New York Herald
April 27
The conflicting reports of the last few days relative to the situation of affairs at and around Washington have reached a somewhat satisfactory solution in the intelligence which we are enabled to give in our columns today, at least as far as the movements of the regiments despatched from the North are concerned. It is certain now that the Seventh regiment of New York and the Massachusetts regiment have arrived safely in Washington. The Seventh and a part of the Massachusetts regiment took the line of march from Annapolis early on Wednesday and reached the junction at ten o’clock on Thursday morning. From this point they took the train from Washington, where they arrived in the afternoon and marched through Pennsylvania avenue to the President’s house, and thence to the War Department. The train which took them on returned to the junction at four o’clock in the afternoon, and carried the remainder of the Massachusetts regiment to the junction, where they were ordered to remain and guard the road. The Seventh, it is said, rebuilt the bridges and repaired the road on their route.
The steam transport Baltic, which arrived here yesterday from Annapolis, which port she left on Thursday morning, reports that the Twelfth regiment had started for Washington, and were then twelve miles on their march to the junction, and, as the road was open, the gallant Seventh had already passed safely over. There is no doubt that the Twelfth reached Washington in a few hours. In all probability the Seventy first and Sixth regiments, which left New York on the same day (Sunday last) also arrived at the capital in the wake of the Twelfth.
The steamer Wyoming, which arrived at Perryville, Maryland, yesterday, reports that when she left Annapolis, at ten o’clock yesterday morning, two steamers of the New York fleet had just arrived there—the Marion and Montgomery—with the brig of war Perry as convoy and that the Sixty ninth regiment were then disembarking. As the Sixty ninth went on the James Adger, however, it may be that the officers of the Wyoming were mistaken either as to the names of the New York steamers, or of the regiment then disembarking at Annapolis; but as the whole fleet which left here on Tuesday comprising the Alabama with the Eighth on board, the James Adger with the Sixty ninth, the Marion with the thirteenth (Brooklyn regiment), and the Montgomery with the cavalry troop of the Eighth, together with the brig Perry as convoy, were seen at anchor in the Chesapeake, by the Keystone State, which arrived here from Washington yesterday, near the mouth of the Potomac, and were passed by the Baltic farther up the bay, there can be very little doubt that the whole arrived at Annapolis, and that the three regiments are in Washington by this time.
We learn on the authority of Captain Sherman, of the Vermont Arsenal, who came from Washington in the Keystone State, that the Potomac was open, no obstructing batteries being planted on its shores by the secessionists and the heights of Georgetown and Arlington being both held by the government. And it is to be regretted that the government did not send the Pawnee to the mouth of the river with this intelligence so that the vessels from New York might have gone direct to Washington, and thus saved the troops a tedious march of sixteen miles from Annapolis to the junction, besides enabling them to reach Washington one day earlier.
As to the movements of the rebel troops, we have also some reliable information. One of our special correspondents at Pensacola Florida was compelled to leave there very hurriedly by the secessionists on the 21st. inst. He reached Montgomery on the 26th and with considerable difficulty got safely as far North as Cincinnati, from which point he telegraphed us yesterday. He reports the condition of things at Fort Pickens to be in status quo. The rebels have given up the idea of attacking it for the present until they get reinforcements and are supplied with columbiads, the small forty two pounders they have not being sufficient to do any damage to the fort. Six thousand rebel volunteers are said to be ready for service at Richmond, which number it is calculated, will be increased to 25,000 at the close of the week. There seems to be very little doubt that both Mr. Davis and Mr. Stephens are there now; Gen. Beauregard is, in all probability, still in Charleston. A State Battery has been erected at Yorktown, and another at a point three miles above Richmond. At Harper’s Ferry 4,000 men were stationed; but it is supposed that they are under orders to move at once to a location nearer the federal capital. Twenty five hundred secession troops are at Norfolk.
Such are the movements up to the last accounts of troops of both hostile parties. Other events, however, appear to be transpiring in Maryland, which bear somewhat on the course of events. It is reported from Harrisburg that a considerable flight of negroes into Pennsylvania is taking place, and that an attack has been made by a body of Marylanders on the village of Hanover, York county, Pennsylvania, in consequence. It is said that whole families are leaving Maryland and flying into the counties of Adams, York and Franklin, Pennsylvania, and that the fear has become general in the border counties of Maryland that the departure of the whole slave population is imminent. Over 500 slaves have already ran off.
Rumors reach us from Baltimore that a remarkable change of sentiment in favor of the Union has taken place there, which is indicated in a measure by the tone of some portions of the press, and other circumstances but the reports need confirmation. Our latest intelligence from that quarter represents that city as still under the control of the secessionist mob, though quiet.
Washington may be considered safe for the present. It is stated that there is no want of provisions there, and that the government has made ample arrangements for all necessary supplies.