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:
Washington April 7th 1861.
To Hon R Toombs.
Events since our last have in our judgment made it our duty to require an answer to our official note of March Twelfth—We do so tonight with notification that our Sec’ty will call for a reply tomorrow at two PM—We believe that a hostile movement is on foot and part of it sailed against the confederate states—It may be Sumter and [inserted: or] the Mississippi—It is almost certain that it is Pickens and the Texas frontier—If Sewards reply is not satisfactory we shall consider the gauntlet of war thrown down—and close our mission after two P.M . tomorrow will teleg’h you.
Crawford Roman & Forsyth.
To Hon Mess. Crawford & Forsyth
Commissioners
We have so many extraordinary telegrams I would be glad to know from you if it is true that they have determined to reinforce Sumter & if a naval force is sent to our harbor.
Be so good as to answer as soon as convenient for something desired to govern our conduct.
F. W. Pickens.
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
April 7, 1861–Lt. Wordon, USN leaves for Ft. Pickens with orders for the Federal reinforcements to be landed and the Ft. be reinforced.
Confederate General Braxton Bragg in Pensacola is instructed to resist any attempt by the Federals to reinforce Ft. Pickins.
In Charleston, Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard tells Maj. Anderson that he will no longer allow further intercourse between Ft. Sumter and Charleston, thus isolating the Fort. This will have the effect of starving the Fort into submission unless relieved by sea.