The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1861-01-23
From the ". J. Herald, Jan 22.l
ANTICIPATED ATTACK ON THE BROOKLYN


STORM THE NAVY YARD-THE NORTH CAROLINA TO
BE TAKEN.
AT an early hour yesterday evening an unusually
large number of military were seen proceeding to
the Brooklyn armory in Henry street. This ex-
cited no attention at first, as it was naturally
thought that the men were about to ''play at sol
diers" in their usual harmless drill; but as the even
ing wore on, and the number Of men became aug
mented far beyond the ordinary force of a company
it was begun to be suspected that something serious
was on the tapis; and the state of affairs in the
South was, as matter Of course, supposed to have
something to do with this unusual gathering of cit
izen soldiery. As the men continued to pour into
the armory, singly and in twos, threes, ours, and
larger numbers, attempts made to ascertain
from them the reason for their assembling but to
all questions tending thitherward they were obsti
nately mute probably for the best Of all reasons.
that they did not know themselves.
For some days previous order had been pro-
mulgated that the Fifth brigade should turn out
and proceed to the armory on hearing ten strokes
from the City Hall BELL as in this city where there
is na rfba Sc a h m smhsTs
hearing twelve strokes of the bell of our CITY Hail.
Accordingly, every ear was strained to hear the
alarm, but to no purpose, as no tocsin sounded
This was new source OF perplexity. The doors
of the armory were crowded by dense mass of
people, all anxious to know what was in the wind,
but to no purpose. Some endeavored to effect an
entrance, but orders had been given to the stern
Cerebus at the door to admit one not in uniform
any account. Soon it began to be rumored that
the red0ubtable Marshal Rynders was gathering
together large force of men opposedR to coercing
the South, for the purpose OF making night at
tack on the Navy Yard, which he expected to carry
in the present crippled state of the Yard. Theplan
said to embrace the capture of the North Caro-
lima, and the turning of her guns on any force
that might be sent against the fbusters These
rumOrs, however, were generally discredted, and
the excitement did not spread much beyond the
armory.
1t is a fact, however, that there was some slight
ground for the precautions which were taken. Dur
ing the afternoon information reached CAPTAIN
Foote, in command of the Navy Yard, in the alb
sence of Commodore Breeze, who is in Phadel-
phia, whence he is expected to return to-day, that
an attempt would be made by a mob from New
York, consisting of several thousand men, to gain
possession Of the Navy Yard. That officer inme-
dately sought conference with Mayor Powell,
and requested his cooperation in devising means
for the security of the national property in the
Navy ard, and the prevention of acts similar to
those which have taken place in some of the South
ern States. The result was that application was
made to the Police Commissioners, who gave or
ders for an extra police force to be placed on duty
Towards evening, in compliance with these or
ders, the whole of the police captains in the seve-
raj districts assembled at the Inspectors Office in
the basement of the City Hail. where private
conference was held with Inspector Folk, and the
whole OF the arrangements made. 1t was observ-
ed, too, that occasionally police captain or two
would return, and after some conversation with the
inspector retire. Speculatons were rife in regard
TO the precise nature and occasion of these myste
ri0us conferences, but the gentlemen of the brass
buttons were generally as silent as Harpocrates
himself, or, when they did condescend to speak as
obscure as the Delphian oracle. Our reporter sue
ceeded in ascertaning, however, that $50 men, in
addition to the usual night force had been plaeed
on duty, concealed in places contiguous to the Ma
Wy Yard, so that at the first alarm their services
could be had in requisition. As matter of course
each man well armed.
Application was also made to Major Gen. Duryea
nr1nr Dr.
prepared with the Fifth Brigade of Militia for any
emergency that might arise. Accordingly, the
following Regiments were ordered to assemble at
the Armory:
Thirteenth Regiment COL Abel Smith.
Fourteenth Regiment, Col A. NJ. Wood.
Twenty-eighth Regiment, Col. Bennett
The Seventeen Regiment, Col. Samuel Graham,
was ordered from duty at the State Arsenal on
Portland avenue. These several orders were
promptly obeyed, and that was the cause of the
unusual assembage at the armory.
Nor were precautions neglected at the Navy
ard There are now in the yard one hundred
United States marines under the command of Cap
tain Reed. Ball cartridges were served out to all
the men who were ordered to be ready for active
duty at moments notice; the guards were doubled
at all points, and every means adopted to guard
against surprise, sufficient force of the harbor
police was also at hand 1t is due to the gallant Of
fcers of the Navy Yard to say that they did not
seem to regard the rumor of threatened attack in
any serious light, but still they performed their
n
formation that they had received. In what man
ner that information was conveyed, by the way, has
not transpired.
If, however, any attack had been made on the
North Carolina or the Navy Yard, by anv number
of fllibusers, ambitious of apeing the acts of the
secessionists of the Caroinas Georgia, &c.. it is
some satisfaction to know that preparations oh an
adequate scale were made to repulse them, and
maintain intact the inviolability of the American
flag, and it may have yet a good moral effect on
those reckless spirits-if any such there be-who
may be induced to try so desperate game as the |
seizure of the Navy Yard and national vessel in
they not likely to "catch a weasel asleep but
on the contrary most tremendous "Tartsr," and
wide awake, too.
Among the thousand rumors that were afoat was
one that named James E. Kerrigan, the member |
elect of Congress, at the head of the alleged in
movement. 1t was said that he had
ten thousand men to lead on to victory. The night
wore on, however, and came to end without |
Carnage and cutting of throats," and when day |
dawned the North Carolina and the Brooklyn Navy |
Yard still under the stars and stripes, and in
hands of the federal authorities, where may they
ever remain.
ALEXANDER VATTEMAaE.-He saws his letters Of |
fering valuable collection of books to libraries |
remain unanswered! Here is a proof of his deter
minaton to make us known "to the ends of the |
earth" He has established library of American |
works (400 volumes) in Teheran, in Persia! Three
or four of his rooms are crowded with books in va
rious angua es all conceivable subjects, in part
American works for Europe, the rest European |
and Asiastc works for America. One large pile |
ne designs for Boston. Among the collections re-
ceived from The King of Holland for exchange is |
set of publications by the great Musical Society of
Amsterdam. / noted several overtures, mass, |
1ontum Ergo, and TIE Deum, all in full score, and
several of the annual reports. These works will go |
to the Public Library in Boston.-Phila. Enquirer.
letter to the New Orleans Delta from Vera I
Cruz, say that Uncle Sans credit is of no account
in that city since the arrival of late news. The
United States have considerable squadron in that
port, and the navy bills have been eagerly sought
at par heretofore by dealers, but they will not
receive them at any discount.
oil wells, in the western part of Pennsylvania,
were known to the Seneca Indians more than |
hundred years ago, and by settlers in the region
seventy years ago.