February 1, 1861; The Charleston Mercury KEY WEST, January 22. Fort Taylor, a large first class fortification at the entrance of the harbor of Key West, is now nearly finished, the barracks and a few platforms for barbette guns being alone uncompleted. Capt. E. B. HUNT, Engineer Corps, in command, on account of the seizure [...]
February 1, 1861; The New York Herald WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 1861. Colonel Hayne has been engaged today in preparing a letter to the President in regard to affairs at Charleston. This document will contain the ultimatum of South Carolina, which is understood to be the unconditional surrender of that fort to the authorities of South [...]
To The Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS, Washington, D. C. New York, December 31, 1860 My Dear Sir,—Your kind favor crossed with the letter which I had the pleasure of addressing you last week. I have read carefully your resolutions for a conference, and they meet my entire approval. The South cannot ask for more, and [...]
December 31, 1860 Charleston is notified by telegraph that a man of war with troops is on the way Image: The United States Sloop of War “Brooklynn”
To The Hon. HERSHEL V. JOHNSON, Speir’s Turnout, Jefferson County, Ga., New York, December 30, 1860 My Dear Sir,—Since I wrote you last, I have seen, with much pleasure, that you have been elected a member of your State convention. Your eloquence and popularity will give you great influence in that body; I still have [...]
December 30, 1860 South Carolina’s convention officially approves the Ordinance of Secession. South Carolina secedes from the Union South Carolinians seize the Federal Arsenal at Charleston, making Fort Sumter the last piece of federal property in the state controlled by the United States government. The image is of Fort Sumter, seen from the rear, at [...]
December 29, 1860 As requested, John Floyd tenders his resignation as Secretary of War. Charges come out later in the day that he had misdirected funds to contractors and guns to the South. Neither charge will be fully investigated and his guilt (or innocence) is still a hotly debated subject
December 27th.—Mrs. Gidiere came in quietly from her marketing to-day, and in her neat, incisive manner exploded this bombshell: “Major Anderson ¹ has moved into Fort Sumter, while Governor Pickens slept serenely.” The row is fast and furious now. State after State is taking its forts and fortresses. They say if we had been left [...]
To The Hon. S. A. DOUGLAS, Washington, D.C. New York, December 26, 1860 My Dear Sir,—I have not written to you during all the troubles which have overtaken us since the unfortunate result of the election. You, whose patriotic heart beats warmly for our beloved Union, must feel deeply the terrible situation into which we [...]
To the Hon. J. J. CRITTENDEN United States Senate, Washington, D.C. New York, December 26, 1860 My Dear Sir,—Please accept my respectful thanks for the copy of your compromise propositions, which you were kind enough to send me under your frank. I have yet to meet the first conservative Union-loving man, in or out of [...]
December 26, 1860 Major Robert Anderson transfers his small command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter on his own initiative. He felt it was impossible to hold Fort Moultrie against the South Carolina militia and believes the former location will soon be attacked and that the change of location is necessary to “prevent the effusion [...]
December 23, 1860 President Buchanan, tipped to upcoming problems for Secretary of War John Floyd, requests his resignation.
December 22, 1860 South Carolina selects 3 commissioners to arrange for delivery of public lands, including Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter, to the independent state.
December 21st.—Mrs. Charles Lowndes was sitting with us to-day, when Mrs. Kirkland brought in a copy of the Secession Ordinance. I wonder if my face grew as white as hers. She said after a moment: ”God help us. As our day, so shall our strength be.” How grateful we were for this pious ejaculation of [...]
(Confidential.) SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, December 21, 1860. My dear Sir: Last night I received your letter giving an account of your interview with General Scott, and for which I thank you. Please present my respects to the general, and tell him, confidentially, I shall be obliged to him to be as well prepared as he can [...]
December 21, 1860 South Carolina representatives withdraw from the U. S. House
December 20, 1860 South Carolina becomes the first state to attempt to secede from the United States. Governor Francis W. Pickens takes office in South Carolina. Governor Francis Pickens of South Carolina demands President Buchanan relinquish control of Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie. Edwin Stanton becomes Attorney-General in the Buchanan Administration Secretary of War John [...]
To Governor WM. SPRAGUE, Providence, R.I. New York, December 19, 1860 My Dear Sir,—I have been confined to my bed for the last few days, and therefore was unable to acknowledge the receipt of your favor of 16th inst. before this. I hail with the most heartfelt satisfaction the expression of your intention to call [...]
To JOHN FORSYTH, Mobile, Ala. New York, December 19, 1860 My Dear Sir,—Your favor of 8th inst. reached me a few days ago, but I was prevented by indisposition from replying to it before. It was very gratifying that you should have deemed my last letter to you of sufficient import to give it a [...]
Albany, N.Y. New York, December 19, 1860 Allow me, though a comparative stranger, to express to you the heartfelt satisfaction with which I have read your very able and patriotic article of last Monday. The statesmanlike view which you take of our present difficulties, and the wise and conciliatory course which you, with so much [...]
December 18, 1860 Pro-Union Senator John Crittenden of Kentucky proposes the Crittenden Compromise, which allowed states south of the old Missouri Compromise line to determine for themselves whether they entered the Union slave or free. Crittenden Compromise fails.
SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, December 17, 1860. My dear Sir: Yours of the 11th was received two days ago. Should the convocation of governors of which you speak seem desirous to know my views on the present aspect of things tell them you judge from my speeches that I will be inflexible on the territorial question; that [...]
December 17, 1860 South Carolina Secessionist Convention is called to order. The convention decides unanimously (169 to 0) to secede from the United States and appoints a committee to draw up the needed documents.
December 14, 1860 Georgia calls for a convention of Southern states to form an independent nation.
To Governor WM. SPRAGUE, Providence, R.I. New York, December 13, 1860 My Dear Sir,—I am much obliged for your favor of 10th inst., but regret that you take the view that the repeal of the personal-liberty bill, by your State, at this moment could be looked upon as a concession made under the pressure and [...]