The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-12-04
They Charge With Fixed Bayonets and
Retire in Good Order.


until revele Of the smoke Of battle and the feats OF
bummers In bygone days. Patriotic citizens residing
In the neighborhood Of their military movements
molly offered to sacrifice themselves upon their
countrys altar in the capacity Of suffers ana pur-
veyors, and q gallant array Of contractors. whose
services in the late were SO handsomely recog-
nized, bid farewell to home ana children
to Join the invinclble quartermaster's bri-
gade. Everything indicated brilliant campaign.
There was some comment upon the absence OF an-
balances and baggage wagons, but as lt gradually
became known that steam transports to be fur
nised visions OF the Spanish squadron, Fort Fisher
Cuba and New Orleans filled the minds of The braves,
and the plaintve notes OF "Just Before the Battle,
Mother" were drowned in the strains OF "a Life on
the Ocean Wave.n So inspired were the troops with
anticpatons Of glory that when reveille started them
from their uneasy slumbers early yesterday morning
every man rushed to arms with defiant air that
would have struck terror to the heart OF an envy
and hurried him into ignominious flight BY day.
light the troops were all marshalled and embarked
for the seat OF war; and after exciting voyage tile
transports arrived in safety OF the Brooklyn Navy
Yard. judicious disposition of United States
marines had been made to cover the landing OF the
military expedition, which was erected without loss
the sudden movement, happily, not having vet been
communicated to the enemy entrenched In that sec.
tlon Of Brooklyn known as IrIshtown. and famous
for brogue, bad whiskey and bloody neads.
The expedition thus successfully disembarked was
commanded by General vogdes, and consisted OF
$50 men from Fort Hamilton, 200 men from Cover
nor's Island. Loo men from Fort Wadsworth, 100
and when drawn up In line in the Navy Yard, with
drums, banners and oil the s'pomp and circumstance
Appearances mat paraySed WITH aismay every
eem qeasea yaTe as or had as,sa
dread preparations on the part Of the army were
gong on, q large number OF men IN citizens dress,
armed with revolvers, crowbars axes, &C., were
assembling and were finally formed into sort OF
"forlorn hope" under the command OF revenue
General yogaes established his headquarters in the
office OF the Commandant OF the yard, where he was
Joined by the Collector Of the Fourth revenue dis-
trct General Pleasanton, VINO at once assumed
THE OBJECT OF THE MOVEMENT
was now developed, and arrangements were
speedily consummated for the military occupation OF
lrishtown and the destruction OF the many Illicit
distlleries in that section 1t Will ne remembered
that an attempt was made several months since to
break up The secret disng operations in Irlshtown,
and that a force OF marines which participated in
that undertaking was beaten of by the mob.
Two officers were badly wounded In that
followed, the iIrlshtown distiers increased
and enlarged their establishments until about six
weeks ago, when the present Collector, General
same locality. His deputies on that OCCASION were
assisted by twenty poiicemen, but they were soon
driven from the field In great confusion. THIS sec
ond triumph encouraged the inhabitants OF that
further, and to assume such an attitude
OF defiance towards the revenue officials
that General Pleasanton deemed 1t unadvisable to
make another descent upon the place without an
overwhelming military force TO 0verawe the rlotous
element and not only render the movement com
plee success, but by intimidation prevent any de-
monstratiOn that might lead TO bloodshed Accord
tngly, after having thoroughly posted himself by
means OF detectives respecting the Localities Of the
illicit disttllerics the Collector called upon the gov
eminent for troops, and General Mcdowell was In
sruced to furnish him with whatever force he might
require All these prcliminaries were conducted
with SO much secrecy that the sudden move
ment OF troops was the first intlmaLl0n which the
public had OF the intended raid.
The rumor OF these military preparations which
reached the City from the forts night before last and
the concentration OF troops at the Navy Yard gave
rise to thousand wild speculations yesterday
speeding the ultimate destination OF the expedition.
boat question: assistance TO Cuba and the occupa
tioh or st. Domingo figured prominently among lie
Of the movement and until q late hour In the day,
when the real purpose became Known the excite
mcnt continued on the increase, fed by the widest
reports respecting tho sudden shipment OF troops.
IRiSHrowN
consists OF that section or Brooklyn which lies west
Of and Immediately adjacent to the Navy Yard, AM
ext nds from the East river the hill Tor several
squares, and westerly to within short distance OF
Fulton street. TINS section Is VIGOROUSLY bad. All
sorts of illegal practices have been 1ouTishlng there
and the rot0us demonstrations made on the two oc-
caslons above mentioned give slight Idea OF tho
and filled with loose sone brlckbats ahd other mis-
ees, the buildings are OF the cheap tenement order,
with in.umeraule Old shantlcs and dangerous dcns
and the denizens or the locality would turn from
their private brolls and peltln2 OF noiiensiye
and dogs to riotous assault upon officials with a
relish such AZ only plug ugly can experience. Ine
police are inundated Dy the roughs OF the neigh
borhood, and some Of them stationed there have
found IL 10 their interest not only TO execute orders
In very tender manner, but to smut their eyes 70
notorious hiegal operations. General Pleasanton
states mat one OF the policemen VINO assisted lii the
seizure OF Illlct distileres SIX weeks complained
20 the deputies OF Its being rather nard that he
should be compelled to participate IN the destruc-
ton OF establishments In which he was himself in-
terested; ana there Is no doubt that the neighbour
hood viii now again resume les Disabling operations
without fear OF interruption until tho violation OF
law assumes SUCH magnitude as to justify
other occupation Of the place by large military
force to protect revenue oclas IN the execution OF
THE ADVANCE OF THE TRoops.
General Pleasanton, having Issued the necessary
orders TO the deputies ana their working parties
assembled at the Navy Yard yesterday mofning, tie
troops marched out Of The gates and depoyed along
the street, Colonel Rest, with portion OF the
troops took up position at the inncuon OF Hudson
avenue and Water street; General Abbott vita an
Other body OF men, was stationed at Plymouth and
Little streets, and General Kidder, with another
force occupied Little street, near the river, Whine
small detacnments were depoyei IA various various local.
searched. A reserve force remained IN the Navy
Yard under the command OF Colonel Siossen, and
Colonel Hall, acting AID to General Vosues, SUPER
INTENDED the general disposition OF the troops. Tue
marines were also held In readiness for any onier-
MOD pm the instant. The troops having all been
stationed, with loaded muskets and forty rounds III
tneir cartridge boxes the revenue officers and WORK
1ng party commenced tho
SEIZURE OF DTsTTTLrRrEs.
several hours were occupied In the work Of break
ing into dstery dens, and as fast az barrels con-
tanning wniskey were discovered they carried
~ .'ie NaV ara under guard. number OF dr0y-
men Had been employed by the Collecfor for this
guy bns on arriving at the scene OF operations
tney refused 70 participate In the seizure, and the
Soioctor was compelled to call on the Commandant
Of the yard for transportation, and several Teams
were sent out by the Admiral. All Kinds OF anna.
Tatua were found among the dstillers from tho com,
plete stl capable OF manufacturing thirty or forty
gallons per day TO the rudest contrvanccs secreted
in bedchambers and Kitchens. At one place n st,ll
had evidently just been tumbed into tue river as
the furnace was stll hot ana there was every indca.
ton oil distlery except the presence or the srlIl
1tself. About 100 barrels OF wAlskey were pumped