On Saturday afternoon the steamer Philadelphia left this city for Fort Washington, having on board Major Terrett, two lieutenants, three sergeants, three corporals, two musicians, and forty privates. Fort Washington has been without a garrison for several years past, and this measure has only been adopted as a matter of prudence, so as to be prepared for a sudden act of aggression from any quarter.
A report was in circulation all day yesterday, that a large number of marines had arrived here from Brooklyn, to proceed further south. It had its origin in the fact that a portion of the guard of the U. S. ship Siam, of the Pacific squadron, consisting of a sergeant, two corporals, two musicians, and ten privates, arrived here yesterday morning, having been relieved from ship duty.
A great variety of exciting rumors were afloat through the city yesterday. They were generally the result of the fertile imagination of some one who had nothing else to do than invent stories to alarm our citizens. People should not credit these stories unless well vouched for.
The National Republican, Washington, DC
Editor’s Note
“Exciting Rumors”? Just imagine if they had social media…