New York Herald,
April 24, 1861
We have important news from Washington. Our own gallant Seventh regiment and the Massachusetts Eighth regiment are at last safely arrived in the national capital. Despatches to that effect were received in this city last night. Government has sent special messengers on here, urging the forwarding of troops as fast as possible, and as many field pieces as can be sent. It will be necessary to have the national capital reinforced as rapidly as may be, it being believed that the secessionists have a strong force in the neighborhood, and that there are preparing for an early attack. It is supposed that Gen. Beauregard and Jeff. Davis are both in Virginia, ready to lead the assault. There is great scarcity of food in Washington. In our columns this morning we supply copious details with regard to the state of affairs there. An officer of the Seventh regiment passed through Northeast, Maryland, on his way to this city, last night. It is said he is the bearer of despatches from the government of the utmost importance.
Further accounts continue to reach us of the terrorism reigning in Baltimore and vicinity. No steamers are allowed to leave the city, and railroad travel being cut off, passengers for the North can only proceed by private conveyance. The greatest excitement is said to prevail in the city, and all Northerners are closely watched. We give this morning narratives of different individuals who have arrived North through that city within the past few days.
A member of the New York Seventh regiment, in charge of four sick comrades, arrived in Philadelphia last evening. The men suffered greatly at Annapolis for want of food and water.
A gentleman who left Montgomery, Alabama, on Wednesday of last week, furnishes us with some intelligence from that place. Immense rejoicing took place there on the news, being received of the secession of Virginia. Great anxiety existed to hear from the North, the people there being still unaware of the overwhelming and unanimous Union feeling which has rendered the North as one man since the attack of the rebels on Sumter. Business in Montgomery was almost entirely suspended. It was believed that Jeff. Davis had left for Richmond, Virginia, there, in concert with Gen. Beauregard, to concentrate a strong force for an attack on Washington.
Senator Douglas, on his way to Illinois, was delayed by missing a train, at the town of Bellair, on the Ohio river, opposite Wheeling, on Monday last. As soon as his presence was known a crowd collected in front of the hotel where he was stopping and the Little Giant was called upon for an expression of his feelings in regard to the present rebellion against the national government, to which he responded, taking strong ground in support of maintaining the Union, and especially paying a high tribute to the patriotism of General Scott.
We publish this morning a brief but highly important correspondence between General Leslie Combs, of Kentucky, and a gentleman in this city, in which the former desires to be informed if the Union men of Kentucky can be furnished with arms and money for their defence.
The yacht Edna, Captain Seaman, arrived here yesterday from Wilmington, North Carolina, after a run of four days. Capt. S. has visited all the Southern ports, from Jacksonville, Florida, north and had a very narrow escape at Wilmington. As he was coming out of the harbor he was overtaken by a steamer with a crowd of secessionists on board, who ordered him to lower his flag. Having his family on board, and being sick himself, he struck his colors for the time, at which the soldiers cheered lustily and allowed him to proceed.
The war feeling in the city continues unabated. The rolls are rapidly filling up, and preparations are making by the various regiments for an early departure for the seat of war. We supply details in our news columns of the progress of operations. Colonel Ellsworth’s Fire Zouaves will take their departure for Washington on next Saturday afternoon, and three more regiments—the Seventy ninth, Fifty fifth and Fifth – will probably go on the same day. The Fifth encamped yesterday on the Battery, with instructions to remain there until Saturday morning when orders will, it is thought, be given for their departure to Washington. The Seventy ninth have orders to hold themselves in readiness to leave for the same place within sixty hours. The New York Zouaves, Colonel Hawkins, are at present quartered at Castle Garden.
A letter published in the evening papers from the United States District Attorney, Mr. Delafield Smith, and addressed to the bankers of the city, notifying them not to transmit coin, letters of credit, &c. to banks or individuals of the Southern seceded States, has been withdrawn. In withdrawing the letter, Mr. Smith assures the Southern bankers that their moneys shall be well taken care of here, and we are informed that very large sums are constantly arriving here from Southern merchants.
An enthusiastic meeting of the workmen at the Brooklyn Navy Yard was held yesterday, when resolutions were passed requiring that each man should contribute one day’s pay in aid of the families of such of their fellow workmen as volunteer to sustain the flag of their country in the present contest.