AN ORDINANCE to ratify the Constitution of the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America. We, the people of North Carolina, in convention assembled, do declare and ordain, and it is hereby declared and ordained, That the State of North Carolina does hereby assent to and ratify the “Constitution for the Provisional Government of [...]

AN ACT to admit the State of Arkansas into the Confederacy. The people of the State of Arkansas, in sovereign convention, having passed an ordinance dissolving their political connection with the United States, and another ordinance adopting and ratifying the Constitution for the Provisional Government of the Confederate States of America: Therefore, The Congress of [...]

Wilmington, Del., May 18, 1861. Honored Sir: It is with extreme pleasure that I announce the fact that I have now about ready for sea, the fine steamship Phenix and I solicit a letter of marque, and will you forward the same, if the following description of the ship is satisfactory to you and your [...]

Confederate States Of America, War Department, Montgomery, May 18, 1861. Maj. Edward C. Anderson, Confederate Army, Montgomery, Ala.: Sir: You are hereby directed to proceed to Europe without delay for the purpose of making purchases of munitions of war and to execute such other instructions as may be intrusted to you by the heads of [...]

Report of Flag-Officer Bell, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. naval forces, Mediterranean Sea, of proposed capture of American merchant ships by Confederate privateers in those waters. U. S. Flagship Richmond, Genoa, May 18, 1861. Sir: A gentleman came on board to see me to day by the name of Augustus Collingbridge, late a captain [...]

Confederate States Of America, Treasury Dept., Montgomery, May 18, 1861. Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War: Dear Sir: I receive intimations from New Orleans and other quarters that we can get no more money at present on the Confederate loan. This makes it an urgent necessity to husband what we have. In devising plans [...]

War Department, Washington, May 17, 1861. His Excellency Thomas H. Hicks, Governor of Maryland: Dear Sir: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communications of the 13th and 14th instant, informing this Department that, In pursuance of the requisition of the President of the United States of the 15th day of April, [...]

AN ACT to admit the State of North Carolina into the Confederacy on a certain condition. The State of North Carolina having adopted measures looking to an early withdrawal from the UnitedStates and to becoming in the future a member of this Confederacy, which measures may not be consummated before the approaching recess of Congress: [...]

War Department, Washington, May 17, 1861. The Governor of New Mexico: Sir: I have the honor to forward you, inclosed herewith, the plan of the organization of the volunteers for three years, or during the war. Two regiments are assigned to your Territory. In making up this quota of three-years’ men you will please act [...]

Orders from Stephen R. Mallory to Lieutenant James H. North1,2,3 for a mission to Europe regarding the acquisition of formidable warships. Confederate States, Navy Department, Montgomery, May 17, 1861. Sir: Upon the receipt of this order you will proceed to Savannah and join the _________ and proceed thence to London. You will land at some [...]

Headquarters of the Army, Washington, May 16, 1861. His Excellency Governor Morgan, Albany, N. Y.: Sir: The President is afraid that the fourteen regiments he agreed to accept from the New York Committee of Safety yesterday, for three years, may be deducted from the long-term volunteers he had before accepted from Your Excellency, and I [...]

Order of the Secretary of the Navy to Commander Rodgers, U. S. Navy, to cooperate with Major-General McClellan, U. S. Army, in the execution of the Eads plan of blockade. Navy Department, May 16, 1861. Sir: You will proceed to Cincinnati, Ohio, or the headquarters of General McClellan, where [ever] they may be, and report [...]

Executive Department, Milledgeville, Ga., May 15, 1861. Hon. L. P. Walker, Secretary of War, Montgomery, Ala.: Sir: Having received conflicting information as to the terms upon which State volunteer troops will be received into the service of the Confederate States, I respectfully request you to give me by letter, as soon as convenient, definite and [...]

Headquarters of The Army, Washington, May 15, 1861. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, Commanding Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati : Sir: Your letter of the 10th of May, by Lieutenant Williams, is received. I am directed by the General-in-Chief to reply as follows: He concurs in your general views respecting the establishment [...]

Executive Department, Austin, Tex. , May 15, 1861. His Excellency Jefferson Davis : Sir: An ordinance passed by the late convention of Texas, entitled “ An ordinance to secure the friendship and co-operation of the Choctaw, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Creek, and Seminole Nations of Indians, appointed James E. Harrison and two others to proceed to said [...]

Order of the Secretary of the Navy to Lieutenant Brasher, U. S. Navy, commanding U.S. Brig Bainbridge, to protect California steamers. Navy Department, May 15, 1861. Sir: Having been appointed to the command of the U.S. brig Bainbridge, you will proceed with that vessel the moment she is ready for sea with all practicable dispatch [...]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, May 14, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: Since my letter of yesterday I have dispatches from Major French, commanding Key West, and among other reports that he has suspended the writ of habeas corpus at Key West. When I was there on my way to [...]

AN ACT to authorize the transfer of appropriations. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That during the recess of Congress the President of the Confederate States may and he is hereby authorized, on the application of the Secretary of the proper Department and not otherwise, to direct, if in his opinion [...]

An act regulating the sale of prizes and the distribution thereof. The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact, That all prizes of vessels and property captured by private armed ships in pursuance of the act passed by Congress recognizing the existence of war between the United States and the Confederate States; and [...]

Headquarters Department of the Ohio, Cincinnati, May 14, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. Townsend, Assistant Adjutant-General: Colonel: Some ten days since I dispatched Lieut. O. M. Poe, Topo graphical Engineers, on a reconnaissance of the southeastern frontier of this State. His trip extended from Portsmouth to Wheeling, whence he returned last night. His opinion is [...]

Letter from the Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of War, transmitting plan of James B. Eads for blockading the commerce of the seceding States on the Mississippi. Navy Department, May 14, 1861. Sir: The enclosed communication of Mr. James B. Eads, containing a description of Cairo and submitting a plan for blockading the [...]

Order of Flag-Officer Bell, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. naval forces, Mediterranean Sea, to Commander Palmer, U. S. Navy, commanding U. S. S. Iroquois, to proceed without delay to New York. U. S. Flagship Richmond, Spezia, May 13, 1861. Sir: You will get under way as early as possible to-morrow morning and proceed to [...]

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF FLORIDA, Fort Pickens, Pensacola, May 13, 1861. Lieut. Col. E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General: COLONEL: Since my last nothing of interest has occurred, and no demonstration of any kind been made by the enemy. He continues strengthening his batteries, but I cannot perceive that he has erected any new ones. The Florida [...]

May 13, 1861. Hon. L. P. Walker Secretary of War of the Confederate States: Sir: I apprehend, from attention to the subject and inquiry among intelligent merchants, that the resources of the Southern States can not supply the necessities of the Army of the Confederate States with the essential articles of cloth for uniform clothing, [...]