The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-02-01
The Disunion Movement.


from Vicksburg that the blockade of the
was not intended to be perma-
nent. but the battery was established to in
tercept the steamer Silver Wave, on which
the revolutionists had heard that the govern
ment were sending some heavy ordnance to
New Orleans. Whether the steamer and its
freight were captured is not stated, but the
report says that the Mississippi artillerists
removed their battery from the landing on
Tuesday, and took possession of the United
States hospital, which they are now occupy
ing.
The Charleston correspondent of the Phil
adelphla Press is confident the South Carroll !
mans intend to assault Fort Sumter before
the 18th of March. He says:
81 have been with some members of the
Calhoun Guard, to witness the large floating
battery now in course of construction on the
river In the upper part of the city. This
work has been carried on quietly, but with
considerable energy. Its hight will be sixty
feet-considerably higher than Fort Sumter,
which it is intended to attack. 1t is formed
of cotton bales, and will be bound with iron.
When complete it will be very formidable,
and will enable the Palmettos to make the
attack with comparatively little danger to
themselves. Several large guns are lying
ready to be placed in it, and the enthusiasm
which is displayed in preparing position
for them shows pretty conclusively that equal
ardor will be manifested in using them a.
gainst the enemy. can assure you most
positively, not from wha: have gained by
listening to bar-room gossip flor this have
studiously avoided,) but from information de-
rived almost directly from the very high
priests of treason, that, in the course of a
week or two, a we'll organized attack will be
made upon Fort Sumter, on all sides stimuli
taneously. The people are fully aware that,
should Major Anderson resist, considerable
loss of life must ensue but so persuaded
are they of the Importance of obtaining en-
tire control of the harbor before the inaugu-
ration of Mr. Lincoln. that l do not think
they will hesitate for single day, after their
coup d'etat is thoroughly arranged, to make
the attempt" He also declares that as
member of vigilance committee he has re-
liable information that negotiations are pend
ing with secessionists in the states of Mary
land, Virginia and Kentucky, to seize the
capitol, and prevent the inauguration of MIR
Lincoln, by force, and that he knows that
this plot is intended to be carried out unless
great precautions are taken to render it i'm
possible.
The Newburyport Herald says that petit
ton, signed by over eight hundred legal vo-
tiers of that city, asking Congress to pass the
Crittenden compromise or some such resolu.
tons that would restore peace to the coun-
try,was forwarded from that city, on Wednes-
day, to Hon Henry Wilson.
The agents ofthe Savannah steamship line
in New York have made formal demand
for the arms seized on board the steamer
Monticello by the police. Superintendent
Kennedy refuses to surrender them until le-
gally compelled, and has ordered his men to
seize arms destined for the seeding states
hereafter wherever found, withou, waiting
for special orders in each case. 1t was the
delay occasioncd by ,elegraphing to and a
waiting a reply from the superintendent, that
enabled the Montgomery to sail with such
goods on board. The affair of the Monticel-
10 has given may or Wood another opportu.
nifty to show his sympathy with treason,
which he did, as appears in the following tel
cgraphic correspondence
MIILEDGEvlLLE, Jan. "A. 1861.
To his honor Mayor Wood lis it true that anv
arms intended for and consigned to the state Of
Georgia have been seized by public authorities of
New York Your answer is important to us.
and to New York. Answer at once
Il. TooMns.
The Hon Robert Toombs. Milledsc,ille, Ga. =:
In reply to your dispatch. | regret to saw that
arms. intended for and consigned to the state of
Georgia. have been seized nv the police of thi ;
state, bu, that the city of New York should in no
way be made responsible for the outrage. As
mayor. have no authority over the police If |
had the power. should summarilv punish the
authors of this illegal and unustiisble seizure of
private property. FERNANDo Woop.
Fifty Us. troops left New York for Wash
ington on Saturday. Gen Scott has recent
information of the designs of the conspira-
tors, and the fact that he continues to aug
ment the forces at Washington indicates his
conviction that the reasonable scheme for
Selling the capitol has not been abandoned
Some of the men enrolled in the military and
special police at Washington are found to be
diSunionists.
| Louisiana, the sixth state.has declared her
self out of the Union. Texas will rank next
in order. her convention, already chosen, be-
ing largely for secession.
MIR Lincoln has received patriotic letter
from Gen WOOL in which aluson is made to
the conspiracy to prevent his Inauguration.
and assurances are given that the efforts of
b;r,,,lr ,nI tho bouartn,,o% "a. H..
will not be wanting so defeat the traitors.
/ A general order from General Scott, dated
the 2lst. requires officers who have been alb
sent on leave for eight months to Join their
commands Immediately, and officers absent
OH account of sickness are required to fur
nish proper medical evidence that they are
not in condition to attend to their duties
Lemuel Gilbert, the Boston piano-maker,
who was driven from Shreveport, La, was
there on collecting tour, and the man who
informed against him and set the vigilance
committee after him was his principal debt
or. That is what they call chivalry at the
South.
A correspondent Of the Cincinnati Gazette
proposes to use the Wlnans steamer to rein
force Fort Sumter. This vessel is built of
iron, is immensely strong and attains high
rate of speed. She has capacity for all that
is required III men and supplies. She obeys
the helm like thing of life has very light
draught of water, and any pilot, as well ac-
quainted with the harbor of Charleston as
the writer is with those of several Eastern
cities. could take her straight to her destina-
ton, without the aid of buoys to guide, or
lighthouses to warn him. The hour of twi-
light would carry her safely over the outer
bar, and, for the rest, she would need only
the stars of heaven. The chances of injury