WASHINGTON, March 4, 1861.
Gov. F. W. PICKENS, Charleston, S. C.:
Do not permit any attack on Sumter without authority of Government of Confederated States. This is all important. Inaugural means war. There is strong ground for belief that re-enforcements will be speedily sent. Be vigilant.
LOUIS T. WIGFALL.
I concur, and believe this Government will act promptly.
L. Q. WASHINGTON.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
O.R.’s Series 1, Vol. 1, Part 1, page 261;
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HEADQUARTERS CONFEDERATE STATES ARMY,
Charleston, S. C., March 6, 1861.
Lieutenant Colonel R. S. RIPLEY,
Commanding Fort Moultrie, S. C.:
COLONEL: The general commanding desires that you send immediately to the five-gun battery, commanding Maffitt's Channel, two 32-pounders, with the necessary ammunition, as ordered yesterday, and have them mounted. Be on the lookout to-night for the Crusader, a four-gun brig, reported to be on her way with one hundred and twenty men for the re-enforcement of Fort Sumter.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. W. FERGUSON,
Captain, and Aide-de-Camp.
O.R.’s, Series 1, Vol. 1, Part 1, page 264;
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WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,
Montgomery, March 9, 1861.
Brigadier General P. G. T. BEAUREGARD, Charleston:
GENERAL:
Your report of the 6th instant has been received at this Department. What you have done and what you propose to do is approved. Push forward your contemplated works with all possible expedition, especially with the view to prevent the re-enforcement of Fort Sumter. This must be prevented at all hazards, and by the use of every conceivable agency. Fort Sumter is silent now only because of the weakness of the garrison. Should re-enforcements get in, her guns would open fire upon you.
There is information at this Department - not official, it is true, but believed to be reliable - that five or six United States ships are in New York Harbor all ready to start.
The United States steamer Pawnee has left Philadelphia suddenly for Washington, fully provisioned and ready to go to sea, and it is probable that the effort to re-enforce Sumter may be made by sending in men in whale-boats to-night. Should this plan succeed and the garrison be re-enforced sufficiently to stand an assault the attempt may be made to fight their way up by five or six war vessels.
In his report to this Department Major Whiting suggested the possibility of re-enforcements by land. Upon examining the map it occurs to me that this possibility might be accomplished in two ways: First, at the south of Morris Island there is an inlet which connects with Schooner Creek, and affords a water communication in the rear of all our works directly up to Fort Sumter. The creeks are, however, very winding, and probably if taken in hand at once could easily be obstructed by sinking flats or boats. Second, Stono River affords, I should think, an entrance to vessels of from eight to twelve feet draught, which may land troops on James Island, or go through a cut known as James Island Cut. Neither method, I take it, would be practicable if any troops were on James Island; but in the absence of them a sudden rush might possibly avail.
These suggestions are made without special knowledge, and are submitted for your consideration.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. P. WALKER,
Secretary of War.
O.R.’s Series 1, Vol. 1, Part 1, page 272;
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EXECUTIVE MANSION, March 29, 1861.
Honorable SECRETARY OF WAR:
SIR: I desire that an expedition, to move by sea, be got ready to sail as early as the 6th of April next, the whole according to memorandum attached, and that you co-operate with the Secretary of the Navy for that object.
Your obedient servant,
A. LINCOLN.
O.R.’s Series 1, Vol. 1, Part 1, page 226