FORT TAYLOR, FLA., May 4, 1861. J. P. BALDWIN, Esq., Mayor, Key West City : MY DEAR SIR: I proposed on yesterday to print an address to the citizens of the United States on Key West. The address was delayed, and I take the opportunity to say to you, in continuation of the conversation had [...]

Executive Office, Jackson, Miss., May 3, 1861. His Excellency President Jefferson Davis: Dear Sir: The troops from Mississippi at Pensacola are sending to me for tents, clothing, arms, medicine, &c. I am sending them whatever is in my power to furnish. The expenses of forwarding our troops, arms, ammunition, tents, camp equipage, clothing, &c. , [...]

May 3, 1861 Hon. L. P. Walker, Dear Sir: I received to-day from Mr. Tate, the president of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, the inclosed letter. I am induced to send it to you because of the importance of the matters referred to and the known business character and capacity of the writer. The objects [...]

Cartoon map illustrating Gen. Winfield Scott’s plan to crush the Confederacy, economically. It is sometimes called the “Anaconda Plan.” Headquarters of the Army Washington, May 3, 1861 Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, Commanding Ohio Volunteers, Cincinnati, OH We rely greatly on the sure operation of a complete blockade1 of the Atlantic and Gulf ports soon [...]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, May 2, 1861. Lieut. Col. TOWNSEND. Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have heretofore addressed my official communications to Colonel Keyes, because he, as the agent of the President as well as military secretary of the General-in-Chief, superintended the fitting out of the expedition for the relief of the fort, which [...]

New Orleans, May 1, 1861. J. P. Benjamin: It will bankrupt the State to keep 6,000 men an indefinite time. To disband them would be very disastrous. Is it possible for you to intimate how long I should have to keep them before they are mustered into the service of the Confederate States? Answer immediately. [...]

Montgomery, May 1, 1861 Governor I. G. Harris, Nashville: All the arrangements have been made for the transportation of the troops to Lynchburg, where they will be armed and equipped and provisioned, of course. Let me know when they will depart. I send by mail bonds to be executed by an assistant quartermaster and assistant [...]

RALEIGH, May 1, 1861. JEFFERSON DAVIS: Convention bill passed; also a resolution authorizing me to send troops to Virginia at once without limit. Our mint at Charlotte will coin for the Confederate Government if desired. Ships of war are hovering on our coast near the Cape Fear. Design unknown. I am preparing to manufacture percussion [...]

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Montgomery, April 30, 1861. Brig. Gen. BRAXTON BRAGG, Commanding at Pensacola: GENERAL: Apprehending that you might have construed the suggestions thrown out from this Department as to the erection of batteries on Santa Rosa Island, and as to the attack on Fort Pickens, into orders to proceed first to the [...]

RALEIGH, April 26, 1861 L. P. WALKER: I have sent Colonel Holmes to take command of coast defenses, with full instructions. I regard the Cape Fear as perfectly secure. He can judge of that, however. JOHN W. ELLIS.

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

RALEIGH, April 24, 1861. Hon. L. P. WALKER You shall have from one to ten thousand volunteers in a few days, with arms, and I wish them to go as State troops. Many of our men will enlist in Confederate Army. Will have a regiment ready in four days. Funds will be required for transportation, [...]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, Fla., April 23, 1861. Bvt. Maj. W. H. FRENCH, Commanding Key West, Fla.: SIR: I am directed by the colonel commanding to say that at his request Captain Adams, commanding the naval forces at this place, has ordered the steamship Crusader to be stationed off your fort in such [...]

HEADQUARTERS TROOPS NORTH CAROLINA ARSENAL, Fayetteville, N. C., April 23, 1861. COLONEL: I have to report that this arsenal was surrendered to the State of North Carolina yesterday, on demand of the governor of the State, which demand was sustained by a force of one thousand and fifty rank and file of State troops, well [...]

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 [...]

 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 [...]

MONTGOMERY, April 22, 1861. Gov. J. W. ELLIS, Raleigh, N. C. SIR : Your patriotic response to the requisition of the President of the United States for troops to coerce the Confederate States justifies the belief that your people are prepared to unite with us in repelling the common enemy of the South. Virginia needs [...]

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 [...]

HDQRS. TROOPS CONFEDERATE STATES, Near Pensacola, Fla., April 20, 1861. GENERAL ORDERS NO. 24. I. All intercourse hereafter with Santa Rosa Island, Fort Pickens, or the United States fleet, is strictly prohibited. II. Martial law is declared to exist and will be rigidly enforced on all territory within five miles of the lines of this [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]