March 9, 1861; The New York Herald
According to our Washington despatches, the reinforcement of Forts Sumter and Pickens has been decided on by the administration of President Lincoln, and the arrangements for carrying out that object are now in active progress. General Scott and the Cabinet secretaries are said to be busy with the plans.
We are informed by one of our Washington correspondents of very important movements in the army and navy ordered by the government. All the naval vessels in the Pacific and the Mediterranean are ordered home to return to Northern ports, and the troops lately under command of Gen. Twiggs, in Texas, numbering twenty five hundred, and those in New Mexico are called to the North.
No movement has yet been made by the Commissioners in Washington from the confederate States towards the negotiations with which they are charged. Mr. Roman, one of the members of the Commission, who was erroneously stated yesterday to have arrived, was still wanting, at a late hour last night, to complete the delegation, and his colleagues will do nothing till he joins them.
We publish this morning the roll of a formidable army of patriots who are anxious to serve their country under the auspices of the Lincoln regime. To those who may have supposed that patriotism was on the wane, this list will be a refreshing surprise. To the names of those gentlemen as aspiring to the New York appointments we have appended brief historical sketches.
From Texas we have nothing of a positive nature later than what we published yesterday morning; but by way of New Orleans, there is a rumor to the effect that Fort Brown, in command of Capt. Hill, of the United States Army, had been surrendered to the Texans.
Intelligence was received in Washington last night to the effect that, after a full and careful canvass in the Virginia Convention, it was found that the secessionists in that body were in a minority, notwithstanding the fact that they have received accessions since the delivery of President Lincoln inaugural. The secession ordinance will consequently be voted down in the Convention.
On the night of the 4th of March the Brooklyn Navy Yard was put into a state of defence, all the marines being on duty and under arms during the night, in readiness for action; the whole of the officers and men were on board their respective vessels–an usual thing when in port–and all the guns were kept loaded. These facts are not generally known, nor has there been a real cause assigned for this unusual state of diligence.
Ex-Secretary Floyd comes out with a lengthy letter in relation to the late alleged frauds in the War Department, and gives a full history of the acceptances given in favor of Messrs. Russell, Majors & Waddell. He cites authorities for the legality of his acts, says the existence of the acceptances was known in commercial circles for over three years and avers that the War Department never was managed more economically than it was during the administration of Mr. Buchanan. He also disclaims all connection with Bailey, and says he cannot see for the life of him what the young man’s object was in ruining himself to prevent disgrace being brought upon one who was almost a stranger to him.