East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1861-08-08

| Nicholas. Soon after my arrival Mr.
Weed called on ne and urged me 10
| take quarters at the Astor House, pre-
vious to which had been earnestly re.
, ouested to do so by Mr.. Stetson, to which
, declined, and from the fact that 1t would
produce confusion, as telegraphic dis.
, patches were constantly being received
from the Governors of States and other
} persons.
On the 23d the Union Defense Com
mittee called on me, among whom were
General Dix, Chairman Mr.. Draper,
), Vice Chairman; Ex Governor Fish, Messrs
Esarls, Wetmore, Dehon, Grinnel, Blatch-
ford, Marshall, Sloan aud others. They
desired to know what / was prepared to
do in this hour of great peril to the coun-
try-the capital being in imminent dang
er of being taken by the rebels! L re-
piled, anything that would save the cap
ltal for the preservation OF the Union
depended on its safety. ~ program was
soon arranged, which | approved OF IN
behalf Of tue United States, and immedi-
ately set about carrying it into effect
In this place it may be proper to say that
Il reminded the committee that had as
sulned a fearful responsibility, aud that
probably 1 would be the only victim, but
under the circumstances | was prepared
10 make the sacrifice, if by it the capital
could be saved.
1t must not be forgotten that at this
time the citizens Of the whole North,
East and West were in the highest state
OF excitement, from apprehension that
the capital OF the Union would fall into
possession of the rebels of the South; and
in the city of New York they were ready
to denouuce the Administration, and even
threatened to overturn the government
and elect Dictator, because OF the loss
of Norfolk, with the navy depot-which
had cost many millions-and Harper's
Ferry, where we had an armory for the
manufacture of arms, and the federal
capital in danger of a similar fate; and all,
as was asserted, from the gross neglect
of the Administration to provide the ne
cessary means for their protection.
1t was under such circumstances, with
all communication closed between Wash
ington and the North, that | entered, in
conjunction with the Union defense Com
, mittee, upon the important duties which
! the emergency seemed TO demand. No
, time was to be lost, as it appeared to ev'
ery one with whom | held conversation
in forwarding troops for the defense and
protection OF the capital. The whole
country was organizing and arming with
a determination to march to Washington
On my arrival at New York i found
requiSitons from the Governors OF nine
/: States for arms and ammunition, all o.
7 whom, by my orders, were furnished with
6 a greater or less number of arms, and as
many rounds of ammunition as could be
! spared Prompt and energetic measures
were adopted by myself, as well as the
, committee, to secure the capital. Ships
were chartered, supplies furnished am
troops forwarded with the utmost dis
pacth to Washington via the Potoma,
I River and Chesapeake Bay 10 Annapolis
Y Steamers were sent to protect the ship
g from capture by two privateers reporte'
Il to be OFT Jape Henry. All vessels carry
n ing troops and supplies were either arlne
4 or conveyed to their place of destinatlo
jim all which we were supported an
greatly aided by Commodore Breese.-
u The steamship Quaker City, after land
=, ing her troops at Annapolis, was ordere.
= = to report to Colonel Dinmlck, command
ing Fortress Monroe, to prevent tn
=, Transportation of cannon, etc., from MOI
: liolk 10 Oid Point Comfort to besleg
Il that fortress, aHd also to look out TO
prlvateers and to protect Qua vessels 60
i. ing up tle Potomac aad Oiesapeake bay
t, "a tho requisitioa oil Col. Dimnlck,
ordered provisions, carriages, muni
q tious and implements to Fortress Monroe
Being informed that the troops a
= Washington were short of provisions,
q ordered Major Eaton, until otherwise di
4 rected, to send by Perryville to Annapo
i. lis thirty thousand rations daily. Al
& which was promptly, efficiently, success:
!. fully, aud, without any accident whateve
= excepted; and, as was reported, Saved tn
: metropolis from the ravages of war am
= capture by the rebels OF Virginia an
Maryland.
! Instead of ordering arms to the Gov
!. ernor of Illinois, as applied for, l request
;. Cd him to take possession of the Arsena
4 at st. Louis. L also telegraphed Ex
- Governor Banks to assist the Governo
r. in taking the Arsenal; and for the sam
purpose / sent special messenger to tn
Hon. L. 2. Blair, with the request tha
! he would assist in securing the Arsenal
!, With the return of the messenger re
|. ceived the thanks of Mr.. Blair for the in
terest had manifested in the people Q
/. the West; and the Governor of llinoi
= telegraphed me that he had received fror
o. the Arsenal twenty-one thousand stan
IA of arms, and one hundred and ten thous
O. and rounds of ammunition, two six.pound
os er guns and ammunition for the same.
also, upon the application OF the Gov
ernor, ordered thirty two FOUNDER car
v non, carriages, etc, to be prepared a
W the Alleghany Arsenal for Cairo.
s authorized the Governor of Ne
Hampshire to place the Navy depot an
" harbor OF Portsmouth in state of d'
= tense, without mourning any unnecessar
on expense.
i also gave Governor Andrew pei
"a ...;..;,,,, a., -,cou,v tho forts in BOslO