ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington, D.C., January 3, 1861. Hon. J. HOLT,   Secretary of War: SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the reference to this office of a letter from the honorables Messrs. Yulee and Mallory, of the Senate, dated 2d instant, and, in compliance with their request, to report that there is only one [...]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, January 3, 1861. Hon. DAVID CLOPTON, House of Representatives: SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 15th ultimo, asking for the plat and plan of the magazines at Mount Vernon Arsenal, Alabama. In reply, I have to say that I would cheerfully comply with [...]

. CHARLESTON, S. C., January 1, 1861. What disposition shall I make of the detachment under my command? We are very unpleasantly situated here. F. C. HUMPHREYS, U. S. Army. Capt. WM. MAYNADIER, Charge of Ordnance Bureau. _________ ORDNANCE OFFICE, January 2, 1861. F. C. HUMPHREYS U. S. Arsenal, Charleston, S.C.: I want a report [...]

SAVANNAH, January 3, 1861 By direction of Captain Whiting, now on duty at Fort Clinch, I have to report that State troops left this morning for Fort Pulaski by order of Governor Brown. HERMANN HIRSCH, Clerk. Col R. E. DE RUSSY, Commanding Corps of Engineers.

January 3, 1861, The New York Herald Mr. Buchanan’s administration is coming out of this fiery ordeal of revolution as fine gold from the furnace. His reply to the South Carolina Commissioners, as indicated in our Washington despatches, brings him forward in full relief as the man who rightly comprehends his position, his responsibilities and [...]

January 3, 1861, The Charleston Mercury In the military enthusiasm now pervading our city, it is difficult to keep young men who have responsible posts of business, in which the public are concerned, at their work. The rage for volunteering or active service is so great, that we, in the MERCURY office, have had the [...]

January 3, 1861, The Charleston Mercury Every effort of the General Government to avert its dissolution, only hastens on its fate. Major ANDERSON abandons Fort Moultrie and garrisons Fort Sumter. The President approves and the Northern press praises the achievement. The New York EVENING POST even declares that this step to coercion raises the price [...]

January 3, 1861, The Charleston Mercury We learn that 150 able bodied free colored men, of Charleston, yesterday offered their services gratuitously to the Governor, to hasten forward the important work of throwing up redoubts wherever needed along our coast.

January 3, 1861 Georgia militia under the command of Francis “Frank” Bartow seize Fort Pulaski, at the mouth of the Savannah River, from a single federal soldier and a contractor. The image is of Fort Pulaski. (Newspaper Illustration Harper’s Weekly Newspaper, December 28, 1861 p. 829.)

January 3rd, 1861.—I would not write this morning because I wanted to put down in my diary the first news of the convention. Tonight father has told me what they did; it was simply to organize and then they adjourned. Some of the delegates had not arrived and this will give them the opportunity to [...]

WEDNESDAY 2 Matters look more hopeful for the Country today. It is now known that the President refused to acknowledge the Commissioners as being anything more than distinguished citizens from the State of S.C. Their last communication to him yesterday was returned to them unanswered. It struck them like a bomshell it was so unexpected. [...]

–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 [...]

January 2nd, 1861.—Uncle Richard and Uncle Tom spent the morning with Father, the three brothers are going to Tallahassee tomorrow to the opening of the Secession Convention. They are so deeply interested. Susan Bradford is nearly 15 when this entry was made.

[WASHINGTON], January 2, 1861. Hon. M. L. BONHAM, Charleston, S.C.: Holt succeeds Floyd. It means war. Cut off supplies from Anderson and take Sumter soon as possible. LOUIS T. WIGFALL.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, January 2, 1861. Memorandum of arrangements ¹ Telegram sent to Mr. A. H. Schultz, 64 Cedar street, P.O. box 3462, New York City, that his propositions are entertained, and that a staff officer will be in the city to-morrow evening to conclude arrangements. Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas is directed, first, to satisfy [...]

SENATE CHAMBER, January 2, 1861. TO the SECRETARY OF WAR: SIR: We respectfully request you to inform us what is the numerical force of the troops now in garrison at the various posts in the State of Florida, and the amount of arms, heavy and small, and ammunition, fixed and loose, at the various forts [...]

January 2, 1861, The New York Herald WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 1861. The President’s reply to the Commissioners of South Carolina has just been communicated. They demanded, as a preliminary step to the initiation of negotiations, that the troops be withdrawn from the forts in Charleston harbor. The President positively refuses to do this, and reiterates [...]

1 January 1861        The year began with clouds & rain. I went out with Josey to Drive as Lucius was sent to the Depot expecting Mr Hayward & visited Mrs Wayne, Papa & Mrs Manigault, Papa out, Mrs Wayne preparing for a grand party, which must have disapointed her, as it rained all the evening, [...]

Washington D.C. TUESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1861. The old year passed away in gloom and sadness and the new one opens today without affording one hopeful ray of light in regard to the future. There seems to be a determination on the part of nearly the whole south to break up the Government. The Comrs from [...]

January 1st, 1861.—A New Year has come to us now. This is dear Grandmother’s birthday and, though she went to Heaven years ago, her children still meet on her anniversary and talk of her and of the days of their childhood. I like it and I never will forget when Father’s and Mother’s birthdays come. [...]

Robert Toombs to the Augusta, Ga., True Democrat.[i] Washington, D. C, Jan. 1, 1861. The cabinet is broken up, Mr. Floyd, Secretary of War, and Mr. Thompson, Secretary of the Interior, having resigned. Mr. Holt of Kentucky, our bitter foe, has been made Secretary of War. Fort Pulaski is in danger. The Abolitionists are defiant. [...]

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 1, 1861. To his Excellency the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: SIR: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th December, in reply to a note addressed by us to you on the 28th of the same month, as Commissioners from South Carolina. In reference to [...]

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 [...]

Mrs. Robert Toombs to Alexander H. Stephens. Washington, D. C., Jan. 1st, 1861[i] Dear Sir: I write a few lines to you this morning to ask you what I shall do with your furniture that is in our house. I have despaired of the Union and will begin to pack up my own things today. [...]