January 2026

The Leader of the Florida Troops at Pensacola.

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 29, 1861, The Charleston Mercury Major William H. Chase, formerly of the United States Corps of Engineers, is the leader of the State troops at Pensacola, Florida. He was formerly a resident of Massachusetts, and received the appointment of cadet from that State to the Military Academy at West Point, where he graduated March [...]

The State Flag

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 29, 1861, The Charleston Mercury The Legislature last night again altered the design of the State flag. It now consists of a blue field, with a white palmetto tree in the middle, upright. The white crescent in the upper flag staff corner remains as before, the horns pointing upward. This may be regarded as [...]

Removal of Beauregard from command.

0 comments
Turning on the Light: A Dispassionate Survey of President Buchanan’s Administration, From 1860 to its Close, by Horatio King

The Presidents reply to Senator Slidell’s query on Major Beauregard being relieved of command at West Point. Washington, January 29, 1861. My Dear Sir,–With every sentiment of personal friendship and regard, I am obliged to say, in answer to your note of Sunday, that I have full confidence in the Secretary of War, and his [...]

“…the inevitable consequence of re-enforcement under present circumstances is instant war…,”—Operations in Florida

0 comments
War of the Rebellion: from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies

PENSACOLA, January 28, 1861. To Hon. JOHN SLIDELL,   or, in his absence, Hon. R. M. HUNTER, or Governor BIGLER: We hear the Brooklyn is coming with re-enforcements for Fort Pickens. No attack on its garrison is contemplated, but, on the contrary, we desire to keep the peace, and if the present status be preserved [...]

“The city was very lively and noisy this evening with rockets and lights in honor of secession.”—Dora Richards Miller’s War Diary

0 comments
War Diary of a Union Woman in the South

Jan. 28, Monday.—Sunday has now got to be a day of special excitement. The gentlemen save all the sensational papers to regale us with at the late Sunday breakfast. Rob opened the battle yesterday morning by saying to me in his most aggressive manner, “G., I believe these are your sentiments”; and then he read [...]

Interesting answer on member of Congress’s postage privilege by acting Postmaster General Horatio King.

0 comments
Turning on the Light: A Dispassionate Survey of President Buchanan’s Administration, From 1860 to its Close, by Horatio King

Post-office Department, January 28,1861. Sir,–In answer to your letter of the 24th instant, asking if you have the right, “under existing relations,” to frank and distribute certain public documents, I have the honor to state that the theory of the administration is that the relations of South Carolina to the general Government have been in [...]

“We think no assault should be made. The possession of the fort is not worth one drop of blood to us.” – Operations in Florida – Confederate Correspondence

0 comments
War of the Rebellion: from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Montgomery, Ala., January 28, 1861. Hon. WM. M. BROOKS, President State Convention: SIR: The following resolution has been handed me by the secretary of the Convention: Resolved, That his excellency the governor be requested to communicate to this Convention forthwith any information he may have in reference to the propriety of withdrawing or [...]

The News

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The New York Herald From Washington we learn that the city was very quiet yesterday. Despatches from Charleston received there state that much excitement existed in regard to the departure of the Brooklyn from Norfolk with troops. As soon as it became known that the Brooklyn and other vessels had been ordered [...]

The Navigation of the Mississippi to be Unobstructed

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The New York Herald We are glad to see by the message of Governor Pettus, of Mississippi, and the proceedings of the Louisiana Convention, that the people of those States have no idea of following the suicidal example of South Carolina, and ruining their own commerce in order to carry out their [...]

Our Flag

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury On Saturday last both Houses of the General Assembly finally concurred in the design of the flag which is hereafter to represent the Sovereign State of South Carolina. The field is dark blue. Upon the upper inner corner of the flag is the crescent, in white, the horns pointing [...]

Our Florida Correspondence

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., January 19, 1861. The Facts of the Seizure of the Florida Forts. In your paper of the 7th instant (which I have just seen) appears, in a letter to Messrs. W.M. LAWTON & Co., from their Fernandina correspondent, the following: “A order came from the Governor [...]

Rashness of South Carolina

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury Certain phlegmatic of the South, to call them by the tenderest name, have had a great deal to say about the rashness and hot haste of South Carolina in seceding from the Confederacy. But this is the language of cowardice borrowing the speech of impudence. South Carolina would not [...]

No Federal Troops

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury No Federal troops shall ever enter Virginia to operate against the South! Such was the solemn declaration of FLOYD, of Virginia, long ago. Yet we see that, contemplating the use of Federal troops against the South, the fortresses of Virginia are reinforced. Very beautiful, this! The Government of the [...]

Accounts from Fort Sumter—What Captain Doubleday Says

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury (From the Washington Correspondent of the Baltimore Exchange.) I have been permitted to peruse a very interesting letter from Lieutenant DOUBLEDAY, of Fort Sumter, received last night, in which he says: “While the leaders are becoming more pacific the mob is becoming more outrageous and ungovernable. I hear they [...]

The Secession of Louisiana

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury Reception of the News. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) BATON ROUGE, January 26. – The Committee reported the Ordinance of Immediate Secession this morning. At ten minutes past one othe vote upon its adoption was taken, and amid the greatest excitement, the result was announced as follows: Yeas, 113, nays, [...]

Washington Artillery

0 comments
Civil War Day-by-Day

January 28, 1861, The Charleston Mercury This spirited and efficient company, having been relieved from the post at Fort Moultrie, which they have occupied since the 27th December, were received at the landing by the detachment of the company in the city. The entire company, numbering one hundred and twenty two strong, marched to their [...]

Beauregard relieved of command.—A letter sent to President Buchanan by Beauregard’s brother-in-law, Senator Slidell, to whom he owed his appointment.

0 comments
Turning on the Light: A Dispassionate Survey of President Buchanan’s Administration, From 1860 to its Close, by Horatio King

Washington, January 27,1861. MY Dear Sir,—I have seen in the Star, and heard from other parties, that Major Beauregard, who had been ordered to West Point as Superintendent of the Military Academy, and had entered on the discharge of his duties there, had been relieved from his command. May I take the liberty of asking [...]

“I have not deemed it advisable to notice in any way the false reports which have originated in Charleston and elsewhere about us.”—Operations in Charleston Harbor

0 comments
War of the Rebellion: from the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies and Navies

FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 27, 1861. (Received A. G. O. January 30.) Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to state, in reply to your letter of the 24th instant, that our letters, &c., are sent by boat, daily, at 12 m., to Fort Johnson in a sealed package, addressed to the postmaster [...]