U. S. STEAMER BROOKLYN, Pensacola Harbor, Fla., March 17, 1861. Col. L. THOMAS,   Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: On the 24th of last January I left Fort Monroe, Va., with sealed orders from the headquarters of the Army, which assigned me to the command of the forts in this harbor. On my arrival at this station [...]

BALTIMORE, MD., March 16, 1861. General BEAUREGARD, C. S. A., Charleston, S.C.: MY DEAR SIR: By the authority of the Secretary of War, I have established a recruiting station here, and I am induced to believe that it will meet with decided success. By the time an officer can reach here there will probably be [...]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 15, 1861. The honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: MY DEAR SIR: Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort Sumter, under all the circumstances is it wise to attempt it? Please give me your opinion in writing on this question. Your obedient servant, [A. LINCOLN.] The following papers marked “Answer” and as [...]

EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 15, 1861. The honorable SECRETARY OF WAR: MY DEAR SIR: Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort Sumter, under all the circumstances is it wise to attempt it? Please give me your opinion in writing on this question. Your obedient servant, [A. LINCOLN.] _______ Papers marked “Answer” and as inclosures [...]

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Montgomery, March 15, 1861. Brig. Gen. BEAUREGARD, Charleston, S.C.: GENERAL: Dispatches just received from Washington, of the highest authority, speak of mines in Fort Sumter, and a purpose to destroy it and the garrison rather than be taken. Foster, the Engineer, might be a good guarantee, if kept in the [...]

MONTGOMERY, ALA., March 14, 1861. Hon. S. R. MALLORY, Secretary of the Navy : SIR: The port of Apalachicola is without any means of defense, having only two hundred muskets and sixty rifles; no artillery of any kind. The commercial importance of the city may make it more than a point of ordinary interest to [...]

MONTGOMERY, March 14, 1861. General BEAUREGARD, Charleston: Steamers Star of the West, Harriet Lane, Crusader, Mohawk, and Empire City ordered to sail from New York last night. Said to carry arms, provisions, and men. Destination not known. L. P. WALKER. [Copies to General Bragg, Pensacola; Captain Jones, Fort Morgan; Major Duncan, Forts Jackson and St. [...]

FORT TAYLOR, KEY WEST, FLA., March 13, 1861. Lieut. Col. L. THOMAS, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Headquarters of the Army, Washington City: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that everything is quiet at Key West to this date, nor do I apprehend any attack on this fort until perfectly-organized force is raised. Flags of the [...]

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, March 12, 1861. Captain VOGDES,   U. S. Army, On board U. S. sloop-of-war Brooklyn, lying off Fort Pickens SIR: At the first favorable moment you will land with your company, re-enforce Fort Pickens, and hold the same till further orders. Report frequently, if opportunities present themselves, on the condition [...]

“I desire to state that should my application to be appointed in the Regular service, instead of the Provisional one, occasion any embarrassment to the President, I desire it to remain unnoticed; and, moreover, should he at any time consider it necessary for the good of the service or safety of the country to send [...]

ORDERS, No. 1 PENSACOLA, FLA., March 11, 1861. I. In compliance with Special Orders No. 1 from the War Department, Confederate States of America, dated at Montgomery, Ala., March 7, 1861, Brigadier-General Bragg assumes the command of all troops in the service of said States in the vicinity of Pensacola. His headquarters will be at [...]

WASHINGTON, March 11, 1861. General BEAUREGARD, Commanding Army Confederate States, Charleston, S.C.: Believed here that Anderson will be ordered to evacuate Sumter in five days. Was certainly informally agreed on in Cabinet Saturday night. May have been done as ruse to throw you off your guard and enable them to re-enforce. LOUIS T. WIGFALL.

WASHINGTON, March 11, 1861. His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS, Montgomery, Ala.: It is believed here in Black Republican circles that Anderson will be ordered to vacate Fort Sumter in five days. An informal conclusion to this effect was arrived at Saturday night in Cabinet. Anderson telegraphed, it is said, that he had no fuel and but [...]

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A., Montgomery, March 9, 1861. Brig. Gen. P. G. T. BEAUREGARD, Charleston: GENERAL: Your report of the 6th instant has been received at this Department. What you have done and what you propose to do is approved. Push forward your contemplated works with all possible expedition, especially with the view to [...]

HDQRS. PROV. ARMY CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA Charleston, S.C., March 9, 1861. ‘ Hon. L. P. WALKER, Secretary of War, Montgomery, Ala.: SIR: I inclose you herewith the report of Col. M. Gregg, First Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, commanding on Morris Island, at the entrance of this harbor, reporting the circumstances connected with the accidental [...]

“Every one here seems to be gradually becoming aware, through my cautious representations, that we are not yet prepared for the contest, and that the first work in order is to endeavor to keep re-enforcements from getting into Fort Sumter by increasing our channel defenses.” HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY, Charleston, S. C., March 8, 1861. [...]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Montgomery, March 7, 1861. Brig. Gen. BRAXTON BRAGG, Provisional Army, C. S. A., Comdg. Troops near Pensacola, Fla.: SIR: By the inclosed order you will perceive that you have been assigned to the command of the troops at and near Pensacola, Fla. It is of the greatest importance that the Government here should [...]

CHARLESTON, March 6, 1861. President DAVIS, Montgomery: MY DEAR SIR: I inclose you, according to promise, a statement showing the strength of the volunteer division of South Carolina. Some of the regiments are commanded by highly accomplished graduates of our military academies, and some by officers of the Palmetto Regiment. It is altogether a superb [...]

FORT SUMTER, March 6, 1861. (Received A. G. O., March 9.) Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General U. S. Army : COLONEL: I have the honor to report that a very large re-enforcement was landed last night at Cummings Point and bivouacs near No. 10. This morning it was marched out of sight, around the point of [...]

HDQRS. OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA, Charleston, S. C., March 6, 1861. GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1. .   I. By virtue of authority from the War Department, Confederate States of America, bearing date Montgomery, March 1, 1861, and of authority of the Department of War, State of South Carolina, bearing date March 3, 1861, [...]

HEADQUARTERS C. S. ARMY, Charleston, S. C., March 6, 1861. SIR: In obedience to War Department orders of the 1st instant I arrived at this place on the 3d instant, and immediately reported to Governor Pickens for military duty. That day we inspected the floating battery now being constructed here. On the 4th instant we [...]

FORT SUMTER, S.C., March 5, 1861. Col. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that parties are working to-day on the mortar battery at Fort Johnson, which they are making higher and stronger, and on the Morris Island batteries, numbered on Captain Seymour’s sketch Nos. 1, 9, and 10. They are filling [...]

“We agreed that it was Lincoln’s purpose at once to attempt the collection of the revenue, to re-enforce and hold Fort Sumter and Pickens, and to retake the other places. He is a man of will and firmness.” WASHINGTON CITY, March 5, 1861. General L. POPE WALKER, Secretary of War, Montgomery, Ala.: DEAR SIR: Judge [...]

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, DEPARTMENT OF WAR, Charleston, S.C., March 3, 1861. Peter G. T. Beauregard having been appointed brigadier-general of the Confederate States of America, and having been ordered to assume command of the troops in and near Charleston Harbor, will be obeyed and respected accordingly, and all State officers of the volunteers, enlisted men, and [...]