HEADQUARTERS FORT JEFFERSON, TORTUGAS, January 23, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report for the information of the General-in-Chief that I found on my arrival here, notwithstanding the energetic, well-directed, and highly-commendable efforts of Captain Meigs, the Engineer in charge, that Fort Jefferson could not be successfully defended from a judiciously-planned and concerted attack [...]
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 23, 1861. Hon. J. HOLT, Secretary of War: SIR: I proceeded to Pensacola, Fla., pursuant to orders received from the General-in-Chief, with dispatches to Commodore Armstrong, U. S. Navy, commanding the navy-yard at that place, and agreeably to your request submit the following statement respectfully to your notice: On my [...]
HEADQUARTERS AUGUSTA, GA., ARSENAL, January 23, 1861–1 o’clock p. m. SIR: I am just officially informed by the governor of Georgia, now in Augusta, supported by a superior military force, that Georgia having resumed exclusive sovereignty over her soil, it has become his duty to require me to withdraw. the troops under my command at [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT Washington, January 22, 1861. Hon. BENJAMIN FITZPATRICK, Hon. S. R. MALLORY, Hon. JOHN SLIDELL:GENTLEMEN: The President has received your communication of the 19th instant, with the copy of a correspondence between yourselves and others, “representing States which have already seceded from the United States, or will have done so before 1st of February [...]
HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, January 21, 1861. Bvt. Col. JUSTIN DIMICK, Lieut. Col., Second Artillery, Commanding Fort Monroe, Va.: SIR: The General-in-Chief directs that you embark, after arrangements with the commander of the sloop-of-war Brooklyn, one company of the First Artillery with at least three officers, with arms, a good supply of ammunition, and [...]
In connection with this subject, I deem it not improper respectfully to suggest that his excellency may do an act of humanity and great kindness if he will permit one of the New York steamers to stop with a lighter and take the women and children of this garrison to that city. The confinement within [...]
. FORT SUMTER, S.C., January 21, 1861. General Jos. G. TOTTEN, Chief Engineer U. S. A., Washington, D.C.: GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the present condition of the batteries around us occupied or being erected by the troops of the State of South Carolina: Fort Moultrie.–Until within eight days [...]
WASHINGTON, January 20, 1861. Gov. M. S. PERRY, Tallahassee, Fla.: The Southern Senators all agree that no assault on Fort Pickens should be made; that the fort is not worth one drop of blood at this time, and desire us to invoke you to prevent bloodshed. First get the Southern Government in operation. The same [...]
ORDNANCE OFFICE, Washington D. C., January 19, 1861. SIR : The inclosed letter from Captain Rimy to the Adjutant-General of the Army is submitted for the perusal of the Lientenant-General commanding, and for such action as he may deem proper in the case, with the remarks that the captain had no means of knowing whether [...]
MOTTLE, ALA., January 19, 1861. SIR: I have to state that Fort Gaines was formally taken possession of in name of the State of Alabama yesterday. I was about to send all the hands off on a steamer chartered for the purpose; some provisions, &c., were also to [be] taken to Mobile and sold. Colonel [...]
WASHINGTON, January 19, 1861. Gov. A. B. MOORE, Montgomery, Ala.: Telegraph not to attack Fort Pickens. Florida Senators and friends think it unwise. C. C. CLAY, JR. BEN. FITZPATRICK.
WASHINGTON, January 18, 1861. His Excellency Governor PERRY, Tallahassee, Fla: We think no assault should be made. The possession of the fort is not worth one drop of blood to us. Measures pending unite us in this opinion. Bloodshed now may be fatal to our cause. JNO. SLIDELL. J. P. BENJAMIN. A. IVERSON. JNO. HEMPHILL. [...]
HEADQUARTERS FORT JEFFERSON, TORTUGAS, January 18, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that I arrived at Fort Jefferson today with my command; garrisoned and assumed command of the post, in accordance with the instructions of the General-in-Chief, dated Washington, January 5, 1861. Strength: four commissioned officers and sixty-two enlisted men, Bvt. Maj. L. [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, January 16, 1861. Maj. ROBERT ANDERSON, First Artillery, Commanding Fort Sumter: SIR: Your dispatch No. 17, covering your correspondence with the governor of South Carolina, has been received from the hand of Lieutenant Talbot. You rightly designate the firing into the Star of the West as “an act of war,” and one which [...]
WAR DEPARTMENT, January 15, 1861. To his Excellency JOHN W. ELLIS, ……………Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh: SIR: Your letter of the 11th instant, addressed to the President of the United States, has by him been referred to this Department, and he instructs me to express his gratification at the promptitude with which you have ordered [...]
FORT TAYLOR, KEY WEST, FLA., January 15, 1861. SIR: In consequence of the secession of this State and the seizure of the forts and arsenals in other Southern States. I have moved my command to Fort Taylor, and shall defend it to the last moment against any force attempting to capture it. I have four [...]
FORT TAYLOR, KEY WEST, FLA., January 14, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that in consequence of the recent seizure by unauthorized persons of several forts and arsenals in the Southern States, I have placed my entire command in Fort Taylor for the purpose of protecting it. I shall, until orders from the [...]
FORT CASWELL, N. C., January 14, 1861. SIR : I most respectfully wish to state that the party of citizens who occupied this post has left this day. Mr. Hedrick, who signed receipts to me for the ordnance stores, has returned them to me in good order, except what he expended. ……….I am, sir, very [...]
. . FORT COLUMBUS, N. Y. H., January 13, 1861. COLONEL: Pursuant to instructions, dated Headquarters of the Army, January 5, 1861, I embarked on the evening of Saturday, 5th instant, from Governor’s Island, at 6 o’clock p.m., on a steam-tug, which transferred us to the steamer Star of the West. My command consisted of [...]
. . NEW YORK HARBOR, January 12, 1861. COLONEL: I have the honor to report that I reached this post at 8 ½ o’clock this morning with my command, having been unable to reach Fort Sumter. I will make a detailed report without delay. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CHARLES R. WOODS, [...]
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Raleigh, January 12, 1861. His Excellency JAMES BUCHANAN, …….President of the United States: SIR: Reliable information has reached this Department that on the 9th instant Forts Johnston and Caswell were taken possession of by State troops and persons resident in that vicinity, in an irregular manner. Upon the receipt of this information I [...]
FORT CASWELL, N. C., January 11, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report herewith that this post is reoccupied by a party of citizens from Wilmington and Smithville. They took possession at 7 o’clock on the night of the 10th instant. The individual who represents them as commanding officer is a Mr. Hedrick, from [...]
HEADQUARTERS FORT INDEPENDENCE, January 10, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that I embark with my command this afternoon on board the steamer Joseph Whitney for Fort Jefferson, Fla. Orders of the General-in-Chief by telegraph. Strength of command, four commissioned officers and sixty-two enlisted men. Names of officers: Bvt. Maj. L. G. Arnold, [...]
FORT PICKENS, FLA., January 10, 1861. SIR: I have the honor to report that on this date, I removed my command from Barrancas Barracks, Fla., to Fort Pickens, under special instructions received the previous day from the General-in-Chief. ……….I am, sir, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, A. J. SLEMMER, ………. First Lieutenant, First Artillery, [...]
RALEIGH, N. C., January 10, 1861. Hon. WARREN WINSLOW: Call on General Scott; demand of him to know if he intends to garrison the North Carolina forts. Reply immediately. JOHN W. ELLIS.