April 5, 1861; The New York Herald
Our Washington despatches reiterate that the administration has a policy, and that an unmistakeable revelation of it is soon to be made. The public will be glad to learn what the government intends to do. The Southern Commissioners at Washington, doubtful of the sincerity of the assurances given them by the administration, that the present military status would remain undisturbed, have made direct application in the proper quarter for explanations regarding the naval armament now fitting out. It is conjectured that they will obtain no satisfactory replies to their inquiries. Our latest accounts from the capital, however, assert positively that the administration, yielding to the pressure of the war section of the republican party, has determined to blockade the Mississippi river, and if possible collect the revenue at that point from on board ship. The vessels-of-war now preparing for sea are intended to co-operate in this design.
We learn from Charleston that Lieutenant Talbot left that city yesterday, bearing despatches from Fort Sumter to the War Department. The people of Charleston were in great excitement, in consequence of the receipt of the news of the warlike preparations on foot at the North. Rumors were in circulation that the fort would be attacked within forty-eight hours, and it was understood that orders had been received from Montgomery to cut off Major Anderson’s supplies from the city, and allow no further communication to be held with the garrison.
Lieut. Gilman, who arrived at Washington on Wednesday night, direct from Pensacola, states that no supplies have been landed by the Brooklyn at Fort Pickens. There are now five thousand of the Confederate States troops about the fort, all anxious for fight, and Lieut. Gilman is of opinion that it will be impossible to avoid a collision at an early day.