The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-04-08
THE APPROACH OWL
w "A RI
ARMY AND NAVY PREPARATIONS.
. X EAT EACITEMENIN IN NEW HVRk
Sailing Of the Atlantic and Illinois.
&c.. SC, &c.

The New York papers contain the particu-
lars Of the preparations at that point for the
military expedition to the South. The number
of troops concentrated at the different stations
in the port is some thing over 500, including the
Sappers and Miners who arrived there few
days ago from Washington. They are located
as follows: At Governors Island, 1,lO0 al
Bedloe's Island, 2!o !; at Fort Hamilton, 203
at Fort Lafayette, 199; at the Brooklyn Navy.
Yard, ss6--total, Q ,65s. The Herald says:
On Governors Island the men are constant.
ly under arms. Manpuvres and evolutions
are the order of the day, and the drum CORPS
and buglers may be seen and heard any morn
ing practising on the sunny side Of the Island
Large supplies Of ammunition and other war
material have for some time past been taken
from the island and placed on board the ves-
the relief of Fort Pickens. As yet these sup
plies have not reached their intended destina.
ton, and there is little probability that they
ever will without a struggle. The fact of Fort
force at the disposal of thesecessionists. and
already divisions Of this force have arrived al
Florida, while other divisions are daily ex.
pectad there. Fort Pickens is, therefore the
supposed rendezvous of the drafts of United
States troops now under arms in the forts in
our harbor, and who are hourly eXpec ting the
order to start. From thence, then, will come
the first clash of arms. 1t must be the fer
vent hope of all men, North and South, that
the ca tastTopre will be averted, and that Meth
er section will lose lone drop of blood ON this
hot trial" 1"
The soldiers at Fort Hamilton were paid of
on Wednesday last, preparatory to receiving
marching orders, and officers who had but a
few days before obtained leave of absence, are
hurrying back and reporting themselves at
their respective posts as ready for duty.
AT Fort Lafayette additional troops have
arrived, but not to make permanent stay
pnfr
walls, and a feverish anxiety to know upon
what point the troops will be concen ira ted
Working detachments are busily employ ed in
making up, according to military usage hay,
oats and stores of every description for EN- :
barkation. Companies Cand + Third regiment
of infantry, have received orders TO be ready
at a moments notice to embark destiua tion
not stated. The first move will be on board
the Powhatan, which is taking in war mate
rials and large quantities of supplies for the
subsistence of tho troops.
The Harriet Lane, Omitted States revenue
cutterD with full complement of soldiers
and marines, sailed from Quarantine yester-
Pday morning. but returned to the city last
evening. Rumor indicates that she will be
sent to Fort Pickens.
AT ten O'Clock last night, says the n. York
World, our Army and Navy Reporter return
ed from visit to all the forts at this station
There is not the slightest doubt that, to- NOR
row or Sunday, q large force of army soldiers
will leave for some unknown des tinaton. -
yesterday, the last move preparatory to march
ing. Officers Were arriving from Washington
individually, all day yesterday and, carpet
bags in hand, reporting themselves for duty.
The village of Fort Hamilton was like a
stormed citadel. Troops, who had just got
their money, having been indulging freely in
stimulants, thronged the side walks in knots
of from five to ten, boisterously disc scussing
the affairs of the nation
Fort Lafayette, near Hamilton, New York
harbor, has been garrisoned. A troop Of Sap
pers and Miners arrived from the Federal
capital on Wednesday night late, and were
Quartered at that fort there being no room in
the opposite one. Detachments of picket
men were engaged all yesterday prepar-
ing hay, is, ambulance and stores for EN-.
barkation, and getting places ready for the ac-
expect ted last night. Companies & and L OF
the Third Infantry have been under marching
orders since Tuesday. This evening the sol
diers ordered from Governors Island will, il
is reported go up to Hamilton, and there gc
on board 4 steamer, (probably the U. S. steam
frigate Powhatan,) which is to convey them
to Florida.
The hustle and excitement continued yes
terday at the Navy-Yard and army depots
Men We're kept working all Wednesday hight
and last night on board he steam frigate Pow.
hatan. Yesterday large force of laborers
employed on board of her were reinforced by
the crew, lately detached, who assisted in
getting in the various necessities for a special
cruise, and were pushing forward the general
preparations. Even while they were at din
ner on board the North Carolina, hands were
put on to replace them in hurrying np the
ship.
Washington dispatch to the New York
Tribune, Thursday, says:
No Disguise is affected in regard to the send
ing of supplies to the vessels of war and
Fort Pickens. They are ample for presen,
and future necessities. Instructions have
also been forwarded which are intended tC
Il
and prepare to cooperate with the fort, if q
signal should be given.
Commodore Stringham, who was recently
ordered here by the Secretary of the Navy, tC
act as assistant to him, has been suddenly de
tailed to the Minnesota for special service al
home. The Powhatan, which has Just re.
turned, and was about to be repaired and
some smaller vessels, will accompany him on
this expedition. The urgency is neces sarily
positive, or the Powhatan would not be or
dered in her present condition, when she is
unfit for a long voyage.
The companies of Sappers and Miners
which left here yesterday have Southern
destination, and are to go on board one OF
these vessels. They will be replaced by some
OF The troops just returned from Texas, for il
- not thought expedient, ut this time, tC
withdraw any considerable portion of the de
fenslVe force from Washingto ton. On the con.
trary, there are indications which may re.
q uire II to be augmented imme 9iately.
Whlle the newspapers are harplng upon a
want of policy in the Administration, the Pre-
sident has been earnestly engaged, day after
day, with his Cabinet, and others high in the
confidence OF the country, as to the best mode
of meeting this crisis, and meeting it tho.
roughly. Great responsibilities like those
now involved which require all the powers
under the Constitution to be examined care
fully and calmly, with a view to the legal
justification OF every position that may be as
sumed, cannot be determined in day, and
they demand almost cotemporaneous prepa-
"a n 81 rfrpa an fS fprc rfain n,,,-
tingencies which may be accepted.
The Attorney General has now before him
several important questions, which affect
peace or war substantially as his opinions
shall be received by the Cotton States. First
as to the power of the President to collect the
duties on shipboard, and next, rs to the extent
OF his authority to call out volunteers in GER
tain emergency. His decision on these points
and some others, may determine an extra ses-
sion, and, for reasons obvious to all in teli.
gent minds, that resort will be avoided if pos.
sible; but 1t may be necessary. In the mean.
time the Administration must prepare gra-
dually, so that if the Reyolutionists should
strike, as they threaten, the blow may not tall
injuriously. a
So far as Fort Sumter is concerned no final
decision has been taken. meeting of the
Cabinet will be held TO morrow, when that
matter must be concluded. Major Anderson
supplies are fast getting exhausted, and they
must be renewed, or he must be withdraw
or starvation and surrender are inevitable. -
These are the alternatives presented. Offers
have been made to the Government TO intro.
duce supplies, bat they are attended with
risks which may well cause hesitation. The
golden opportunity was lost when the Star OF
the West turned back.
Commodore Pauldirg has been ordered to
take the place in the Navy Department recent
ly filled by Comm odore Stringham.
Commodore Pendergast, Southern man
has been detached from the command of tht
Home Squadron, and Com. Siringham has
been substituted in his place. The vessels
hereafter named a1e either in commission OF
under orders, and all of them will be ready fol
active service within one week
N.x.s usaa f,,ns