January 11, 1861, The Charleston Mercury
WILMINGTON, JANUARY 10.
The people here, in consequence of a despatch received from the Hon. W.S. ASHE, at Washington, directed to some of the Minute Men, and stating that the revenue cutter Forward, with fifty men and eight guns, under the command of Lieut. NONES, had left Wilmington, Del., for Fort Caswell, proceeded spontaneously in big boats to the mouth of Cape Fear river and took possession of the two forts, placing a strong force in each. They will resist the last extremity any attempt to land Federal troops.