Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1861-02-09
PROM PORT SUMTER.


officers and men Mt Fl Sumter, in antici-
/, patton Of possible attack, was announced
by telegraph several days since. Yester-
day the steamer Marion arrived from Char
lesion, having among her passengers these
persons, fifty-six in all, twenty eve of them
being children.
I They were embarked by order Of Major
( Anderson, for the double purpose Of reliev-
I ing the garrison and placing theRI out of
/ danger in case an attack should be made.
They all appeared 10 good health, and gave
no indications Of having suffered by their
! six weeks residence at the fort. They
were all respectfully and comfortably clad
and appear 20 have been well prepared for
coming from a comparatively mild to
= cold climate in mid-winter. With
few exceptions they appeared in .ood
spirits, and some of them even in a
cheerful hnmor, and were not At all iu-
eliucd to put a bad face upon affairs in
I Sumter. Themore intelligentaud thought
/ full among them, however, appeared AK
iOus and careworn. They had taken leave
Of their husbands with heavy hearts. aud
/ might never see them again. The sight of
so many women. many of them intelligent
and lady-likc, with little families Of help
less children elinging 70 them for support
and protection, was calculated to excite
deep cOmmisseration.
As soon as their arrival could be made
known at the Quartermaster's Department,
/ 10 State street, a Sfenm-tug was chartered
TO convey them all 70 fort Hamilton, where
arrangements have been made for their re-
eeptiOn. A portion of them eVinced some
shyness about giving information concern
ing the state of the garrison they had left,
evidently fearful TINT it might, in some
way, operate to the prejudice of Major An
dersOn and his command; but a somewhat
prolonged interview with them by our re-
Porters, enabled them to gather particulars
which they generally admitted to be cor
rect.
THE FORCE IL THE FORT.
There had been no reinforcement of
Major Anderson up to the time of their
leaving, on Friday last. Seventy nine
persons, including the officers and band,
and exclusive of a working corps of some
twenty men, under Capt Foster, constitute
the whole garrison force generally felt
to be insufficient for a rigorous or pro-
Iouged defence of the place. ait is n
shame said one of the most intelligent of
the party, shat they should be left there
to be destroyed; it the Government cannot
send them help, they ought to let them
come away" When Lieut.. Talbot return
ed from Washington, the command were
assembled, and tue decision of the Presi-
dent communicated to them. The ex-
pressions of confidence repOsed in them
by. the authorities at Washington gave
them new heart, and every man declared
he would fight to tho last, aud die rathor
than surrender
a great many guns have been mounted
on the second and third tiers, and they are
now in as good condition to defend the
fort as they will ever be. excepting that
they are short-hauded. A light ia kent
bnruing throughout the night in each Of
the classmates, and everything ready for
instant action. There is no lack of ammu-
milton, and any quantity of Erenades of n
destructive character have been prepared
for use at close quarters. There have been
desertionsi no diEafFection exists, and the
entire command entertain the highest re-
spect aud even admiration for Major
Anderson, with whom they are ready to
stand or fall in their country's defence
PROVISIONS.
For the first time during their stay at
the fort, they received quantity of fresh
beef on Thursday lasts but they could
not tell where it came from, or whether
Arrangements bad been made to obtain
continued supply. This was probably
the fresh meat sent over by Major Clyush,
referred to in the correspondence of the
Times. The rations have consisted of
salt provisions, with beans and moder
ate quantity of vegetables. The -four is
reduced to twenty days supply, and
hard bread Is dispensed with twice a week
to exc it out. Ot sugar and coffee, half
barrel of each is belivcd to be all there Is
left. The oil is also getting low, and the
greatest economy is practiced in the use of
these latter articles. There is "A good sup
ply of pork and beef, which must consti-
tute the main reliance OfAthe garrison, un
less they are soon supplied.
They could procure nothing at Charles
ton--not even pair of shoes for "a child.
They were taken from the fort in .tCapt.
ThomPson's old schooner" directly toIthe
Marion, but they did not leave Charleston
until Sunday on account of the weather.
Meantime they were visited by many of the
chivalrous Carolinians, who did their best
to alarm tue fears of these poor. women
and children by assurances that they
would soon attack the fort-that their
floating batteries were nearly ready, and
| that the fort would certainly be taken with
in few days. Some of them asserted
that Wednesday had been determined ON as
the day for the attack
As the Marion passed Fort Sumter on
her way out, the Whole garrison assembled
on the ramparts, and gave them three
parting cheers; which were tsarfnlly re-
sPonded to by the departing women and
children. Great anxiety was evinced BY
them to know the Coarse events were like
| y to take, and the most earnest wishes
were exPressedthat affairs might be peace
ably settled, and without bloodshed. The
4GriOR came out through the SWash chan
incl.
All the news that comes to hand indi-
Gates that Major Anderson will not be al