April 23, 1861
The News.
A despatch from Washington received yesterday, states that there are now fourteen thousand troops in the city, five thousand of whom are regulars.
Captain Lawry, of the ship Julia E. Tyler, arrived at this port yesterday, reports that he left Hampton Roads on the 21st inst., and was informed by the pilot who took his vessel to sea that the city of Norfolk and the Navy Yard at Gosport were both on fire. Captain L. says he saw the flames distinctly himself, but could tell nothing further.
Several of the clerks in the Post Office and Custom House have gone to the wars. Stringent measures are being adopted by the Surveyor to prevent the egress of privateers. A strong coast guard has also been organized. Eight thousand kegs of powder destined for New Orleans, and shipped four months ago, were prevented reaching their destination by stress of weather, and were brought back to this city.
All accounts from Baltimore represent the condition of affairs in that city as most fearful. Irresponsible mobs, calling themselves Vigilance Committees, exercise a severe espionage over persons entering or leaving the city, and those who incur their suspicion or displeasure are treated in the most harsh and summary manner. Numbers of the people are flying from their homes and seeking safety in the country. The bridges over the roads connecting with Baltimore have all been destroyed, and armed parties are assembled to prevent their repair or reconstruction. Travellers coming North have great difficulty in getting from the city, and on the slightest pretexts are detained and subjected to hardships and indignities.
A special messenger from President Lincoln reached Philadelphia on Sunday night. On his journey from Baltimore he was frequently stopped, but managed to reach Philadelphia safely. He reports the federal capital as safe from any attacks that can be made at present, and that if assailed it can be successfully defended until the reinforcements now on their way reach there.
There was a vague report in circulation in Philadelphia yesterday that at midnight on the 21st inst., Fort McHenry was shelling Baltimore.
New York has nobly responded to the call made for troops to assert and protect the honor of our national flag, and is fast drafting her military forces to the expected scene of strife. Four regiments have already taken their departure for Washington, as follows:
Seventh regiment, Col. Lefferts, men 1,000
Seventy first regiment, Col. Vosburgh 1,000
Twelfth regiment, Col. Butterfield 950
Sixth regiment, Col. Pinckney 850
and four more leave today, as follows:
Sixty ninth regiment, Col. Corcoran, men 1,000
Eighth regiment, Col. Lyons 1,000
Thirteenth regiment, Col. Smith (Brooklyn) 700
Twenty eighth regiment, Col. Bennett (Brooklyn) 800.
It will thus be seen that 7,300 troops will have left the city by this evening—- no small share of the quota which is expected from the State—and a much larger number is in readiness to leave on receipt of the necessary orders.
No steamers sailed yesterday for the seat of war up to nine o’clock P.M. The Chesapeake has on board 3,500 bbls. of provisions and a company of United States riflemen from Governor’s Island. She will probably sail this morning. The steamer Parkersburg has steam on, waiting for the Albany regiment, which consists of 700 men. The other steamers—the Monticello, Roanoke, James Adger and Marion—are also ready.
Lieutenant Sennifer, late of the United States Army, stationed at Carlisle barracks, Pennsylvania, fled from that place yesterday morning, but by aid of the telegraph, Governor Curtin succeeded in having him arrested in York county. He is charged with furnishing the secessionists with information in regard to the movements of Governor Curtin’s troops and the condition of things at Carlisle barracks.
Our correspondent at Indianola states that there are about a thousand Union men in arms at San Antonio, and considerable trouble is anticipated. There appears also to be a growing conviction in the minds of many in Texas that the Mexicans mean mischief. These latter, under some frivolous pretext, are erecting batteries opposite Brownsville.
Anarchy in Baltimore.
The following account of the desperate condition of affairs in Baltimore, the terrible attitude of brigandage assumed by the Vigilance Committees of the city, and the dangers of the road to all Northern people necessitated to travel through the State, was kindly furnished us by the Rev. Henry M. Field, who went in the special train which left Wilmington Sunday morning in charge of the Superintendent of the road and intended for the conveyance of laborers to the different points between Washington and Baltimore where the line had been injured and the bridges burned down. The work of repair would have been speedily carried out, but at Havre de Grace, when they arrived there, the Superintendent was met by a party of friendly persons from some twelve miles beyond Havre de Grace, who emphatically warned him not to cross the river on any account; that if he did so, it would be at the certain peril of his life. These persons also informed him that all the intermediate bridges to Baltimore were destroyed, and armed parties were assembled to prevent repair or reconstruction. At Havre de Grace we met passengers who were compelled to take boat from Baltimore to Havre de Grace the night before. These persons all recounted but one story as to the dangers of the road, and they all expressed the heartiest thanks for their escape. They stated that they experienced the greatest difficulty in getting through without detention and without personal molestation from the excited mobs that roamed Baltimore. The authorities themselves hesitated for a time to let them pass on, and when at last those worthies gave their consent, they came to the resolution that no more travellers would be allowed to pass through their city. The whole population is in a ferment of excitement; the respectable portion of it in an agony of fear and dread under the reign of terror which has raised its horrid head in their midst. Great numbers of the people are flying from their homes and seeking safety in the country. Most, in fact, of those who can go are hurrying off. Terrorism reigned along the whole line within the borders of Maryland. Late travellers have been spotted, and all who may venture to pass through are liable to arrest and long detention, if not worse. One gentleman among the passengers by boat to Havre de Grace, born and bred in Baltimore, from some unknown cause, became subject to suspicion, and was instantly arrested as a spy, and for a time in danger of the penalty demanded of such worthies. Luckily for him he got a person to hastily communicate his position to the editor of a leading secession paper, who at once came to his rescue. On the assurance of this subject of Jeff Davis, the gentleman was released, the former protecting him until he had placed him on the boat. In each of the hotels a vigilance committee, composed of sixty armed men, exercises a severe espionage over all entering the same; and already Northern guests at the hotels, if not ready to give a satisfactory account of themselves, are in danger of arrest, and subject to many hardships and indignities. Those who succeed in getting away scathless look upon their escape as providential. In Baltimore there are not many secession flags flying, but numerous Maryland flags are to be seen, while the Stars and Stripes are no where, and none dare utter a word in behalf of the Union. The passengers, as they steamed out of the bay, noticed that Fort McHenry was in a state of defence, with all her guns run out to defend the flag of the Union, which still floats proudly over the heads of the gallant men who have sworn allegiance to it till the death. All communication, whether by actual travel or by electric telegraph, is cut off, and by the rail cannot be re-established except through the presence of troops in strength. Among the passengers were three or four of the Kansas company, who have for some time kept guard at the White House. One was on his way to Kansas to raise a regiment in defence of the country. There were supposed to be at Washington nearly ten thousand men, with sixty pieces of flying artillery. All salient points were in possession of the troops and all vulnerable positions strongly guarded, and the feeling of the men, one and all, is to deal terrible retribution on the heads of the secessionists should they assail the federal capital.
Mayor Allberger, of Buffalo, who has been spending some months in Baltimore, where his relatives reside, arrived in this city this morning. He left Baltimore on a canal boat. Six gentlemen who chartered a canal boat there on Friday, for $200, also arrived at the Astor House today. They report the condition of the city as most fearful. Armed mobs parade the streets, compelling all persons to unite with them in imprecations against the North, the government and the Union. The principal streets are all barricaded, and many of the houses furnished with shutters, in which loopholes are cut, for the purpose of pouring a deadly fire on any troops that might attempt to march through the city. Mr. Allberger, who had just risen from a sick bed, was surrounded by a mob of a dozen half drunken ruffians at the Entaw House before he left, who endeavoured, by abusive language to provoke a word of reply from him, intending no doubt, to shoot him on the spot, had he afforded them a pretext. He could not procure a revolver in the city, every store having been emptied of arms by the mob. A prominent citizen who was known as a Union man was compelled to leave the city at six hours’ notice, taking with him a family of eight children. It is believed that no Northern man’s life will be worth an hour’s purchase there, when the next gun is fired in the war.
The Campaign to Commence in Maryland.
It appears evident now that the campaign is to be opened in Maryland. The interception of the troops destined for the protection of the federal capital by the people of that State has rendered it a matter of necessity that its position as hostile territory should be recognized, but it is very much to be regretted that some measures were not taken in advance to prevent the obstruction of the Massachusetts and Pennsylvania regiments in their transit through the city of Baltimore.
Admitting all the skill, experience and well earned honors of Gen. Scott, and admitting also the activity of the War Department, it shows considerable neglect that the railroads and bridges were not properly protected before any troops from the North were sent through the State of Maryland. But this important measure having been overlooked, and Maryland having now actually assailed the troops of the government, it seems to be essential that that State shall be made the scene of the opening battle, and all the secessionists within its borders be driven into Virginia, in order that the government may hold undisputed right of war for its army to the capital of the republic. Maryland once subdued, it may become necessary to push the war into the other Southern States, as the progress of events may direct. That is a course, however, which the character of the contest alone can determine.
It is manifest, we think, that at this crisis some new material is needed in the army. Experienced general officers are required to support the Commander in Chief, and carry out his plans effectively; and, perhaps, the best thing that could be done would be to appoint to the post of Major General such vigorous and resolute men as Mr. Banks, late Governor of Massachusetts; Col. Fremont, who will soon return from Europe, and who has a large military experience, and Cassius M. Clay, who has postponed his departure for the Court of St. Petersburg in order to tender his services to the government in the field. An infusion of such skill, experience and valor as these men can bring into the ranks of the army would prove an important addition to its efficacy.