January 19, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
This gentleman arrived in the city last night, by the six o’clock train on the Northeastern Railroad, and is stopping at the Charleston Hotel. He will leave for Fort Sumter at an early hour this morning. The tenor of his instructions for Major ANDERSON has not transpired, but we have good reason to suppose that they are of the general character foreshadowed in the MERCURY’s special despatches – that is to say, to hold Fort Sumter at all hazards, if he can.