The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-08
SECRET MOVEMENTS OF UNITED STATES
TROOPS.


SUPPOSED REIEFCRcExERrs FOR THE GARRISON OF
FORT sUMTER-RKORTED MYSTERIOUS DEPAR-
rURE THE STAR or THE wEsT-ATTrTUpE
OF SOUTH CAROLIFA.
The rumors which prevailed in this city on Sunday last
that there something in the wino' about Cover
nors Island the OF great excitement and pub
lie Tho report, which II now appears was not
altogether unfoonded the that considera
bic o. federal troops had been quietly removedfrom
the stand garrison TO unsnown point Thepecaliar
situation Of affairs in South CARO- ma II course, very
naturally pointed 10 that region of country the desti
ton Of tho troops. The embarkaton and transfer
~ the soldiers, u is said, were effected
during Saturday night last with little
noise az possible The steamer star of the West,
which arrived this port FROM havana Monday last,
was az have learned the capacious vessel Sc
ected the conveyance of the military and wariko
stores which TO be sent South According TO the
usual practice and in accordance with public advertise
rnent this steamer should have left New York for Ha
yana aud New Orleans yesterday this morning. but
instead Of this she suddenly disappeared from the har-
Dor at time when expected her departure. The
fact is that private arrangements are said TO have
been made for the charter Of the vessel, aud
the preliminary management had been conducted
with much skill and prudence that nothing
was known to the public until tine steamer
far away her trip II was not long, however, be-
fore ubiquitous reporter got upon the scent All tue
secrecy and mystery Of the Governors Island folks
were useless TO blind his clear vision But all COM
uncaon with the island positively nterdicted il
was TO impossible TO obtain anything 5ke reliable
information That the troops had been embarked during
Saturday night, and that the steamer had slipped her
cabes and put to early sunday morning. there was
scarcely any doubt at all expressed There wake
avenue to observe the steahy midnight Of blue
coated soldery, but the only difficulty was to ascertain
their destination Some people thought that they
sent 10 Washington, others that they intended TO
garrison and protect unoccupied federal FORTS but the
majority very clearly Of opinion that Fort Sumter
and Major Anderson had something to do with the
ment.
II is very well known that good deal Of activity has
been manifested in the enlistment Of recruits Cover
nors Island for several weeks past The drum call has
ratified the island early ate and passengers by the
ferry boats cannot have failed % witness the unceasing
industry evinced in the drilling Of recruits. Since
communication with the island has been suspended, by
der Of the officers in command but very few soldiers
are to be seen moving about the isand and until fresh
recruits are enrolled it will be time before such
active exercises again witnessed there.
The difficult position Of Major Anderson in Fort
Sumter had it is Lrumored, attracted the attention of
the merchants Of New York Everybody seemed to ap-
prove Of the action of this officer while of his
admirers we're laundering forth saivos Of artillery
his honor through various parts of the country the
practical men were seeking ~ send him prompt
and ene,tual relief For several days past
number Of wealthy merchants OF this city had been
making arrangements to send him supplies and reinforce
ments This not with the intention Of exciting the
people Of South Carolina but for the purpose OF placing
the gallant Major and his little garrison In position TO
maintain themselves against any sudden and formidable
ali SIDES and the number Of seut, as we'll as
the other necessary preminaries, were fully settled
The proposed commander OF the expedition had pro-
all the supplies necessary for the OCCASION such
preserved meats desscated vegetables COAL and other
articles of which the garrison Of Fort Sumter sup
posed TO be greatly In need.
Everything readiness for the departure of the
expedition saturday morning. when il was discovered
that the government had ANTICIPATED the patriotic pur
pose of the parties concerned and that General
Scott had tee aphed orders TO this city for the mne
date embarkalon OF two hundred and nifty men, with all
the necessary munitions o. and that the force should
be instantly 1espatched to the South The astute and
wary commander Of the American forces was appears
not satisfied with mere teegraphc message IN so i'm
portan matter. After teegapnng, he despatched Col
Thomas in person to tbs IS city to see 70 tht
other necessary arrangements It, therefore seems that
strong reiniorcements have been sent to the relief Of
Major Anderson, and may now, momenty, look fol
very important intelligence from South Carolina. The
star OF the West III reach Charleston sometime thin
ternoon, and we may fairly anticipate the reception Of
Geographic advices before evening Tho troops and pro
visions thus sent WILL OF course be thrown into the
sged fortress at all hazards and all the circumstane
which have tianspred be strictly correct it will be little
less than miracle 10 prevent hostile collision Under
1 all circumstances, the garrison OF Fort Sumter
are reported to BIO determined not TO surrender, and
| u is wen known that tue small corps Of sol
4 dicrs have sworn 10 stand firmly 10 one another
and to their commander. The intelligence that IL
now expected IRON Charleston is big win mpor tancs
tho fate Of the nation. la tho present excited state
of the South il is next 10 impossible that Major Andor
sons rcnforcements can be landed without resistance
ard Ia 70 Of
GUS affair.
We, also learn that order has been re
Inent, directing all the available troops on thi:
station 10 be mustered and critically inspected at Cover
sent at roll CALL the utmost strctness is exercised In
making out the daily liberty lists and soldier is allow
cd TO leave tho island except by special permission All
Tho remaining troops in garrison held in readiness for
immediate departure.
AS we said before there Is much mystery connected
with the movements the island Notin 3 al,ycd 10
iranspro that can by any possibility be conceded No
enquiry made OF officer by of reporters he
received the epy in the clssic language OF Congress
that the whole thing was "A - lie"
The steamship Columbia from Charleston arrived here
yesterday afternoon with fifty four cabin passengers
sumter reporter Of this psper had conversation
with Of thesfpassengers lie states that the excite
ment IN South Carolina is as greet now as ever Every
thing there at fever heat lie also informs that the
reports about the sucrgs Of The people of Charleston
utterly false. There Is no dissatisfaction among the
troops any necessity forced loans The supplies
from the interior were as large usual.
Every precauton had been taken protect the habor
OF Charleston and to prevent the possibility of the
entrance OF any vessels especially at night The buoys
have all been removed and the pilots nterdicted
from bringing vessels INTO port II Is therefore almost
impossible fo my vessel 70 enter Charleston harbor at
the present time.
For important political intelligence from Vir.
| ginia, see 6fth page.
0rTn1Tc MArrRs.-we glad 10 state that
arrangements have been made by which he
l associated artists viii 10 anahlei 10 civc ,