The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-11
Our Situation-What Has Transpired
I'm the Last Twenty-four Hours.

I'm the Last Twenty -four Hours.
Intelligence has reached us within the last
twenty-four hours of events transporting in
various quarters Of the country pregnant with
the most alarming symptoms of impending
danger, which seem to be momentarily hurry
ing us towards inevitable civil war.
The news published in the morning papers
yesterday that the steamship Star of the West,
with United States troops for Fort Sumter, had
been fred into by the South Carolina State
militia at Morris Island, and was compelled to
put out to sea, created the most intense excite
ment all over the city, until at late hour it was
announced by the bulletins at the newspaper
Offices that Mrs. MCGOWAN, the wife of the COM
mander of the steamer, had received despatch
from her husband stating that the Star of the
West had arrived at Charleston, and that the
troops were landed at the tort. Then the most
buoyant feeling was manifested everywhere,
and people began to feel that terrible Gala
nifty had been averted.
But subsequent intelligence from Charleston
changed all this feeling to one of alarm and
CONSERVATION, for IL confirmed the truth OF the
first despatch-the steamer had been fired into,
and the troops Of the government had not been
landed at Fort Sumter. As this intelligence
spread on the wings Of the telegraph through
out the country, the effect produced upon the
public mind in all quarters was that We were
on the eve Of war. The first gun had been fred,
and the end Of the struggle no man could FORE
see. Dispatches from Richmond indicated that
the most fearful excitement reigned in the Dor
der State Of Virginia, and the effect Of the news
upon other Southern States might be easily
anticipated.
Following close upon this startling intclli-
gcncc of an overt act Of hostility on the part Of
South Carolina came the news that North Caro-
lima had seized upon the forts in that State;
that the steam frigate Brooklyn had been des-
patched from Norfolk under sealed orders, and
that she had been passed at sea bearing south
ward; that the steamer Joseph Whitney had
sailed from Boston, laden with coal, provisions
and troops, for some port in Florida. Then
came the account Of the actual secession OF
Mississippi on Wednesday, and preparatory
steps taken yesterday by Florida and Alabama
to follow her out Of the Union.
In the midst Of all this exciting intelligence
dispatches were received from New Orleans
last night to the effect that all the militia were
ordered out by Governor Moore; that all the
United States forts and arsenals had been taken
possession of amidst the enthusiastic plaudts
of the people, and that assurances had been re-
ceived there that Texas and Florida would i'm
mediately follow the example; and there il
very little doubt that the government forts and
arsenals are now in the hands Of the authorities
OF those States, so that when the troops on
board The Joseph Whitney arrive they will find
no forts IN Florida to garrison, Another sig
nificant piece of news which reached us was
that The steamship Marion, Of the Charleston
| line, he'd been seized by the State Of South
Carolina for its own service.
] And all this budget Of news -iecming with