New York Herald
April 18, 1861
President Davis, of the Confederate States, has issued a proclamation inviting privateers to take service with the revolutionists. The document is given in another column. It is reported that several vessels are now fitting out at New Orleans for privateers.
There is a report from Texas that all the American vessels at Galveston have been embargoed.
One of our correspondents at Washington states that Mr. Seward yesterday received information from Richmond to the effect that the secession ordinance had been defeated in the Virginia Convention in secret session by seven majority. Other reports corroborate this news. Apprehensions were entertained yesterday that the Virginia revolutionists would seized upon the arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, and troops were to leave Washington last night to garrison that important post.
A despatch from our correspondent at New Orleans, dated yesterday, states that the military status at Pensacola remained unchanged, and that Gen. Clark, who had just arrived from there, said no attack would be made upon Fort Pickens for ten days.
Yesterday was the day fixed for the reception of subscriptions to the five million loan of the revolutionists. Of this sum $ 2,008,000 were subscribed in Charleston yesterday, and $ 3,000,000 in New Orleans.
The number of volunteer regiments that are forming in this city, for the purpose of supporting the government seems to be legion, and the men are rapidly being enrolled. There are in the city at present, among others, the Scott Life Guard, First regiment; National guard, Seventh regiment; Union Volunteers, Tenth Ward Volunteers, Fifth Ward Volunteers, Union volunteer Battalion. Our regular militia are also preparing for fight, and show a strong Union sentiment. The Seventh, Seventy ninth, Fifty fifth and other regiments met last evening at their respective armories for drill, and after the exercise meetings were held. A meeting of the Division board was also held, but the business transacted was strictly private.
We have received intelligence from all parts of the North, East and West of the alacrity with which the call for troops to support the government has been responded to, and of the unbounded enthusiasm which pervades all classes in coming forward to tender their services, but the crowded state of our columns this morning g compels us to omit the details.
Three officers in advance of the Massachusetts troops arrived in this city at about a quarter past eleven o last evening by the new have Railroad. They consisted of Colonel Davis, Majors Ames and Ladd. The troops are not expected until this morning. The officers proceeded to the Fifth Avenue Hotel, where they were very enthusiastically received by the crowd assembled in the vestibule. Further particulars will be found in another column.
The meeting of merchants at the Chamber of Commerce yesterday was very enthusiastic and strong Union feeling were demonstrated. The mass meeting will be held in Union square on Saturday next, at three o’clock P.M. A full report of the meeting yesterday will be found elsewhere. The demonstration of Saturday next should and doubtless will be, the most imposing ever witnessed in this city.