THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF The Hon. RUSSELL A. ALGER, Secretary of War, BY MAJ. GEORGE W. DAVIS, U. S. ARMY, MR. LESLIE J. PERRY, CIVILIAN EXPERT, MR. JOSEPH W. KIRKLEY, CIVILIAN EXPERT, Board of Publication. SERIES I-VOLUME LI-IN TWO PARTS. PART II-CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. PART II.-VOL. LI. CONFEDERATE CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RE- SUPPLEMENT EMBRACING DOCUMENTS FOUND OR RECEIVED TOO LATE FOR INSERTION IN VOLUMES 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 18, 19, 21, 25, 27, 29, 33, 36, 37, 40, 42, 43, AND 46. January 1, 1861-June 30, 1865. General MARCUS ERWIN, Raleigh, N. C.: [JANUARY 7, 1861.] The votes here yesterday and to-day show the Republicans solid against Crittenden's propositions. Without their aid no result can be attained either in Congress or the Northern States. (Same to Capt. John F. Hoke, Raleigh, N. C.) [1.] LEWIS E. HARVIE, T. L. CLINGMAN. [JANUARY 7, 1861.] President of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, Richmond, Va.: Republicans in House to-day refused to consider Etheridge's compromise, which is Crittenden's considerably weakened; then by large majority indorsed Major Anderson and President's détermination to hold forts and execute laws. [2.] LEWIS E. HARVIE, Richmond, Va.: M. R. H. GARNETT. [JANUARY 7, 1861.] The last hope extinguished to-day. Even Etheridge's compromise voted down by Black Republicans nearly unanimously; then Anderson's coercion conduct indorsed by overwhelming majority. [2.] ROGER A. PRYOR. 3 [JANUARY 8, 1861.] J. WILCOX BROWN: (Care of James Hunter & Co., New York City.) No chance of compromise. Republicans will not yield. Will write. ROGER A. PRYOR. [2.] [JANUARY 8, 1861.] JOHN R. GARLAND, 90 Eleventh Street, New York: Since the defeat of Crittenden's amendment and the indorsement of Buchanan, Scott, and Anderson, the South will make no further effort at compromise. Virginia will act immediately. Collision with Federal authorities will now take place at all points in slave States. Instantaneous war inevitable. [2.] GEO. N. SANDERS. WASHINGTON, January 9, [1861.] LEWIS E. HARVIE, Richmond, Va.: The order sending troops in the Star of the West to Charleston countermanded.* The Brooklyn sailed with orders to overtake and bring them to Fort Monroe. [2.] J. M. MASON. Col. JOHN L. CANTWELL, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Commanding Thirtieth Regiment North Carolina Militia: SIR: Hearing this morning of the extreme illness of General Cowan, I herewith transmit to you a military order which was prepared on yesterday for him. I have been informed unofficially that Capt. S. D. Thruston, of the Smithville Guards, has, with his company, taken possession of Fort Caswell and now holds the same. My informants at the same time assured me that Captain Thruston is a gallant officer, and was actuated by patriotic motives as a citizen of North Carolina in the movement referred to. This I doubt not is true; yet, in view of the relations existing between the General Government and the State of North Carolina, there is no authority of law under existing circumstances for the occupation of U. S. forts situated in this State. I cannot therefore sustain the action of Captain Thruston, however patriotic his motives may have been, and am compelled by an imperative sense of duty to order that Fort Caswell be restored to the possession of the authorities of the United States. You will proceed to Smithville on receipt of this communication, and communicate orders to Captain Thruston to withdraw his troops from Fort Caswell. You will also investigate and report the facts of the transaction to this department. By order of John W. Ellis, captain-general and commander-in-chief of North Carolina militia: [1.] GRAHAM DAVES, Private Secretary and Acting Adjutant-General. *See Vol. I, p. 134. HDQRS. THIRTIETH REGT. NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA, His Excellency JOHN W. ELLIS, Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Raleigh, N. C.: SIR: Yours of 11th instant, directing me to proceed to Smithville, has just come to hand. In obedience thereto I shall leave for Fort Caswell Have detailed R. E. and William Calder as my staff for this this a. m. duty. Respectfully, [1.] J. L. CANTWELL, HDQRS. THIRTIETH REGT. NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA, Maj. J. J. HEDRICK, Commanding at Fort Caswell: SIR: In obedience to the order of His Excellency John W. Ellis, Governor, captain-general, and commander-in-chief of the militia of this State, a copy of which I herewith transmit,* it becomes my duty to direct that you withdraw the troops under your command from Fort Caswell, and restore the same to the custody of the officer of the United States whom you found in charge. [1.] Respectfully, J. L. CANTWELL, Colonel, North Carolina Militia. WASHINGTON CITY, January 12, [1861.] JOHN SPELMAN, Raleigh, N. C.: Seward willing to accept Rice's proposition for Territories. Fugitive slave law to be enforced and unconstitutional personal liberty laws repealed. Invasion of States to be punished by law. Constitutional guarantee for slavery in States. Evidently disposed to settle, but propo. sition not satisfactory to South. Thinks war inevitable from dissolution. (Copy to W. W. Holden, Raleigh, N. C.) [1.] L. O'B. BRANCH. WASHINGTON, January 12, [1861]-5 p. m. R. R. BRIDGERS, Raleigh, N. C.: Manner conciliatory. Conceded more than ever before, but not enough. War the result of secession. [1.] T. BRAGG. WASHINGTON, January 13, 1861. LEWIS E. HARVIE, Richmond, Va.: Let none be deceived by reports of Seward's speech yesterday. It was fraudulent and tricky under cloak of seeming mildness, and no offer of concession worth consideration. [2.] * See P. 4. J. M. MASON. |