The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-01-23
RUM 9RS or WAR IN BKOOKLYN.

NEW YORK, Jan. 22d.-Brooklyn was
thrown into a feyeFish state excitement
last evening by a current rumOr that the
navy rard was to be seized b. the sympa-
thizers IN this vicinity Of the sccessionists.
Last night, according 10 rumor, was the
time at which the descent was to have been
, made. 1t appears that Capt. Foot, who was
in command of the yard during the tempor-
rary absence of Commander Breese, deemed
the information of sufficient Importance to
warrant him taking prompt measures for
the protection of the Government property
under his charge. 4 consultation with the
! Mayor was held, resulting in the issue Of an
order by Major General Duryea to the 5th
I brigade, General Crook, which caused the
/ prompt assembling of that command under
arms, ready for immediate action. The 18th,
14th, and 28th regiments assembled at the
State Arsenal, they having before received
orders to meet there last night for drill.
All the available public force of Brook
lyn, about $50, were ordered to rendezvous
at the second precinct station and at hall
near the navy yard gate. Fifty of the
river police were on duty in three boats
about the approach by water to the navy
yard. In the yard the sentinels were
doubled and an extra guard placed upon the
receiving ship North Carolina. Capts.
Dougherty and Read had under their COM
mand about one hundred marines, who
were in readiness for duty at a moments
notice and all the necessary arrangements
were made for active service. By these ar
engagements if an attack had been made the
assailants would have met with warm re-
ception. The rumOrs as to the numbers
and plans of the attacking party were
various, and as they passed from one person
IL 4 80 II
Importance. Some had it, that James Ker-
rigan was at the head of the movement and
had under his command no less than 20, 900
men and that the attack was to be made
simultaneously by land and water. The !
party expected by water was to come to the |
navy yard in one or more steamboats, and |
the land forces were TO cross the eastern |
district ferries in small parties so as not to !
attract attention, and force an entrance to |
the yard on the Flushing Avenue side.
A picket guard of policemen was thrown |
out at different points to prevent surprise |
from this quarter, and on the whole the
Navy Yard was in a creditabe state for de-
fensiVe operation. Up to a late hour last
night there were no indications of disturb
ance whatever. Information of the antici-
pated attack was sent to the police autEori- I
ties in this city about o'clock in the af-
ternoon. Superintendent Kennedy was out
of to wn and the duty of disposing of the
police in the emergency devolved upon Com
missioner Bowen and Inspector Carpenter |
A plan of operations was promptly decided
upoR, and through the instrumentality of
the telegraph, it was almost Immediately in
process of execution. The harbor police
boats fully armed with armed crews, were
ordered to rendezvous at Wallabout.
A force of 100 policemen from various
wards was concentrated at headquarters
ready to march at a moments notice One
of the Catharine street Ferry boats was
Chartered to transfer this force to the Navy
Yard.
At o'clock information was telegraphed
from the 4th precinct, that the boat was in
readiness for that purpose. The men were i'm
put in marching order and were
to have taken up their quarters on the boat
where they were to remain until warned by
signal from the yard, that
their services were necessary. Just as the
force was about to take its departure from
headquarters, dispatch was received from
President Bowen who had gone to Brook
Ign, countermanding marching orders, and
representing that everything was quiet
Capt. Foot expressed himself highly graft
fed with the measures taken by the police
authorities to render him assistance; bat he
is Of opinion that the force of marines at his
is amply sufficient to repel any at
tack which may he made.
The policemen were dismissed about |
o'clock.
1t is stated upon good authority that some
IF those said to be engaged in the threatened !
are a number Of workmen recent :
y discharged from the navy yard, and to
whom the Government is in arrears over
.we months pay.