–A variety of plans for capturing Fort Sumter have been devised, but as yet none have been put in practice. One man thought it might be taken by floating down to the fort rafts piled with burning tar-barrels, thus attempting to smoke the American troops out as you would smoke a rabbit out of a [...]

WASHINGTON, Tuesday morning, January 8, 1861. His Excellency F. W. PICKENS, Governor of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.: The Star of the West sailed from New York on Sunday with Government troops and provisions. It is said her destination is Charleston. If so, she may be hourly expected off the harbor of Charleston. LOUIS T. WIGFALL.

SENATE CHAMBER, January 7, 1861. Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR: SIR: We addressed a letter to your Department a week past, asking certain information interesting to be known to us in connection with our public duty, and not having received a reply we beg leave to call your attention to it, and to ask as early [...]

SAINT AUGUSTINE, EAST FLORIDA, January 7, 1861. SIR: I am obliged to perform what is to me a painful duty, viz, to report to the Chief of Ordnance that all the military stores at this place were seized this morning by the order of the governor of the State of Florida. A Company of volunteer [...]

U. S. ENGINEER OFFICE, Savannah, January 7, 1861. GENERAL : I have to report that on the 3d instant, being at Fort Clinch, I received a telegram from my clerk informing me that troops of the State of Georgia were moving to occupy Fort Pulaski, by order of the governor. I replied by telegraph, directing [...]

January 7, 1861, The New York Herald WASHINGTON, Jan. 6., 1861 The President, in submitting the correspondence with the South Carolina Commissioners to Congress tomorrow, will accompany it with a special message, setting forth the condition of affairs in South Carolina and other Southern States that have and are still engaged in taking possession of [...]

January 7, 1861, The New York Herald WASHINGTON, Jan. 5, 1861. Those who are well acquainted with Major Anderson are much amused at the descriptions which are given of him by Northern papers. He seems to be thought a phlegmatic statesman rather than a soldier, and to have acted, in removing the troops under his [...]

January 7, 1861, The Charleston Mercury THE RICHARDSON GUARD, preceded by a fine band of music, passed through our principal streets last night, and in the evolutions of their drill evinced remarkable proficiency. They proceeded to the residence of their First Lieutenant, CHAS. H. AXSON, Esq; where, in response to repeated cheers and calls, he [...]

January 7, 1861, The Charleston Mercury THE MERCURY BULLETINS, we are proud to learn, are always looked for at all the forts and fortifications as containing the very latest and most reliable news in this great crisis. Yesterday afternoon, when copies or our special despatches from Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and Washington, reached Fort Moultrie, [...]

January 7, 1861 John Crittenden tries to resurrect his proposal on the floor of the Senate. It had earlier been killed by committee. Virginia calls a special session of its Assembly to consider convening a convention on the question of secession. The image is of the steamship “Star of the West” (Harper’s Pictorial History of [...]

January 6th, 1861.—This morning we went to Mount Zion to hear Mr. Blake preach. It is a treat to listen to his sermons, he uses such beautiful language and he explains the passages of Scripture he reads, so clearly that it really stays in our minds and we remember. All ministers do not do this. [...]

SUNDAY 6 It has been said that “there are no Sundays in revolutionary times” and this has been a dark and anxious day. The Members of Congress have been together in small companies trying to agree upon some plan that will satisfy all sides. The news from the South is bad as it can well [...]

–A meeting of citizens, irrespective of party, was held at Chicago, Ill., this evening. The resolutions adopted express love for the Union; regard every attempt to rend it as the basest treason and most insane folly; regard the Constitution of the United States as forming a union between the people of the several States, and [...]

U.S. ARSENAL, CHATTAHOOCHEE, FLA., January 6, 1861. SIR: I have the honor herewith to inclose a copy of the order given to Colonel Dunn, the commander of the troops which took possession of this arsenal. I telegraphed this morning to you. ……….I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. POWELL, Ordnance Sergeant, U. S. [...]

CHATTAHOOCHEE, January 6, 1861. The arsenal has been taken possession of by the State this morning, 7 o’clock. My forces too weak to defend it. I have refused keys of magazine and armory. Answer, with instructions. E. POWELL, U. S. Arsenal. Captain MAYNADIER, Chief Ordnance Department.

January 6, 1861, The New York Herald WASHINGTON, Jan. 4, 1861. There are no facts here. An event today is nothing tomorrow, and the scene shifts every hour. The storm is tremendous; but I think it will end without desolating the country. There are many unreasonable men at both extremes – men of precipitation and [...]

QUINCY, FLA., January 6, 1861. SIR: I beg leave to state that I telegraphed this morning from Chattahoochee, and finding that I could get no answer, I came to this place and thought probably I might get an answer from you by writing from here. I informed you that the Florida troops had taken possession [...]

January 6, 1861, The New York Herald Honest Old Abe Lincoln, whose achievements as a splitter of rails now form part of the history of the country, has latterly been engaged in a new line of business, a rather higher branch of woodwork, to wit: – the manufacturing of Cabinets. There is all the difference [...]

FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 6, 1861. Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General: COLONEL: Through the courtesy of Governor Pickens I am enabled to make this communication, which will be taken to Washington by my brother, Larz Anderson, esq. I have the honor to report my command in excellent health and in fine spirits. We are daily adding [...]

January 6, 1861 Florida militia takes over a federal arsenal near Appalachiacola. Maryland’s pro-Union governor denounces secession in a speech to the residents of the state. Fernando Wood, mayor of New York, proposes that New York City should secede as well, allowing trade with both the North and South The image is of the steamship [...]

SATURDAY 5 People were startled today to hear that the U.S. Forts and Arsenals at Savannah & Mobile had been taken possession of by the Revolutionists. Where this is all to end God only knows. It looks dark for our Country at present. But there is still a strong feeling that the Government will be [...]

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 [...]