The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-04
LETTER. FROM cEARLKsToN.

Ar ,nterAstins letter In the Baltimore Amerf
,.sn from Charleston. gives an inside view of
the ofrieial business Of the new Republic -
Al the Governors quarters l found the
r,esi.sf activity. The room filled with
ads writing out orders and dispatches. The
xarious Secretaries eff His Exeeilency, the
Nllitary Chief of the Repub blic, were all en-.
Moved in attending 10 The demands made upon
them
The Governor himself was seated upon a
rostrum facing the entrance, surrounded by
hsf score or mere OF gentlemen in military
updress or in citizens' hsbit. All seemed i'm
nrrssed with anxiety aud concern, and from
what saw going on. ana from what l heard,
inferred that The State considered herself in
an actual state of warfare. The messengers
ina, ran hlther and Ia ther bore military look
ing dispatches. wi III great seals upon them.
The Governor appeared careworn. but de-
,ermined. lie expressed himself to those
about him as engaged In preparation for the
worst He listened to the suggestions of his
advisers, and read the reports of military sub
ordinaies as soon AZ they reached his hand,
and en- the instant issued such directions as
seemed To he necessary. The measures he has
already taken for defence are principally con-
fined 10 the harbor, bsyond Fort Sumter
This post is not generally known TO be almost
IN the middle OF Charleston harbor, half way
between Fort Mouitrie and Morris Island, or
Fort ohnson Fort Johnson is no strong
hold IN aay sense, but merely the sight OF AL
old revolutionary work, on which intrench.
ments are now being thrown up, and batteries
are being erected Morris Island is also the
site for another WORK undergoing construc-
tou. Both the localities bear directly upon
Fort Sumter. aud, besides, command all YES
sells that enter The haroor cn the one side,
while opposite positions Command the rest OF
the entrance to The baT, that before any
craft vessel of wsr Is able 10 reach Fort
Snmter she viii have 10 encounter the
breast tworks. batteries sc. erected on the out
side.
TO the left OF the q bernaio iorial quarters is
chamber occupied by number OF staff off,
Ger, These gen ntlemen were in the midst OF
business. A. long green balze 0e extended
nearly from end 10 end Of the room. Ii was
literally covered with pm .ers, while the floor
of the room was IL AT eq uaIly unfortunate con-
dition. There WAS no iouBging on the part OF
any one. The men ali looked 10 he thoroughly
immersed in business; many OF them were
busy WritiBg out orders, Dich were promptly
delivered TO men in waiting none were idle.
, Gud aff&irs of the greatest moment appeared TO
occupy every one. The Governor is quite up
10 The mark of promptness which the ardor OF
the peo ole demands. All under him are bound
TO re active, aud all that liveliness accom-
pllsh will be coue, you may rest assured.
/ should give you some description of the
Governors apartment. Il is in tho second
story OF the City Hall, the seat of municipal
and magi,tsrial justice, corner of Broad and
NESTING streets. The Recorders Courtroom
is he frat you enter on the story above he
basement. Passing through this you asce.d
10 the second story by broad and winding
staircase of mahogany until you are brought
up in front of the Mayors office, which of it-
sefis most luxuriousIy furnished apartment,
bsing ftted up with heavy red damask cur.
tains mirrors gilded frames, marble mantles,
richly papersd walls, heavy velvet chairs,
luxurious sofas aud rich BRUSSELS carpets.
Adjoining his retreat of official dignity is
the Executive Chamber. piacaTd on he
door, post give Information of the fact. You
pass the vigilance Of a sentinel aud brush
through a crowd of military men 10 attend.
"a
presence. The first thing that strikes the eye
is a d.is or rostrum. in appearance something
like the reading desk of II church. only ii is
covered with dark red velvet and bestreWn
with papers, inkstaGds and pens. The Pri-
vale Secretary of the Governor occupied it
when was first admitted int tue a ,ar tment
and be WAS as busy as al. the rest, writing.
Above Is desk is u bust OF Calhoun, and
leaning against the wall below il is a dozen or
more OF long, black ebony rods, with ,old
heads, which am told are used on State oc-
casIons by high functouaries. They are ch iefy
carried in the hand when professions are
moving and belong, l believe, TO the Alder
men and Mayor of the city.
The entire room is richly furnished, and lie
OF large dimensions. Al this time it was IN
much confusion, owing to the great amount
OF business transacted All around the walls
rich pictures, portraits, busts, &c, were sus-
pended giving an air of refinement 10 the
apartment in perfect keeping with its other
appointments.
Iu front of the dais, and indeed scattered all
over the room, were writing tables, wi b
clerks and aids III woik-giving the whole
place exactly the appearance of q drawing
room suddenly trans ferred in TO an editors or
reporters quarters. About the grand old fire.
place knot OF military officers were gather.
ed in conversation; among these the Governor
freely circ culated, and seer,ed anxious to par.
ticipate in what was going on.
SiDce the affair of Fort Sumter, our military
ardor has been up TO the highest pitch-each
day has brought into existence new compa.
N md hy no
oughly warlike appearance. Militsry uni.
forms, of the homeliest character, swarm the
streets. None but Southern made wooden
goods are worn, except perhaps the cloth of
faer texture l noticed on some of the SOL
dlers, which, They tell me. is imported from
England direct.
We have had rumors thai the steamer Har-
riet Lane had been dispatched or is about
being dispatched, with reintorcements for Col.
Anderson at Fort Sumter. The Governor is
determined to intercept her at Morris Island,
three miles below the fort, where earthworks
are being erected, composed Of Palmetto logs
and sand. Similar earthworks are bel ng erect
ed on the other side of the channel, at the
lower end Of Sullivan's Island, SO that she
will have to pass thr ough raking fire, and it
10 believed that she will be sunk fore she can
reach the fort. The Citadel Cadets have their
battery on Sulliyan's Island, and have charge
OF the detences at that point The Vigiiant
Rifles are stationed on Morris Island, near
the Light House. and their guns have full
command OF the ship channel The company
Of Zouazes have been stationed at another
point with powerful battery near the m ou III
OF the harbsr. livery defencihie point of the
hArbor is In possession of armed men
No aehuite movement has yet been made for
an attack on Fort Sumter, though rumors ara
abundant in relation To some movement in
that direction. The ramor the street ia
that IL is tc be starved out and then stormed
by large parties Of men on rats, protec ted by
the batteries from the shores. Major Ander.
son, however. is undoubtedly beleaguered
but is believed to be In possession OF abun-
dant su pplies, and should the fortress be at.
tackled he can hold out long enough to receive
snccor il ii ie the nteniion OF the Govern
nent TO make any movement In that direction.
The number Of arms In the United States
Arsenal, which is now in full possession Of
the State has been greatly exaggerated
They do not exceed IS .0U0 stand, instead of70-
oV, and many of them old hint locks.
The city is nightly paIrolled by the military.
Though there IL no fear OF the negroes or any
enemies within the city, il is thought neces
sary TO drill the new recruits in all The stern
realities Of the soldiers life.
Preparations are making 10 fortify some of
The points Of the harbor with cotton bales,
covered with u foot of earth, SO as TO prevent
t0eir confiagration from hot shot that may be
used from Fort Sumter. Chsranx de Jrtsc and
othsr obsructions are being devised TO drop
an Inc channel TO prevent any vessels.of war
from comingin. All the buoys In the channel
are being removed. and the lights on the coast
VIII oe exunguished 30 soon as IL is ascer.
LAinsd that any naval vessel 10 approaching.
Ins coast 10 the NEST dangerous in the coun-
Try.
The military on the coast, unused as they
are 70 such exposure aud hardships, ARE sur.
fering greatly. The weather has been ute
ooic, as Well as damp and dsagreeable, and
taeiI relatives In the city are in great dis tress
ascut them. The realities Of practical seces-
sion are already found to be much more ssrt-
ous than wa: anticipated, although ths first
gan has not been fired yet
I lsarp to-day thai ths Post. oncs nsn.r,.
nnsnt at Washington has refused TO NH an or