PENSACOLA, April 6, 1861. Hon. L. P. WALKER: I can control the dock, but re-enforcements can be landed on the outside Santa Rosa Island in spite of me. The ships, except the Wyandotte, are beyond my range. She can be driven off or destroyed. Any attack by us now must be secretly made by escalade. [...]
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, New York, April 6, 1861. Lieut. CHARLES R. WOODS, Ninth Infantry, Act. Supt. East. Dept., R. S., Fort Columbus, 21. N.Y.. : SIR: The General-in-Chief desires that two hundred recruits from Fort Columbus be at once organized into two companies, and held in readiness for embarkation on Monday next, the 8th [...]
CHARLESTON, April 6, 1861. L. P. WALKER: The following telegraph I have just received from Washington: Positively determined not to withdraw Anderson. Supplies go immediately, supported by a naval force under Stringham if their landing is resisted. A FRIEND. Governor and General Beauregard visiting the posts in the harbor, and will not be here for [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 6, 1861. Capt. THEO. TALBOT, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: You will proceed directly to Charleston, S.C., and if on your arrival there the flag of the United States shall be flying over Fort Sumter, and the fort shall not have been attacked, you will procure an interview with Governor Pickens, and read [...]
MONTGOMERY, April 5, 1861. General BRAGG, Pensacola, Fla.: Can you prevent re-enforcements being landed at other points on Santa Rosa Island other than the docks? Do you mean by “attack” the opening of your guns upon the fort or upon the ships? If the former, would your operations be confined to battering the fort? Telegraph, [...]
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 5, 1861. Capt. SAMUEL MERCER, Commanding U.S.S. Powhatan, New York: SIR: The United States steamers Powhatan, Pawnee, Pocahontas, and Harriet Lane will compose a naval force, under your command, to be sent to the vicinity of Charleston, S. C. for the purpose of aiding in carrying out the objects of an [...]
“… that orders had been received from Montgomery not to allow any man in the ranks, or any laborers, to leave Fort Sumter, and not to allow Major Anderson to obtain supplies in Charleston; that Mr. Crawford, a commissioner from the Confederate States, now in Washington, had sent a dispatch to him stating that he [...]
WASHINGTON, April 5, 1861. Hon. ROBERT TOOMBS, &c., Montgomery, Ala.: The movement of troops and preparation on board of vessels of war, of which you have already been apprised, are continued with the greatest activity. An important move requiring a formidable military and naval force is certainly on foot. The statement that this armament is [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D.C., April 4, 1861. Major ROBERT ANDERSON, U. S. Army: SIR: Your letter of the 1st instant occasions some anxiety to the President. On the information of Captain Fox he had supposed you could hold out till the 15th instant without any great inconvenience; and had prepared an expedition to relieve you [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 4, 1861. Capt. G. V. Fox, Washington, D.C.: SIR: It having been decided to succor Fort Sumter you have been selected for this important duty. Accordingly you will take charge of the transports in New York having the troops and supplies on board to the entrance of Charleston Harbor, and endeavor, [...]
FORT SUMTER, April 3, 1861. Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON, First Artillery, U. S. Army, Commanding Fort Sumter, Charleston Harbor: MAJOR: In obedience to your directions, we visited Cummings Point and the schooner, bearing the United States flag, which was fired into by the batteries on Morris Island, and respectfully present the following statement concerning the affair: [...]
MONTGOMERY, ALA., April 3, 1861—10 p.m. General BEAUREGARD: Minnesota ordered to sea, supposed to be for mouth of Mississippi; Powhatan to sail next week; Pawnee ordered to sea on Saturday. Three companies artillery (one of sappers and miners) ordered to New York; probably for the South. Be on lookout. L. P. WALKER.
WASHINGTON, April 3, 1861. Hon. ROBERT TOOMBS, &c., Montgomery, Ala.: Much activity to-day in the War and Navy Departments. It is said the Minnesota, at Boston, has been ordered to the mouth of the Mississippi. Powhatan suddenly put in commission to sail next week. Four companies now here—three artillery, one sappers and miners—ordered to New [...]
MONTGOMERY, April 2, 1861. General BEAUREGARD, Charleston: No portion of the garrison must be permitted to leave unless all go. L. P. WALKER.
CHARLESTON, April 2, 1861. Hon. L. P. WALKER Captain Foster asks permission to send his mechanics and laborers from Sumter. Shall it be allowed? I am inclined to object. G. T. BEAUREGARD, Brigadier-General, Commanding.
WASHINGTON, April 2, 1861. Hon. ROBERT TOOMBS, Montgomery, Ala.: The war wing presses on the President; he vibrates to that side. He has conferred with several officers, and naval engineer, supposed to be in regard to Sumter; perhaps to collecting revenue at New Orleans. Commodore Pendergrast is not at Key West but at Norfolk; could [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Montgomery, April 2, 1861. Brig. Gen. G. T. BEAUREGARD, Commanding Charleston Harbor, Charleston, S. C.: SIR: The Government has at no time placed any reliance on assurances by the Government at Washington in respect to the evacuation of Fort Sumter, or entertained any confidence in the disposition of the latter [...]
WILMINGTON, N. C., April 2, 1861. General Jos. G. TOTTEN, Chief Engineer, Washington, D.C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to report my return from Fort Clinch, and my performance of the duty assigned to me by your order of the 18th ultimo, so far as I have been able to perform it. I have paid [...]
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, April 1, 1861. Bvt.. Col. HARVEY BROWN, U. S Army, Washington, D. C.: SIR: You have been designated to take command of an expedition to re-enforce and hold Fort Pickens, in the harbor of Pensacola. You will proceed with the least possible delay to that place, and you will [...]
NAVY DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 1, 1861. To the COMMANDANT OF THE NAVY-YARD, Brooklyn N. Y.: Fit out the Powhatan to go to sea at the earliest possible moment under sealed orders. Orders by a confidential messenger go forward to-morrow. ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
FORT SUMTER, S.C., April 1, 1861. (Received A. G O., April 4.) Col. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that everything is still and quiet, as far as we can see, around us. The South Carolina Secretary of War has not sent the authority, asked for yesterday, to [...]
FORT SUMTER, S. C., March 31, 1861. (Received A. G. O., April 4.) Col. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General U. S. Army: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that we do not see any work going on this morning. Yesterday, in consequence of the members of the Convention coming down, a great deal of firing of [...]
FORT PICKENS, FLA., March 30, 1861. The ASSISTANT ADJUTANT-GENERAL, Headquarters of the Army: SIR: I have the honor to report that matters have not assumed hostile attitude. Everything appears quiet. Troops are being quietly concentrated and preparations made for an immediate movement should the present amicable agreement be interrupted. From all I can learn, there [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, A. AND I. G. O., Montgomery, March 29, 1861. Brig. Gen. G. T. BEAUREGARD, Commanding, &c., Charleston, S.C.: SIR: The Secretary of War directs that you will allow no further communications between the Government of the United States and Fort Sumter, unless the written instructions of the intermediary are first submitted to your [...]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 29, 1861. Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: SIR: I desire that an expedition, to move by sea, be got ready to sail as early as the 6th of April next, the whole according to memorandum attached, and that you co-operate with the Secretary of the Navy for that object. Your obedient servant, A. [...]