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

Anticipating an attempt by Bragg to land forces on Santa Rosa Island.

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U. S. FRIGATE SABINE, Off Pensacola, April 26, 1861. ORDER: Colonel Brown thinks it probable that an attempt may be made by General Bragg to land forces on Santa Rosa Island with a view of making approaches by land against Fort Pickens, in which case he asks the co-operation of the squadron to prevent it. [...]

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

Am much obliged for the muskets, and request that you send them to Richmond, Va., to my address as Secretary of War of the Confederate States.

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MONTGOMERY, April 25, 1861. Gov. J. W. ELLIS, Raleigh, N. C.: Major Whiting writes from Wilmington that he needs one thousand muskets and accouterments and one hundred rounds ammunition from Fayetteville Arsenal. L. P. WALKER. __________ MONTGOMERY, April 25, 1861. Gov. J. W. ELLIS, Raleigh, N. C. I shall have to supply with arms three [...]

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

Report on Expedition to Fort Pickens—Montgomery Meigs

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U. S. TROOP-SHIP ATLANTIC, Havana, April 25, 1861. Brig. Gen. J. G. TOTTEN, Chief of Engineers, Washington: GENERAL: In obedience to orders from the President of the United States, I accompanied as engineer the expedition of Colonel Brown, fitted out in New York, and sailing under secret and confidential orders to attempt to re-enforce Fort [...]

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

“I find myself installed here in command of the defenses of Cape Fear…, but in a babel of confusion…”

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WILMINGTON, N. C., April 22, 1861. Brigadier-General REAUREGARD ………………..Commanding Provisional Army, Charleston, S. C. MY DEAR GENERAL: I find myself installed here in command of the defenses of Cape Fear; to be sure, by commission from the governor, but in a babel of confusion, to which Morris Island and Charleston Harbor were child’s play. Without [...]

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

I have now at this post nine full companies; aggregate about eight hundred and sixty men.

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 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, April 22, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. KEYES, …..Secretary to the General-in-Chief, Washington, D.C.: COLONEL: I wrote you on the 19th, detailing my proceedings to that time. Having sent my dispatches by a sailing vessel, I herewith inclose duplicates. Since my last the weather has been generally favorable, and [...]

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

“…an attempt of the seceders to bribe and seduce the garrison from their duty.” Fort Pickens

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, April 20, 1861. Col. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I inclose you a report of Lieutenant Slemmer in relation to an attempt of the seceders to bribe and seduce the garrison from their duty. That the attempt was made is fully proved by the fact that the money paid to Private McGarr [...]

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

Slave labor and white laborers on Tortuga and Key West

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HEADQUARTERS TROOPS STATIONED AT KEY WEST, Fort Taylor, April 20, 1861. Maj. L G. ARNOLD, Commanding Fort Jefferson, Tortugas : MAJOR: In order to further the views contained in your letter of the 1st instant, received to-day, I have been with Lieutenant Morton, Engineer Corps, to the town of Key West, for the purpose of [...]

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

“I believe that it is impossible to land a force upon this island…”

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U. S. TROOP-SHIP ATLANTIC, Off Santa Rosa, April 20, 1861. Col. H. BROWN, Commanding Department of Florida : DEAR COLONEL: If my estimate is correct you have now about 690 men inside Fort Pickens. The Illinois is here with two companies, say 168. The Saint Louis has gone to order up two companies of infantry [...]

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

The Official Communications Between Anderson and Beauregard Before, During, and Following the Bombardment

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NEW YORK, April 19, 1861. COLONEL: I have the honor to send herewith dispatches Nos. 99 and 100, written at but not mailed in Fort Sumter, and to state that I shall, at as early a date as possible, forward a detailed report of the operations in the harbor of Charleston, S.C., in which my [...]

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

I found this post in the worst possible condition for hostilities

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, April 19, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. KEYES, Secretary to the General-in-Chief Washington, D. C.: COLONEL: I respectfully report for the consideration, and I hope for the approval, of the General-in-Chief the reasons inducing me to urge on Captain Meigs and Lieutenant Porter a delay in forcing an entrance [...]

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

Report of G.V. Fox—Nearing the bar it was observed that war had commenced, and, therefore, the peaceful offer of provisions was void.

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STEAMER BALTIC, New York, April 19, 1861. SIR: I sailed from New York in this vessel Tuesday morning, the 10th instant, having dispatched one steam-tug, the Uncle Ben, the evening previous to rendezvous off Charleston. The Yankee, another chartered tug, followed us to the Hook, and I left instructions to send on the Freeborn. We [...]

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

“…the danger is a real…, the landing of a considerable body of hostile troops on the shore of that island..,”

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ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, Washington, April 19, 1861. Hon. SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War: SIR: I inclose the copy of a letter from Captain Hunt, dated Key West, April 11, which you may think advisable to lay before the Secretary of the Navy. I may be permitted to add that the danger is a real one that [...]

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

Pensacola and not (Fort) Pulaski is the point.—Confederate Secretary of War

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MONTGOMERY, April 19, 1861. General BRAGG, Pensacola: Events are such as to excite belief that demonstrations may be made upon you at an early day. I would, therefore, advise increased vigilance in preventing possible communication with the fleet or Fort Pickens. Martial law should be rigidly enforced. Everything is being done to send you guns [...]

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

“I am almost discouraged at the task before me.”—Colonel Harvey Brown at Fort Pickens

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HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, April 18, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. KEYES, Secretary to the General-in-Chief, Washington, D.C.: COLONEL: We arrived off this place on the evening of the 17th instant, having encountered a heavy norther on the passage from Tortugas. I immediately sought and obtained an interview with Captain Adams, commanding the [...]

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

“…removing the tottering walls of the buildings within, and clearing away all the rubbish, &c., from the interior of the work…”

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HEADQUARTERS PROVISIONAL ARMY, C. S. A., Charleston, S.C., April 17, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to transmit by Col. R. A. Pryor, one of my aides (who like the others was quite indefatigable and fearless in conveying my orders, in an open boat, from these headquarters to the batteries during the bombardment), a general [...]

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

No serious casualty.

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HEADQUARTERS SURGEON-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT, Charleston, April 16, 1861. SIR: From the returns received from the various posts I have the unexampled and happy privilege of stating that no serious casualty has occurred during the vigorous action of thirty-three hours in reducing Fort Sumter. Four trifling contusions are reported at Fort Moultrie, but none at other posts, [...]

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