March 18, 1861

New York Herald

The News.

From Washington we learn that the question of evacuating Fort Sumter still continues to occupy the attention of Mr. Lincoln and his Cabinet. There seems to be no doubt that the administration has determined to withdraw Major Anderson and his troops, but how to do it appears not yet to have been settled. Numerous plans have been submitted to the President and his advisers, but none that appear to be practicable. The report of a collision between the State and federal troops in Florida meet with no credit in Washington. The appointment of Commissioners by the Southern confederacy to visit England and France seems to have startled the administration and it is said that a secret agent will be immediately despatched to inform those governments of the policy intended to be pursed in regard to the seceded States.

From Charleston we learn that everything was quiet, but a change in affairs was hourly anticipated. The appointment of Judge Magath by the Confederate Congress as District Judge for South Carolina, seemed to meet with universal favor. The floating battery is to be removed from its moorings today, but with no intention of attacking Fort Sumter.

It is understood in Washington that the answer of the administration to the communication of the Commissioners from the Confederate States will be communicated to them today. It is said that the general government will decline holding any official intercourse with them.

The Southern Congress on Saturday confirmed the following persons as District Judges for the Confederate States: - A. G. Magrath for South Carolina; H. R. Jackson, Georgia; W. Lanier Harris, Mississippi; Thos. G. Semmes, Louisiana; John Hemphill, Texas, and Jesse J. Finley, Florida. On Saturday night the Congress adjourned to meet in Montgomery on the second Monday in May next.

Yesterday being the anniversary of the birthday of St. Patrick, a solemn high mass was celebrated at St. Patrick cathedral, and an eloquent panegyric pronounced on the Apostle. In the evening Archbishop Hughes lectured at Irving Hall on the subject of Irish devotion to Catholicism to a large and attentive audience. Today the military and civic societies will unite in a grand parade, and in the evening the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick will celebrate their seventy seventh anniversary by a sumptuous dinner at the Astor House.

Archbishop Hughes lectured last evening at Irving Hall upon the subject of Irish devotion to Catholicism. Bishop Lynch, of Charleston, was previously announced to deliver the lecture, but owing to the non-arrival of the steamship James Adger at the appointed hour, he was evidently unable to do so. In order not to disappoint the large audience which had assembled, the Archbishop took this place, and at the conclusion of his remarks made some interesting allusions to the duty of Catholics respecting the present condition of our national affairs. A report will be found in another column.

News from Washington; Important from Texas.

WASHINGTON, March 17, 1861.

Lieutenant Putnam, of the army, arrived here last evening from Texas, with despatches to the government from Colonel Waite. Lieutenant P. left Indianola on the 7th inst. Colonel Waite had received instructions to withdraw the troops from Texas, and was arranging to concentrate them at Indianola, where they were to embark on board vessels and proceed to such destinations as the government might determine.

All the property of the United States, including stores, supplies and munitions of war, were in the hands of the Commissioners appointed by the Texas Convention to take charge of them. The Commissioners, however, had allowed the necessary supplies to send the troops out of the country. Colonel Wait would remain until the entire force hadleft the State, when he intended to return to Washington and report unless otherwise ordered.

A gentleman connected with a leading mercantile house in New York arrived here today direct from Brazos, having left there on the 7th inst. I have obtained from him some important facts in regard to affairs on the Rio Grande. He left New Orleans on board the Arizona, which plies between New Orleans and the Brazos Santiago, which vessel is owned by Commodore Morgan. The captain had sealed instructions, which were not to be opened until at sea. These directed him to wait at Indianola until the General Rusk, with seven hundred Texas Rangers under command of Gen. Nicholds, from Galveston, should pass him, in order that the Rusk might reach the Brazos ahead of him, so that the latter should not take the news of their intentions. He waited two days at Indianola and saw nothing of the General Rusk, when the captain, who was indignant at the detention, proceeded to Brazos. The Rusk arrived soon after and proceeded at once to Brazos Island, on which there was a military post, with ten or fifteen men and two guns, under command of Lieutenant Thompson. General Nicholds demanded the immediate surrender of the post. Thompson saw there was no other alternative but to yield, although his gallant little band were for fight. He insisted, however that the flag should be saluted which was done, and immediately the lone star flag was raised amid cheers and shouts. Lieutenant T. in surrendering, only obeyed the orders of his superiors.

It will take them some two weeks to get ready for departure. The Texas Rangers were stationed all along between Brazos and Brownsville, watching anxiously the movements of the United States troops, and it was anticipated they would attempt to prevent the United States troops from taking away their stores, munitions and artillery. He further represents affairs on the frontier to be in a wretched condition

The government has been placed in possession the above facts, the information being at least two week later than their last advices.

Charleston Mercury

News from Pensacola.

 (Extract from a private letter.)

Yesterday Col. Forney was placed in full command of all the forces at this place—Colonel Chase having resigned—and he has commenced his operations with energy. A sand battery is a cellar dug in the sand, three feet deep and eighteen by twenty four wide. The sand which comes to of this place is piled up so as to make a sort of wedge shaped defence eighteen feet long and four feet high at the edge of the pit, which, being itself three feet deep, makes the whole, from the bottom of the pit to the top of the parapet, seven feet—high enough to protect a man’s head. Col. Forney is constructing three of these sand batteries, distant, the extreme one from the other, about a mile and three quarters. The right extreme one is to have four 8 inch columbiads; two of these are already mounted and ready for action. The left extreme one four 8 inch columbiads; and the central one three 10 inch columbiads. Although this is Sunday, there have been 300 men engaged all day in building these batteries. With good luck, I think that in a few days we can have all the guns mounted. The 10 inch guns weigh, each, 15,000 pounds, and it is a vast labor to get them here through this sand. You see the gun is much bigger at the butt than the muzzle, and, therefore, will not roll forward, but Forney has had an arrangement made to go round the muzzle, so as the equalized the diameters, and then talking about 50 men, to each gun, they will be rolled along on skids, and in time will reach their destination. One hundred and twenty pounds of iron flung by twenty pounds of powder will batter down any brick work, I don’t care how thick, which is only one and a quarter miles distant; and, if the enemy will stand still, and let us pound away upon them, we will inevitably knock down Fort Pickens. Its walls are not of granite, as we have heard, but of brick, just like all the other forts here, and they have only two 10 inch guns while we have three. Then every brick we knock out of them is a brick gone, but they may fling 1000 ten inch balls into our sand and it will do no harm an hurt nobody, and make not an inch of progress, unless they hit our gun itself, a very unlikely possibility. They may fire a week and do little mischief. I cannot understand why the services of troops are not accepted and they sent here. If we had 3000 men properly armed we could reduce Pickens and take it, I think, without the ruinous sacrifice of life we have heard so much apprehended. I have no idea that the men of war can come into the bay. They have to pass within 600 yards of Fort McRee…. Six hundred yards is just as near as is wanted. We can sink them from McRee a dead moral certainty. Then, if they should get by McRee, they have to face our three tremendous sand batteries, besides the guns of Fort Barrancas. Fort McRee is a pretty strong place, about as much so, in my opinion, as Fort Pickens, but Fort Barrancas is much weaker, and is not, I think, tenable.

You ought to have seen Pugh and Bullock working in the sand pits and rolling the wheel barrows. Bullock works hard and blows mightily, and I tell you he rolls sand beyond belief and stands back from nothing that a soldier is required to do.

This is the most beautiful place in the world. This bay is as splendid a sheet of water as glistens under the sun. The beach is white as snow, the bluff high, the air sweet and the sky when clear as fine as Italy. The improvements here are perfectly amazing to me. The Navy Yard if located in the North would have been as well known as Bunker Hill monument or the Metropolitan Hotel. It is one of the loveliest places—the walks are all of brick, most smoothly and beautifully laid—live oak groves, flower gardens, hot houses, vistas, splendid houses—all that money could do have made this sand bar blossom like the rose. Then there are fish and game and oysters. Every body is getting fat, even my lank jaws are becoming round, and my cheeks are almost as red as my nose, which I can compare to nothing short of a light house. I don’t think a razor has been open in this camp since our arrival; even Bullock has a beard! Pugh’s thin and fiery bristles aggravate the inflamed expression of his countenance, and has communicated his grimness to our visages in a manner that would fill you with admiration.

The Military Organization of the Confederate States.

Three military bills have passed Congress. The first authorize the raising of one hundred thousand volunteers when deemed necessary by the President. The second provides for the Provisional Army of the Confederate States, and is formed from the regular and volunteer forces of the different States, to serve for terms of enlistments, with same officers, except those above the rank of Colonel. The commissions of the officers expire with the enlistment of the men. The third organization is the regular army of the Confederate States, and is a permanent establishment, the officers to be commissioned by the President, and confirmed by the Congress. Officers who desire to make the army their profession, must apply directly and distinctly for the Army of the Confederate States, and make their application to the Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War.

Blowing Up Fort Sumter!

We see it suggested in Northern papers that, if compelled to evacuate, the military authorities of the Black Republican Government should at least make a ruin of Fort Sumter. We respectfully suggest that, situated as Major ANDERSON is, it would be both difficult and dangerous in him to execute such a manoeuvre. How he could arrange to effect such a hostile purpose and escape with his command, is easier to speak of than to plan and perform. Our Northern friends may be very sure that before he is provided with the means of transportation from the post with his command, the condition of the fort will be properly looked after. We would not suspect a brave officer of foul play; but if his Northern advisers were in his place, to practice the treachery they suggest and advocate, they would bitterly rue the deed.

Our Key West Marine Correspondence.

KEY WEST, March 12, 1861.

The ship Pocahantas, DELANO, from New Orleans, bound to Liverpool, with 3100 bales cotton and 1000 barrels lard, ran ashore on the shoal off Molasses Key, 40 miles east of this city on Thursday night last. She pounded heavily after grounding, and soon wore off her false keel. She afterwards keeled over, and her bilge, at last accounts, was in great danger of being chafed through, and it is feared that she will fill with water before the wreckers can get the cargo out. From fifteen to eighteen vessels are engaged in lightering her, and five have already arrived with loads from her. The weather today has been tempestuous, and we expect to hear that she has broke up. The large number of vessels employed in saving the cargo is fortunate for the property, as it will not doubt thus besaved without great loss. We hear that the master has consigned his cargo to A. F. TIFT.

The schr. W. H. Fry, Captain MARSHALL, has completed her repairs, and sails tomorrow for Baltimore. Expenses $4,012.89.

The schr. Maria Pike is nearly loaded, and will sail this week.

The brig Andover will also be ready for sea by the 15th.

The United States mail steamer Magnolia, CROWELL, arrived form New Orleans the 6th, and returns today. It is reported that this is the last trip to be made by this line. Such we trust is not the case. Should they be withdrawn our mail facilities are gone, and the only dependence will be the uncertain one of transient vessels and the Havana fishing smacks.

The Coast Survey schrs. Agassiz and Bailey have arrived at Fort Jefferson. They are to leave soon for the North.

Major TOWERS of the United States Engineers, and Lieutenant GILMAN, of Fort Pickens fame, arrived from Havana the 5th inst. and left in the transport schr. Tortugas for Fort Jefferson on the 9th. Lieutenant GILMAN is enroute for Fort Pickens, Pensacola.

The U. S. Revenue cutter Appleton, Lieutenant RANDOLPH, sailed for Havana on the 4th, with Capt. W. F. SMITH, S. S. Topographical Engineers, as passenger.

The U. S. Schooner Florida, Lieut. PICKERING, U. S. N., commanding, sailed on the 4th for Havana, with Judge DOUGLAS as passenger. Both vessels are now over due at this port.

We have received a copy of the New Orleans Delta of the 6th inst., but no synopsis of President LINCOLN’s Message has yet come to hand. The utmost anxiety exists here to learn the position of the President and his future policy as regards the Florida forts.

The garrison at Fort Taylor remain as last reported, in good health and spirits. They are looking for reinforcements by the Daniel Webster, from Texas. The steamer from New York and Fortress Monroe, with the armaments of Fort Taylor and Jefferson, is now over due.

There are no vessels of war at the present moment stationed at Key West. The city is perfectly quiet, and the people seem disposed to calmly await the denonement of events. The Federal authorities, holding the fortifications, will have undisputed sway.

Important From Texas.

LATEST by TELEGRAPH.

NEW ORLEANS, March 17. - Galveston dates to the 15th inst. have been received. Fort Brown was evacuated by the Federal Troops on the 12th, and no difficulty occurred - Major PORTER superintending the evacuation. The troops, it is said, will proceed to Key West and Tortugas by the Daniel Webster. Several hundred State troops have been enlisted for six months, to serve under Col. FORD, on the Rio Grande frontier. They have occupied various ports. The Convention is discussing measures for military defence. Major MARTIN, of the United States Army, had resigned, and tendered his services to the State. Camp Colorado, on the Northern frontier, had been taken by the State troops. Capt. SAYRE, of the Confederate army, had arrived, to muster in a regiment of Rangers for the frontiers, by order of the President.

The steamer Rusk had arrived from Brazos with 300 State troops.

Diary of a Yankee in the Patent Office

MONDAY 18

Mercury down to 20 this morning with quite a cold wind, the day closeing with a snowstorm. It has been about as cold and wintry a day as we have had. Brother C R started for home on the the [sic] 3.10 train this afternoon. We have had a good pleasant visit from him, and he is very agreeable company. I went to the Depot with him and saw him off. He is to be Post Master at Williamstown. The office seekers are leaving, some satisfied and others growling. Holly is nearly well today. I did not sleep much last night, to bed early tonight.