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Sun rises 5H. 37M. Sets 6H. 23M.—High Water, 8H. 50M.
News from New York [Special Despatch to the Mercury]
New York, April 11.- The Ocean Queen and one or more tug-boats have been chartered. Efforts are being made to secure the Vanderbilt. New recruits are arriving daily at Governor’s Island. There are 400 to 500 on hand. The Post’s Washington dispatch says Sumter is to be supplied and reinforced tomorrow at daylight by small boats filled with sand bags, with small boats alongside next Fort Sumter. The war vessels are to protect the landing of a force on Morris Island to capture the batteries. Major Anderson will fire on the batteries.
New York, April.- It is said in well informed circles that the landing of troops is to be made through Lighthouse Inlet, Morris Island.
The steamers Wabash, Savannah and Roanoke are getting ready for sea with all possible dispatch. The Government menials are working on Sunday and during the night time at Troy and other Arsenals. The schooner Genin is taking in Colombiads for Fort Pickens.
The steamer Atlantic is supposed to have gone to Pensacola. Commodore Stringham is to go with other vessels to the same place.
New York, April 11.- The steam-tug Uncle Ben, chartered by the Government, sailed South on Tuesday night.
Washington, April 11.- The leading Republicans openly assert that the whole of the naval and military outfit is to operate in the neighborhood of Charleston.
The public buildings and every avenue of approach to the city was rigorously guarded last night. No cause was assigned, but it is not difficult to guess. The mustering of the military into service is progressing.
Sailing of the Pawnee. Norfolk, Va., April 11.- The steamer Pawnee sailed South at six o’clock yesterday evening. She carries sealed orders.
Norfolk, April 11.- The steamer Pocahontas sailed South to-day with sealed orders.
War News- THE TIMES.- …On the Battery several hundreds of persons, principally ladies, were promenading until near midnight, anxiously gazing at the dim lights, barely visible through the haze, which indicated the position of the batteries, where fathers and sons, brothers and lovers were willing to sacrifice their lives for the honor of South Carolina. And yet there was but one regret expressed, and that was at the delay and procrastination of hostilities. A detachment of the Citadel Cadets are stationed here for night service, with some heavy pieces of artillery.
Among the exciting rumors of the day was one that Major Anderson had fired into the steamer Gordon, which was, of course, without any foundation.
A Pilot boat reported the steam cutter Harriet Lane, Capt. Faunce, off the Bar, which also created a sensation, but it was one of rejoicing, as it was hoped that hostilities were then certain to commence.
The reliable events of the day, however, were that about three o’clock a demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter was made by Gen. Beauregard, through his Aids, Col. Chesnut, Col. Chisolm, and Capt. Lee, and the Major Anderson replied he could not, consistently with his honor as an officer of the United States Army, retire from his post without instructions from his government. At half-past eleven, p.m., General Beauregard’s final reply was borne to him by the same officers, but up to the hour of our going to press, we have not had any farther information.
Among the noticeable incidents visible from the Battery last evening, were a number of rockets let off, a private signal no doubt, by the steamers on duty in the harbor; also the fiery appearance of the three schooners in the neighborhood of Sumter, with pine wood and tar burning for the purpose of lighting the harbor in that vicinity.
The Military and Naval Movements At New York- Mysterious Doings- Outward and Visible Signs of Coming War.
One of our New York cotemporaries of Monday morning says:
Since the close of the Mexican War there has been nothing to equal the intense excitement which prevails in this city consequent on the military and naval movements that have characterized the last two or three days. The concentration of troops at Fort Hamilton; the incessant sound of the bugle, and the frequent drills at Governor’s Island; the marching of a company of United States Artillery through the streets of Brooklyn, and their embarkation on board the hired steamer Atlantic with a large number of soldiers belonging to other branches of service; the unusual activity displayed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, caused by the sudden commissioning of the United States steamer Powhatan, and her hasty preparation for sea and sudden departure; the increased efforts to hasten the repair and the equipment of the frigates Roanoke and Wabash, and the brig Perry, and the air of impenetrable mystery with which the military and naval authorities endeavor to enshroud these movements, and to ignore the signs of preparations for war, that are so palpable to the most careless observer, all point to the stern fact, that the United States are fast drifting into a civil war, the end of which it is fearful to contemplate.
Nor is it in New York alone that these unwonted signs and tokens of war are visible in the North. From Boston we learn that at the Charlestown Navy Yard a degree of activity prevails equal to that manifested in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. We are told that eight hundred men are there actively employed ; that the brig Bainbridge is ready for sea, and awaiting her crew, and that the steamships Minnesota, Mississippi and Colorado are nearly ready.
When, in addition to these significant facts, it is remembered that immense quantities of gunpowder, round shot, shell, grape, canister, and other destructive missiles known to modern warfare, together with light howitzers and flying artillery, are being taken on board each vessel, it is apparent to the meanest capacity that warlike operations by land as well as by sea are intended, for it is preposterous to suppose that these last named weapons are intended as part of the armament of vessels of war, while the munitions of war already shipped , and to be taken on board the several vessels intended for the South, are in far too large quantities for the mere equipment of the several vessels. Then there are those mysterious boxes, marked “Capt. J. Vogdes, Fort Pickens.” All these, we repeat, are signs as visible as the nose upon a man’s face that war is intended. In order that the full significance of this unmistakable fact may appear, we here present a recapitulation of the military and naval preparations already made and in progress here in the North. [A complete list of ships is printed]
The Troops Sent On
There is considerable difficulty in consequence of the cloud of mystery in which these movements have been purposely involved, in forming an estimate of the number of troops shipped on the Atlantic on Saturday. The only company of which we have any certainty is Company A, Second Regiment of United States Flying Artillery, commanded by Captain Barry, and which numbered sixty men. The other companies were Company C, Captain Allen; Company H, Captain Brooks; and Company M, Major Hunt, all of the Second Artillery. There are also some companies of the Third Regiment. A company of Sappers and Miners, under the command of Lieutenant Balch, from West Point, also embarked. The total number of these troops has been moderately estimated at five hundred men. Then there were a number of soldiers of the line form Fort Hamilton which cannot be estimated at less than three hundred men. The artillery horses were seventy-eight in number.
In addition to the above troops, the Powhatan, on Saturday evening, took on board a company of Artillery from Governor’s Island and another form Fort Hamilton.
The Steam Transports- The Illinois To Sail Today- Active Preparation of the Baltic- Final Departure of the Atlantic, Etc., Etc.
The promptness that has so far characterized the warlike but mysterious movements of the Government, which took their first definite shape in the departure on Saturday of the sloop-of-war Powhatan and the steam transport Atlantic, was followed up yesterday by the active preparation for sea of the steam transports Illinois and Baltic.
The Illinois
Was hauled round to the foot of Canal street yesterday morning, and taken into the dock recently occupied by the Atlantic, where she had steam up during the entire day. A large number of stevedores, longshoremen, riggers and workmen were engaged upon her, getting in the cargo, which was lying upon the dock and on the lighters alongside. A couple of horses, with hoisting block, assisted the men in their labors.
The cargo on the dock consisted of some fifty or sixty cases of muskets, labeled with the address “Captain I. Vodges, Fort Pickens, Florida.” These cases were not shipped on the Atlantic, as previously stated; so that it is very probable, wherever the destination of the latter steamer may be, that of the Illinois is for the reinforcement of the fort mentioned in the address on the musket cases. There were five hundred barrels of flour on board when the steamer was chartered by the Government- a portion of her intended transatlantic cargo. They have been retained on board.
On the port side of the vessel and astern of the wheel-house a lighter was moored . She was heavily laden with provisions, which were hoisted over the vessel’s side and deposited in the hold.
On the same side of the steamship and forward of the wheel-house another lighter, with the letters “U.S.” on her stern, denoting her government character, was anchored. Her cargo was cannon, gun carriages, cartouche boxes, tent poles, tent canvass and camp equipments, all of which were hoisted into the Illinios and deposited in the steerage hold. A large magazine and several foraging carts were taken in the afternoon.
The Baltic
Is lying upon the upper side of the dock at which the Illinois is stationed. The same active preparations to get her ready for sea are observable on board and on the wharf. About two hundred laborers of all kinds were engaged upon her and the Illinois, and the wharf resounded during the stillness of the Sabbath day with the hum of their work.
Three lighters, with coal, were continually moored at the sides of the Baltic, discharging their cargos through the portholes, while a number of others similarly freighted, lying nearby in the river, took their places as soon as the first were emptied.
The provisions were placed on board on Saturday, and yesterday was occupied in taking in, in addition to the coal, the bedding for the soldiers berths, some five or hundred of which have been constructed between decks of rough boards.
There appeared to be no shipment of arms, ammunition or powder, making it probable that the Baltic will carry soldiers and provisions only.
A most significant and suspicious fact in connection with the outfit of the Baltic, was the shipment of fourteen naval yawl boats, such as would be used in landing forces form a war vessel for an attack on the shore. These boats, each capable of holding form fifteen to twenty men, were brought form the navy yard, and bear on their sides and sterns the designations of the vessels-of-war to which they belong. Some four of five of these boats have also been shipped on the Illinois.
The First of Lincoln’s Coercionists.- One of our Pilots saw off the bar, last evening, just before dark, what he supposed to be the Cutter Harriet Lane. She made for him, but not liking her looks, he left her and came into port.
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David Upton