New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-01-21
The Georgia Secession Ordinance.
FORT p1cKENs TO BE ATTACKED.
LOUISIANA FOR SECESSION.
Patriotic Position Of Maryland.
hRTTERs FROM THE PEOPLE.
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.
A TEMPORARY CALM-INCIDENTs.

CHARLESTON, S. c., Jan. l6, 1s6l,}
Wednesday, a. III.
The stirring events of the past week have been
succeeded by a general calm. The community is
under the impression that the mission of Col.
uayne and Lieut. Hail to Washington will resalt
in the withdrawal of Major Anderson from Fort
Sumter, and perhaps the restoration of matters in
the baTbor TO where they were before lhe ovae-
nation Of Fort Monltiie. But the leaders do not
fllly share that belief and it is for this reason
that The Mercury this morning exborts the au-
liberties to continue with rabated zeal the
preparations for defense and conflict. And those
preparations DO go ON. The men at the forts and
batteries are just as active as before. There is
now but one idea, which ia, in the event that the
mission to Washington should fail, the stOrming
of Fort Sumter.
Though there is but little excitement, the city
and its suburbs are little less than military en-
campment. Morning noon, aud night, at all
hours, soldiers thrOng the streets; some in gay
Uniform, some in military undress, others in
blouses and caps; some with swords some with
muskets, and others dawdling along without
etber. At nearly all hours of the day, there are
drills and exercises on Citadel Green, where
usually the dragons, toward evening, cut the
greatest fgere late ut nights you may hear
squads Of sOldiers ON foot and horseback, tramp
ing to aud from points of embarkation. Nov
and then there go laundering through the streets
immense "a and 32-pound cannon, drawn by Is
or 90 mules, mounted by as many negroes. At
other tmes, full uniform company, with gay
music, march through the streets, to or from
duty. All this keeps up lively scene, aud ai-
fords topic enough for the kOuDgers and moving
crowds in the streets and ON the corners.
Meanwhile Gov. Pickens, with some of his ad-
visers is at his heaquarters at the Courthouse.
They have work enough to do, nor does eTcry-
thing 60 smoothly, if the gossip may be creditad.
Though the Governor is o man who enjoys the
reputstjon of being " insensible to fear" he is
yet deficient in some other qualities supposed to
be quite essential TO his position in times like
these. He il not master fpirit, and fancy
be would be glad to get rid of the Legislature,
who prOtrsct their sessions by calling for all
sorts of information. Especially does there ap-
pear to be desire to know the expense Of
things. The Governor cannot, at least does not,
always tell.
large proportion of the male population, be-
tween 81 and so years, have been diverted from
their usual avOcatiOns to take up arms. AS
matter Of course, society is unhnged, aud the
demOraliziDg effect cannot in any event fail Of
being lasting. Many ladies employ Themselves
IN providing comforts for the soldiers on active
duty, such as blankets and camp necessaries;
others, looking 10 dreaded consequences, have
busted themselves in making bandages, lit.ers,
and chairs for the wounded, and such other con-
solatons as the active sympathy Of woman can
invent.
Steamers continue to cruise In The ofing on
the look for an enemy. Row and sail-boa s,
with passports, ply to and fro between the city
and the insurgents camps Parties at all hours
visit their friends on duty at the srts and the
batteries, and, as you may suppose, many crea-
ture comforts are in this way dispensed Lucky
n TIE soldier who has friend, or, better still,
an anxious mother or sister near st hand.
Meanwhile Fort Sumter is silent, save COW
and then gun fred, which gives warning that
another Of her "great guns has been put in
position. Workmen lately discharged confirm the
reports that the men are On short allowance.
do not believe that Maj. Anderson has included
10 his reports to Washington that he is in neod
Cd no supplies. He may, for obvious reasons.
have omitted to fully declare his situation in that
respect, though il is hardly possible that the
whole truth may not have been made known by
verbal reports from Lieuts. Talbot and Hall.
A great many anecdotes and incidents are re-
lated as connected with the affair Of the Star Of
the West. At the time that steamer came,
Major Riply was in command of Fort MOultre.
The universal expectation was that when Morris
Island battery fired on the steamer, Fort Sumter
would open on Fort Moultrie, especially if the
latter fred shot. Major Rply's men seeing
the firing from Morris Island, and comprehend
ing the whole matter, became clamorous for the
privilege Of having shot nt the Star Of the West
Sumter's portfolios had been opened to eye
shot Of Riply's men, and sighted with the most
perfect engineering skin. They knew it, but the
opportunity was not to be Loot. "Well," says
Riply, jumping on the parspet, Ere away
"bOys, but you viii all be in h--l in less than
"fve minutes" They did fire; but Major
Anderson's forbearance defeated the verifcation
OF lie prophecy.
The evening when the Brooklyn was known to
be off the harbor with the intention, as was sup
posed, Of entering some time during the night,
o oOpIsDy of soldiers were ordered down 70