Lieut. Col. E. D. KEYES, Secretary to the General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.:
COLONEL: Since writing my dispatches, I have seen newspaper ex-tracts announcing the secession of Virginia, the taking Fort Sumter and Gosport navy-yard. Should this news be true the security of Key West and Tortugas might be jeopardized. I have therefore countermanded my order for bringing two companies from Key West here, and I shall urge Captain Adams to keep a ship at Tortugas and one at Key West, in position to protect the works at these places.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HARVEY BROWN,
Colonel, Commanding.
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According to the O.R. his dispatches were dated on the 22nd. Porter was firing on the Confederates without the knowledge that Fort Sumter had been fired upon.
David