LATER FROM AMERICA. VIA CALIFORNIA, PROGRESS OF THE CIVIL WAR!

Wellington Independent, Volume XVI, Issue 1599, 12 July 1861, Page 5

LATER FROM AMERICA. VIA CALIFORNIA, PROGRESS OF THE CIVIL WAR!

DESTRUCTION OF THE UNITED STATES ARSENAL AT HARPERS' FERRY ! !

GOSPORT NAVY YARD AND ELEVEN SHIPS GF WAR BLOWN UP!!!

WASHINGTON IN DANGER '. ! ! !

ATTACK ON THE FEDERAL -MSLITI A !!!*] !

The New-Zealander of the 29th June Contains hte news from America. We quote from that paper the followingparticulars.;— ■■*

By the clipper Constance, Captain "Butt, 44 days from San Fruneisco-, we have been favoured witb copies of the AUa California of Ist, 10th aud llth May, containing intelligence from New York to the 29th Apvil. By these, we regret to learn that. Civil War has been commenced, and with -such a degree of animosity ou both sides, as to pre lude any prospect of an early or satisfactory adjustment.

The first shot iv this ttnhappy strife Was fired by South Caroliua, which bom* harded aud captured Fort Sump ter, the Naval Squadron of the Federal Govern* ment, for some cause or other, lying idle outside the gulf and rendering uo assistance.

The success — if such a term ns sue* cess can be applied lo either party in one of the most distressing and -disastrous conflicts the World has ever been called to chronicle — appears, as yet to be wilh the Southerners. The Cnited States Arsenal and Armoury at Harper's Ferry, and the Naval Yard al Grusport, havo been destroyed to prevent their falling into the hands of the secessionists ; aud Washington, the oapital of the onoe United States, appears to be in a state ot some danger from capture.

The following are the particulars of eaoh event : —

Additional particulars in relation to the burning of the U.S Arsenal aud Armory at Harper's Ferry, represent that several days pfovious to the affair, Lieut. Jones was advised from Head Quarters that his post was in imminent danger, and directing liitn to be prepared for any emergency. Yesterday, he bad information from various sources that an attack would be made upon the arseuuls last night. The militia of the place who professed loyalty, resolved to disbaud j the labourers, who were acting as guards, manifested a significant uu easiness ; a special train was known to been the way to the Ferry and there was positive information of bodies of troops, in all amounting to over 2000 men, having moved froni Winchester, Charlestown, and other points towards the Ferry. Early in the evening, the little garrison, consisting of but 50men, commenced the preparati >n to enable them to destroy . the arsenals, and arms in case of necessity. Tney out up planks and other timbers with their swoids to ignite the buildings. They emptied their mattresses filled them with powder, and carried them into the arsenals, so that no suspicion was aroused among the people. The arras, 15,000 in number, wer» then placed in the best position to be. destroyed by their explosion, and splints of boards aud straw were piled up iv . different places in the shops, s> that all the public buidiugs could be destroyed. At 9 o'clock, Lient. Jones wis advised of the advauct of not less than 2 J ooi> men, who expected to be upon turn by midnight, and he at once proceeded to . 1 & f j .- .* M1» * lira -*-..-: •-• .■.««•-. «r>t-n.'f?. ~t Off WillUUWand djors of the buildings were opened, so that ihe flames could, have free .course atid when rill Was ready, the fires were* started in the carpenter shop, the trains leading to the pofrdbr igiiitbd, and the mwi marched out. The ory of fire alarolad the lovtfn, etticl just , as Lieut. Jonas aud his men were entering tbo ledge to •scape, an excited crowd pursued him, threatening vengeance upou* him for having fired tlid building*. Ho wheeled his fcaeii, and declared that unless the crowd dispersed he would fire upou them. The' maSft fell back, and he fled up thei ctinal and took (v the woods. Several shots ware fired after him, but without effect*.: He was noi out of the town over fifteen minutes wlieu . he heard the first explosion/ and Aho light of the bunting biiilditigs lit his path as hd escaped uorthward. . He does not doubt but that the destruction of the arsenal shops, ico.. isi oomplete, as he heat'd the different explosions distinctly. We learn that the destruction of th« Gosport Navy Yard was a most complete* work, by means of which the-GoVerjj-m«nt has prevented Aa.-'Very important; naval station, with a.splehclitf dry dock,-. and 11 vessels .of war AJi'am.i^aiiiugiiviuiV thei hands of the Secessionists. V It wasv