Montgomery, Ala., Apr. 23, 1861.
Dear Cobb, I recd, your letter by today’s mail. The troops of Geo. were sent to assist in taking Norfolk’s navy yard at the request of the govr. and convention of Va. Since that time the navy yard has been taken. The Govt, succeeded in sinking 8 or 10 public vessels and doing other great injuries to the fixtures and other property of the establishment; but we secured between 1,000 and 2,000 cannon of the best description, a considerable amount of small arms, three thousand barrels of powder, and a vast supply of shot, shell and other munitions of war. The troops were then ordered to Richmd. to await other troops (13 regiments) yesterday ordered to the aid of Va. These thirteen regiments are to come from Geo., S. C, Ala., Miss., Tenn., Ky., and Arkansas. Col. Robt. Lee who is considered the best officer in the army is at the head (Maj. Genl.) of [the] Virginia troops, and our troops will be under his immediate orders and will be used according to the exigencies of the occasion, for the defence of Va. and Md. Maryland is thoroughly with us as far as we can learn, and is calling on us for aid. We are today informed by Stephens who is at Richmd. that the New York 7th Reg. were wholly defeated and cut up yesterday morning between Annapolis and Upper Marlboro in Md. by some Maryland troops. We think it is true, getting it from Norfolk as well as Richmd. God grant it may be true. I would rather such a calamity would happen to that regiment than to any in the North. These boasters threatened to march from N. York to N. Orleans. Washington City is in great consternation. Perhaps anon [we shall be there?] If they could get off I think now they would run.
From Annual Report of the American Historical Association for the Year 1911.
Robert Augustus Toombs was an American lawyer, planter, and politician from Georgia who became one of the organizers of the Confederacy and served as its first Secretary of State. He served in the Georgia House of Representatives, the US house of Representatives, and the US Senate. In the Confederacy, he served in Jefferson Davis’ cabinet as well as in the Confederate States Army, but later became one of Davis’ critics.
Howell Cobb was an American political figure. A southern Democrat, Cobb was a five-term member of the United States House of Representatives and Speaker of the House from 1849 to 1851. He also served as the 40th Governor of Georgia and as a Secretary of the Treasury under President James Buchanan. Cobb is, however, probably best known as one of the founders of the Confederacy, having served as the President of the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States.