During March and April 1861, after seven states had seceded and formed the Confederate States of America but before war broke out, Confederate Secretary of State Robert Toombs appointed Martin J. Crawford, John Forsyth, and A.B. Roman as Commissioners of the Confederate States to Washington, DC. Their purpose was to seek diplomatic recognition from the United States and negotiate peace—at least for a while. Central to the question of peace or war was whether the United States would continue to retain claim over federal forts located in the southern states that had seceded, including Fort Pickens in Florida and Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This item is transcribed from a letter book maintained by J.T. Pickett, secretary to the commissioners, containing copies of 72 letters, dispatches, and telegrams sent and received by the commissioners from the time of their appointment to the demand for the evacuation of Fort Sumter.
Transcript
Copy “B”
Notes of Judge Campbell
No. 2
My confidence in the two facts stated in my ntoe of the 15th to wit that Fort Sumter is to be evacuated and that provisions have been made for that purpose; and will be completed without any delay or any disposition for delay is unabated.
2d That no prejudicial movement to the South is contemplated as respects fort Pickens__I shall be able to speak positively tomorrow afetrnoon.
21st Mar 1861 Signed J. A. C
Citation:Commissioners of the Confederate States of America to the Government of the United States, letter book.Washington, D.C., Feb 27-April 11, 1861.AMS 811/20
Former Naval officer Fox visits Charleston and Ft. Sumter on behalf of President Lincoln. He speaks with Maj. Anderson and Confederate officers. He is convinced that Ft. Sumter can be resupplied by sea.
Louisiana ratifies the Confederate Constitution.