Richmond Enquirer
April 20, 1861
The Confederate flag was displayed from the Customs House, Hotels and private residences. Eight stars being generally the number of the flag—one having been added for old Virginia.
The Custom House was taken out of the hands of the United States, and placed under the guard of State troops.
The hurrying to and fro of military men gave the city quite a martial aspect.
The steamships Yorktown and Jamestown, (belonging to the Virginia and New York Steamship Company,) have both been seized and put in charge of Virginia State troops.—The Yorktown was seized at her wharf in this city on Wednesday afternoon, just as she was about to depart for New York with a large amount of merchandize. The Jamestown was seized at City Point, (sixty miles below Richmond.) by troops which had been sent down in a steamer for that purpose. The Jamestown left New York Tuesday afternoon and, we understand, has on board, about $50,000 worth of ordinance and military stores, for Virginia and other Southern States.
A marine vessel was also seized at City Point, called the Argo, by a detachment of volunteers from Richmond. The steam tug William Allison, also arrived at the Richmond wharf last night, with the United States surveying schooner Mason in tow, which had also been levied upon.
These seizures have been made upon the lex talionis, we presume; the vessels being owned chiefly by Northern men.
We have no space for comment. In this week of great events the little incidents here named may be dispatched with Ceasarian brevity.