
boarding boat SO you see We are hard up for
news OF any kind.
Capt. Adams addressed q letter TO Welles
Secretary OF the Treasury, last Tuesday and
In 1T told him that starvation stared us in the
| face, and unless we heard from him or re-
ceived relief in ten days from date, he would
use his own discretion about leaving this
place. We are all on half rations. We have
plenty OF money, but OF what use is that to us
now, Three days ago we transferred from the
Brooklyn TO tins ship 81 troops, and sent her
to Key West and Havana for supplies
We expect her back in a few days In the
meantime they may attack Fort Pickens and
we nave got TO wade through about 5 1000 ba y
onets to reinforce the fort, with masked bat
terIes playing ON US from ali quarters, in con-
junction with McRae and Barancas Is it not
a pleasant picture TO look upon? You mus {
know there Is an armistice in existence be =
tween Bragg and Adams. Bragg will not at
tack Piekens unless we attempt TO reinforce
it. We see troops going in nearly every day
from New Orleans, Mobile, and other places.
and can see them at work erecting sand bag
batteries, &c, and here we are cooped up
like Il lot OF chickens, waiting for the Admin
istration to do something They have neg
lected us shamefuliy at Washington. They do
not swer our communications. They do
not send us any thing to eat, and yet expect q
ship like ours, which has been out over her
time, With broken down and worn out crew. .
and an old tub like the St. Louis, TO do ali
their lighting in Southern waters. while yes
sells NOS yet three months in commission are
rolling in clover Off New York Battery -
Everybody in our ship is disheartened, and no
wonder. You do not know one tenth part of
what we have suffered lately. They say the
darkest hour of the night is just before the
break Of day it is pitch dark with us just
about this time.
Three nights ago we heard the booming Of