The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-04-19
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
WASHINGTON, April 6, 1861


state of feeling or forbodipg of future evil,
as there is to-day in Washington. The sudden
and extraordinary movement of troops, and
of vessels of war, the activity at the navy
yards and arsenals, and the secrecy main
tanned as to the object of all this has ex-
cited most serious approximations. 1t
appears the government has suddenly
changed its programme of tactics and acts
as if seized with a new thought or some
great and urgent purpose. "What does
all this mean? ?" people ask, with intense
anxiety. /" What new phrase in cur affairs,
domestic or intersectional, is there to cause
such movements ?" The hand of General
Scott is plainly seen in the action of the
government. In fact, the government has
become all at once military one. Its
secret orders. even to superior officers, its
system of surprises, its precipitate move
ments, and its impenetrable mystery are so
military in character that we must conclude
the government is turned over for the time
being to the Lieutenant General.
The frigate Powhattan is to sail to-day,
fully equipped and provisioned. She is to
take three companies of troops. The steam
ers Ariel and Baltic, which the govern
ment has chartered, will sail tomorrow
under sealed orders. The Baltic is to take
Captain Barrys company of Flying Artil-
lery and ninety men, which have just left
Washington, and the Ariel is to take seven
or eight companies of Infantry and marines.
The Harriet Lane sailed yesterday. A
hundred men on Governors Island, New
York, have received marching orders and
others will follow Immediately. There are
near three thousand troops at different sta
lions in the port of New York held in read
mess for immediate orders. The steamship
Atlantic has been chartered by the govern
ment and cleared yesterday with stores,
provisions, and other materials for the
Brazos, Texas. There have been vessels
chartered at New Orleans and are unsual
movements at that port with regard to
Texas and the forces there. The day before
yesterday the storeship Release was towed
to sea from New York harbor, and sailed
for Florida. There is quite feet off Pen
sacola and in the neighborhood of Fort
Pickens, with eight hundred troops on
board. Captain Meigs, in charge of the
Capital Extension at Washington left
Wednesday night, with some forty carpen-
tiers at twelve hours notice for some place
unknown. At the Brooklyn Navy Yard
and army depots, men are kept at work all
night, and are replaced at dinner hours to
avoid loss of time. 1t is said the United
States steamers Corwin, Bibb, and Vixen
will be drafted into active service. The
United States steamer Water Witch
was put in commission at Philadelphia
on Thursday, and the jamestown is nearly
ready for sea. Col. Brown, when ordered
from here with bis Artillery, knew not his
destination beyond New York. He was
surprised to find his force destined for other
! parts, supposed to be for Fort Pickens.
! These with many other suspicious and war;
like movements on the part of the govern
ment within a few days have created the
greatest uneasiness.
1t is evident the administration is acting
upon some new thought or purpose or emer-
gency which it keeps secret, or that it has
been deceiving, all along, the people, the
border slave States, and the Commissioners
of the Confederate States. There are many
rumors as to the motive for the present
course of the administration. Some say the
action of the Spanish government towards
San Domingo has led to the movements Of
such large force southwark, that the Pres
ident will make demonstration to maintain
the Monroe doctrine of no further colonial.
ton by European powers in this part OIL
the world, and that its purpose is to pre-
vent Spain from taking San Domingo
Another rumor is that the government
goaded by its radical partisans, and the
leading Republican press, has determined to
reinforce Fort Pickens, to force the Con,
federate States to open the war, so as to be
relieved apparently from the odium of such
catastrophe, and to make Pensacola the
Crimea of the conflict. Again, it is SAID
the purpose is to collect the revenue at the
ports of the South or to prevent their trade
Some 60 so far even as to credit report
that Fort Sumpter is to be reinforced
Then, again, it is believed the Mexican from
tier is the destination of the forces, on &C
count of the general policy OF the admins
traton with regard to heading the South
ern States off in that direction, to act with
the supposed Union sentiment in western
Texas, and with General Houston, and also
ON account of the secession revolutionary