The Vindicator, April 12, 1861 Staunton, Virginia Nothing could be more preposterous, nothing more stupid, than the dogma that slavery is a curse to the country. On the contrary, the heaviest calamity that could befall any slave State on this continent, the greatest curse that an angry Providence could inflict upon the South, would be [...]

April 12.–At 1 a.m. four aides of General Beauregard (Colonel Chesnut, Colonel Chisolm, Captain Lee, and Mr. Pryor, of Virginia) came with a second letter, stating that as Major Anderson had been understood to make the remark to the bearers of the first letter, in taking leave, that he would “await the first shot, and [...]

April 12, 1861; The New York Herald CHARLESTON, April 11—Midnight. Negotiations have been reopened between General Beauregard and Major Anderson. For this reason the respected hostilities have been deferred.

April 12, 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter. The war begins with Confederate forces firing on Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. Beginning at 4:30 am on the 12th and continuing until the morning of the 13th, Confederate batteries along the shore of Charleston Harbor fire on Fort Sumter under the command of [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald The News from Charleston. The Latest. CHARLESTON, April 10–Evening. The floating battery finished, mounted and manned, was taken out of the dock last evening, and anchored in the cove near Sullivan’s Island. Our people are not excited, but there is a fixed determination to meet the issue. An [...]

April 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury MONTGOMERY, April 8, 1861. Several important items have been received today from New York, which have caused some excitement in this city. The most absurd rumors are afloat, and men are leaving for Pensacola on the strength of them. No important orders have been sent from the War Department [...]

April 10th and 11th–These two days were mainly lost by delays, the floods having swept away many bridges, which had not yet been repaired. As we approached Richmond, it was observed that the people were more and more excited, and seemed to be pretty nearly unanimous for the immediate secession of the State. Everywhere the [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald The News from Washington. WASHINGTON, April 10, 1861. The refusal to admit Captain Talbot to Fort Sumter does not alarm the government in the least. The commanders of the naval and military forces now supposed to be off Charleston received only general instructions from the respective departments. That [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald The News from Charleston. CHARLESTON, April 9, 1861. Everything is quiet tonight as regards excitement. People are becoming accustomed to suspense, and nothing but sounds of actual battle will disturb the calm determination with which they await events. The floating battery has been towed into position between Sullivan’s [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald The News From Washington. WASHINGTON, April 10, 1861. Official advices from Lieutenant Slemmer confirm what I telegraphed you some ten days since upon the authority of a Cabinet officer. The Brooklyn was ordered to leave her troops at Fort Pickens, but did not land them, owing to the [...]

April 11, 1861; Daily Advocate (Baton Rouge, LA) “Blynnks”–Who is an applicant for the Nashville Postoffice, in a letter written from Washington to the Nashville Patriot, thus show up the economy of the Federal Government: The way the Government gets its work done is curious. As an illustration, you and your family meet in convention [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald WASHINGTON, April 10, 1861. Washington bore a highly warlike aspect all day. Troops kept constantly marching through the streets, and drums and fifes were heard in every direction. Intense commotion was produced this morning by the promulgation of an order calling out the entire militia of this district. [...]

April 11, 1861; Richmond Enquirer All doubt as to the intention of the Lincoln Government with regard to the Southern forts is at length removed. The authoritative declaration has been made that Fort Sumter is to be re-inforced at all hazards, and a fleet of seven war vessels is now in Charleston Harbor engaged in [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald Our despatches from Charleston this morning, though interesting, reveal but little of positive importance. The federal fleet had not made its appearance, but was hourly expected off Stono. The floating battery had been moored between Sullivan’s Island and Fort Sumter, ready for action. Troops continued to arrive from [...]

April 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury Yesterday was another day with our military men. From daybreak until sunset, and far into the night, steamers were constantly plying to and fro between the city and the batteries, transporting men, provisions and munitions of war. As for the probability of a fight, and that right soon, most [...]

April 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury We publish this morning a notice from the Secretary of the Treasury of the plan by which he proposes to insure the prompt payment of the Bonds issued to raise the Confederate States Loan. The export duty of one-eighth of a cent per pound upon Cotton, imposed to meet [...]

April 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury WASHINGTON, April 10.—The alarm of the Abolitionists at the bare idea of a demonstration by the Southrons against Washington begins to be perfectly ludicrous. General orders have this day been issued by the War Department, forming a new military regiment out of the District of Columbia and the State [...]

April 11, 1861; The New York Herald The News from Washington. WASHINGTON, April 10, 1861. This city has been the scene of the wildest excitement throughout the entire day, troops marching, drums beating, and flags flying the entire length of Pennsylvania avenue. Ten companies, or about one fourth of the volunteer militia of the District [...]

April 11, 1861; The Charleston Mercury Impending, momently expected battle, is the culmination of years of steadily increasing encroachment of the North upon the South–of compromising, sentimental generosity, and weak acquiescence on the part of the South. Strengthened and aggrandized by the partial action of the Central Government, the North is swollen with pride and [...]

April 11.–At early dawn I detected the presence of the floating battery on the upper end of Sullivan’s Island. It is situated between the end of the jetty and the steamboat wharf, where, evidently distrusting her qualities as a floating battery intended to breach the gorge wall at short range, she has been run on [...]

April 11, 1861 Beauregard demands, by order of the Secretary of War, the unconditional surrender of Fort Sumter. The demand is refused by Major Anderson, his own sense of honor and his obligations to the U. S. Government not permitting compliance.1  A final request would come in the early morning hours of April 12, shortly [...]

April 10, 1861, Tri-Weekly Alamo Express (San Antonio) We learn that an attempt was made to get Capt. Tobin’s company of rangers, (now encamped at the head of the San Pedro Springs) to enterfere and break up the meeting on Tuesday night, but that the proposition was not countenanced by the company. Happening to be [...]

April 10, 1861; The New York Herald The accounts this morning from Charleston corroborate the information relative to the designs of the administration, which was published in yesterday’s paper. Seven United States vessels are reported off Charleston, but it is said the supply vessels had not arrived yesterday, and until they reach there no demonstration [...]

April 10, 1861; The Charleston Mercury The commencement exercises of the Cadets of the Citadel Academy, previously announced as about to take place a Hibernian Hall today, will, on account of the immediate prospect of a collision in our harbor, be dispensed with for the present year. The ceremony of conferring degrees upon the First [...]