March 18, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
LATEST by TELEGRAPH.
NEW ORLEANS, March 17. – Galveston dates to the 15th inst. have been received. Fort Brown was evacuated by the Federal Troops on the 12th, and no difficulty occurred – Major PORTER superintending the evacuation. The troops, it is said, will proceed to Key West and Tortugas by the Daniel Webster. Several hundred State troops have been enlisted for six months, to serve under Col. FORD, on the Rio Grande frontier. They have occupied various ports. The Convention is discussing measures for military defence. Major MARTIN, of the United States Army, had resigned, and tendered his services to the State. Camp Colorado, on the Northern frontier, had been taken by the State troops. Capt. SAYRE, of the Confederate army, had arrived, to muster in a regiment of Rangers for the frontiers, by order of the President.
The steamer Rusk had arrived from Brazos with 300 State troops.