The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1861-02-13
Especial Correspondence of the Chicago Tribune.
Raid Upon Washington.

ERAL SCOTT.


ERAL SCOTT.
WAsHsNePoN, Feb 8, 1S61.-The excite
ment and alarm in relation to the seizure of
the Capital by the insurgents in Virginia
and Maryland, have been again provoked by
recent developments made to Gen. Scott and
the Cabinet. Ispeak that uhih I knou,
when ! say that the fancied security of this
week past has given way, and that in the
circles composed of men whose business it
is to guard this place, the utmost apprehen-
sion exists. The alarm, wisely enough, has
not been communicated to the public hence
the property holders and others here who
have permanent interests in the prosperity
of the city still fancy that the storm has
passed over and that they may 60. to bed in
peace. But there is no doubt that widely
extended conspiracy for the armed occupa-
ton of Washington exists and to that end
the minute men oftwo adjoining States are
drilled, now, as the time approaches, daily
The plan is supposed to be to bring into the
city quietly before given day, a sufficient
number of secessionsts with arms, and on a
prcconcerted night and given hour, come
forth from their hiding places and take pos.
session of the great public buillings-the
Capital, the Post Office, the War and Navy
Departments, &c.-and, as each one ofthesc
has the strength and solidity of first class
fertilization, hold them, as they might, un-
til reinforeements could come. Letters set.
ting forth these plans with great particularly
are constantly coming to the officers of the
Cabinet from all parts of the South. They
are from sources which entitle them to the
utmost respect, and they arc addressed to
men who cannot be fooled by bug. "a boos
which alarmists invent Sufficient for me
to say that they are, after being compared
with each other, sifted out and examined, as
far as practicable, in regard to their alleged
facts, convincing to the military men here :;
ard that Gen. Scott has made them and the
result of his independent observations the
subject of a communication to the President
as Commander-in-C Chief in which he does
not hesitate to declare that the safety of the
city is imperiled and that against the forces
in organization for attack, he cannot answer
for its safety with the means at his command
The President is still v;.ciating and doubt
ful-promising to-day and retracting to
morrow-advising with Scott and Holt in
the morning, and sending for Slidell in the
afternoon. He will not see, or, seeing, will
fully disbelieves, the danger and hoping
that nothing will be required, leaves every
thing undone. There are about seven hun.
dred troops in the city, with some twenty
four pieces of artillery but in the event of
trouble they would not be promptly backed
by the military of the District and by
themselves they are far too few to stand
against the overpowering force that Mary
land and Virginia would launch against
them. But Gen. Scott is as untring as he
is jealous, and whatever he can get permits
sion to do, he will do with an eye single to
the peace and safety of the country and it
is possible that his preparations may be so
complete before the day Of the contemplated
attack comes, that the reasonable effort will
be indefinitely postponed. We shall see
In the meantime do not suppose that am
writing letter for a sensation merely my
information comes direct from the highest
sources.