Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-04-17

''dtyoTH'O-De DeHt'h0ttOn OF BON 6eTH1HdQ
Alleged Departure Of Three Armed
Vessels and About S:r Thousand Men
Probably franz the Port Of Nes0 YorA-
The Ptum cf Future Operations.
! No little whisper has been created in
Fenian circles by the suddeu departure of 3.
Doran killian from this city on Monday last,
and all day yesterday aud on Tuesday vague
reports We're afioat that something extraord-
nary was on the carpet.
The fact seems to be that our correspon>
dents authentic account of the escape of
Stephens from Ireland, added to the conse-
! quent paralyZatiOn Of the sale of the Fenian
, bonds, had necessitated the immediate iuaug-
urat'on OF some movement in order to sustain
! the waning enthusiasm of the Eeniun Broth
! crhood and prevent their going over to the
Sweeney plan Of commencing hostiIities with
an invasion of Canada. Whether this be or
! be not true. an impatient demand seems to
have been informally preferred that something
be done and done Immediately On the
( other hand. it is claimed by those vel. learned
! in the secrets CT Ecnianisln, that the exre-
dition has been on the CARPET for some time.
and that every preparation has been made to
render the expedition Il success. Subioined
will be found as full collection of the facts
connected with the affair. ii Fenian sources
/ of information may be considered unuues-
tiOnabc. The account below has been colated
! by our reporter from the most accessible
! Fenian sources, and nothing is set down ex
! cept what is sustained by the asseverations
/ of Fenians Of high Office in connection with
! the movement The details are somewhat
meagre. but are sufficient to give an idea of
/ the strength OF the alleged
FENIAN EXPEDITION ON FOOT
| Tho auttnri1n1 or, At
/ hony headquarters is to the effect that B.
/ DOran kiIlian, Whil"m Secretary of the
| Treasury +. j. started on Monday evening
| IN company with an expedition consisting
! OF three steamcrs-twO propciiers and one
sidewhceI steamer of fast sailing Qualities
! unrivaled. The expedition was fitted out
with 5000 men well oiicered both officers
! and men being mostly composed Of veteran
sailors who have fought during the late war
with the South These vessels are we'll
armed and equipped, one of them being
= formidable iron clad carrying two one hun
! dred pound Parrot guns-One fore and one
, att-and four ritied guns OF the heaviest ca!
i ibre amid ships Large quantities Of amuu-
milton and spare arms have been put on
board. all intended to find their ultimate
destination in Ireland.
! The second part Of the expedition is COM
posed Of a couple of propeIIers. capablc of
making eighteen miles per hour under full
head of steam These vessels are also fully
armed and equipped. and have on board
complement Of 2.73O men. besides those
necessary to manage the vessels. These
men have all been selected from the skillet
veterans Of the late with the South. and
are fully armed and equipped for service in
the field
[The whole number accompanying the cx
redition, exclusive Of sailors is, therefore.
according to statement. $50 Reportcr.7
These vessels are said TO be fried out with
a view to the scverest naval combat If ZEN
dered necessary by any contingency. and are
thought to be equal to any emergency which.
with the exercise Of due caution, can posi-
bly, occur
Both expeditions arc in the hands of
eminent Fenians. and are commanded by
experienced naval officers. who have seen
service during the war. Captain Downing
being i'll command of the second exneCiition.
and the whole three vessels are manned with
picked men. b poran Killian is invested
with the supervision Of both expeditions.
/ 1t is also asserted at headquarters that
seven war-snirs have left the coast Of Cali
fnrnia. simultaneously with the above named
from an Eastern port Il given telcera;hic
signal having been agreed urnn which w0nId
prevent the possibility of any failure of the
California expedition to sail npon receipt of
the telegram that all Was ready in New York.
These California vessels are said to be models
of the naval fortress. and are armed and
equipped in manner vieing with the arm
amcnts ct the Eastern portion of the cx0e-
ditlon. The California expedition takes out
in round numbers 10000 men fully armed
and equipped for field service
Other expeditions have it is stated uron
competent authority. left several Northern
ports simultaneously with the above-alI
armed with every implement Of naval and
land service. and commanded by men Of
ability and experience.
THE PLAN OF OPERATIONS
The plan is understood to re to seize Ber-
nuda. and make it a base of supplies. after
which with as little delavas possible. the whole
exridtion will be pu' to sea falling upon Brit
ish commerce. and sweeping British trade
from the seas with the bosom "f destruction,
and cUactln- over again the careers of the
Alabam :. the, Shenandoahs and the Petrels
/ OF the Confederacy
/ Other exreditions will follow at as early
date as nossiblc. These will be D., signed 10 op
crate directly upon the Irish coast where. at
given point. landing will be effected.
THE WHEREABOUTS OF JAS. STEPHENS
1t is alS" Gained in Fcnian circles that Step
hens will be in Ireland before long before the
IdhN'"S "a '"e eNP'iIIlon. ms present where
ahouts bein" at certain point on the coast cf
France. within easy distance Of Ireland The
fitting out of the expeditions mentioned above
has been by his order, and the entire plan has
been conceived aud managed by his au-
thority
The Irish people are to be ready at given
signal to fly to arms in every part of the coun-
try-that signal being the lighting of fires nm
on the hiIltop~ on the island. and to prevent
mistakes the exploding of rockets burninU
with certain specified combination of colors,