1861. January 5.–….Mr. Motley, the historian, called and spent an hour in chat. I expressed my great delight with his recently issued work, the “Dutch Republic.” Told him I had noted two new spellings, Escorial and Burghley; the first he said was unquestionably correct, the second he took from the Lord Treasurer’s uniform mode of [...]

–A large meeting was held at Norfolk, Va., this evening. Strong speeches were made, urging the citizens to arm themselves and place themselves in a state of defence for any emergency, which were loudly cheered. Resolutions recommending the Legislature to organize thoroughly the military power of the State, and prepare for civil war should it [...]

Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, January 5, 1861 Fort Moultrie Evacuated—The Guns Spiked—The Gun-Carriages Burnt—Captain Foster left in Charge with a few Men—Colonel Anderson in Possession of Fort Sumpter. Spiking the Guns in Fort Moultrie, Charleston, S. C., Previous to the Evacuation of the Fort by Col. Anderson and the U. S. Troops On Thursday, at [...]

WASHINGTON, January 5, 1861. JOSEPH FINEGAN, Esq., or Col. GEO. W. CALL [Tallahassee, Fla.]: MY DEAR SIR: The immediately important thing to be done is the occupation of the forts and arsenal in Florida. The naval station and forts at Pensacola are first in consequence. For this a force is necessary. I have conversed with [...]

Mobile, January 5, 1861. DEAR SIR: I have been superseded by Colonel Todd, of the Militia of Alabama, and he took and receipted for all the property belonging to the Ordnance Department and fort. I wait for orders from the Adjutant-General. ……….I am, very respectfully, S. PATTERSON, Ordnance Sergeant, U. S. Army. The ADJUTANT-GENERAL.

January 5th, 1861.—This is Saturday and Mother lets Lulu make candy on Saturday and if she, my black mammy, will let us, we help with it. She says we “do not help but hinder;” maybe she is right. Cousin Rob is spending the day here and Lulu has promised to teach us how to make [...]

January 5, 1861, The New York Herald The conservative masses of the people, North as well as South, have become fairly aroused to the conviction that, in this most critical period of our nation’s history, no remedy whatever is to be looked for from their representatives in Congress. A background of incapacity, stupidity, imbecility, gross [...]

January 5, 1861, The Charleston Mercury It is our pleasing duty to record, this morning, the patriotic course of another son of South Carolina, in the resignation, some days since, of Mr. WILLIAM WILKINSON, from the Naval School at Annapolis. The opportunity of a naval education and position have thus voluntarily been abandoned from a [...]

January 5, 1861, The Charleston Mercury We learn that P.D.J. WESTON, Esq; has presented to the Georgetown Rifle Guard, Captain E.J. WHITE, one hundred and twenty of the fine English weapon known as the ‘Enfield Rifle’ with accoutrements and ammunition ample for a long campaign, besides placing funds at the disposal of the company. The [...]

January 5, 1861, The Charleston Mercury A detachment of the Richardson Guard, Lieut. C.H. AXSON, were out on duty Sunday afternoon. Another platoon passed the MERCURY office yesterday afternoon, under the command of Lieut. BOAG. The detachment of Citadel Cadets who have been on the seashore since the first of January, passed our office yesterday [...]

January 5, 1861 At the last minute General Winfield Scott substitutes the Star of the West, a New York based merchant marine vessel for the Brooklyn, a heavily armed and reinforced sloop ordered to sail to Fort Sumter to resupply the federal outpost. The Brooklyn, however, is to travel to Fort Sumter with the Star [...]