Daily Observations from The Civil War

—The steam frigate Brooklyn and another vessel at Norfolk are ordered to be in readiness for immediate departure to Charleston. The secession leaders discovered the intention to start these vessels, and notified their sympathizers at Norfolk to have minute-men ready to seize them if they attempted to go to sea. The Administration is on the watch to prevent it.—Commercial Advertiser.

A letter received in Washington from Alabama, states the secession sentiment to be utterly uncontrollable; and says that, in the event of the firing of a single gun in opposition to disunion, “Mr Lincoln’s life will not be worth a week’s purchase.”—Boston Courier.

—Captain Charles Stone, upon the recommendation of General Scott., is appointed to organize the militia of the District of Columbia. Captain Stone graduated at West Point at the head of his class, went into the Ordnance Corps, was a lieutenant in command of a battery at the siege of Vera Cruz; was brevetted for gallant conduct at Molina del Rey, and served on the entire line of operations from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, directly under the eye of General Scott, who expresses the highest confidence in his genius for command.—Tribune.

—Intelligence is received in Washington that Fort Sumter is besieged; that all Major Anderson’s communications are cut off; that Fort Moultrie has been completely repaired and the guns remounted; and that every thing is in readiness to open a fire on Major Anderson. New batteries are being erected around him by the secessionists.—N. Y. Times.

—In New York city an assembly of the people in the City Hall Park fire 100 guns in honor of Major Anderson.

—Five thousand citizens of Baltimore have signed a letter addressed to Governor Hicks, of Maryland, approving his course in refusing to convene the Legislature of that State. The list is headed by John P. Kennedy, Mr. Fillmore’s Secretary of the Navy, and comprises the names of nine-tenths of the business men of the city. Calls for public meetings to sustain the Governor are now being issued all over the State.—Baltimore American.

—Governor Ellis, of North Carolina, dispatched troops to seize upon Fort Macon, at Beaufort, the forts at Wilmington, and the United States arsenal at Fayetteville.—Times, Jan. 3.

The evidences of a purpose on the part of the secessionists to seize upon the public property and usurp the Government at its capital, have become so clear that energetic measures are taking to defeat their plans, and repress the treason. Now that the Administration begins to appreciate the necessity of preserving the Government, and manifests the purpose to repudiate the treasonable influences which have hitherto paralyzed its arm, the people are beginning to report facts exposing the violent plots concocting in the District and its neighborhood.

It is now well known that military companies have been organized and drilled for months past in Maryland and Virginia—some of them under the eye of an officer of the regular army —and that the distinct object of their organization is to aid in the seizure of Washington city in the interest of the disunionists, or the prevention by force of Lincoln’s inauguration, Some of the less prudent of their leaders boast in private circles that they have five thousand well-armed and organized men ready to strike the blow instantly upon the concerted signal being given.—Times, Jan. 2.

—At Charleston, the attitude of the Administration is regarded as warlike.

A censorship is exercised over the telegraph, and the city is nightly patrolled by the military. It is proposed to starve out the troops at Fort Sumter, and then attack them on rafts with the aid of batteries already erected. There is a battery of earthwork, logs, and sand, on the end of Sullivan’s Island, and also one on Morris’ Island.

Commander Pettigru, of Castle Pinckney, orders that no boat shall be allowed to approach the wharf-head without permission, under penalty of serious consequences in case of violation. The city river-front is carefully guarded. The Palmetto Guards, 100 strong, have charge of the arsenal under the palmetto flag, instead of the Federal flag.

Collector Colcock notifies ship-masters that all vessels from and for ports outside of South Carolina must enter and clear at Charleston.

The Columbia Artillery, numbering 50 men, arrived at 1 o’clock to-day, and proceeded to the harbor. They will use cannon belonging to Charleston.—Boston Transcript, Jan. 2.

In South Carolina Convention passed an ordinance to define and punish treason. It declares that in addition to that already declared treason by the General Assembly, treason against the State shall consist only in levying war against the State, adhering to its enemies, and giving them aid and comfort. The penalty is death without the benefit of the clergy.— Evening Post, Jan. 2.