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 3rd 1861.
To Hon R Toombs.
Much activity to-day in the war & navy depts—It is said the “Minnesota at Boston has been ordered to the mouth of the Mississippi—“Powhattan” suddenly put in Commission to Sail next week—four companies now here, three artillery—one sappers & miners ordered to New York—Report says these movements have reference to the San Domingo question—“Pawnee” will not be ready for sea until Saturday—Our intermediary says—they dare not deceive him, as they knew we don’t rely upon them, but upon him.
Crawford.
Roman.
Forsyth.
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
In perhaps the first military action of the secession crisis a Confederate battery, located on Morris Island, Charleston fired on the schooner Rhoda H. Shannon.
South Carolina ratifies the Confederate Constitution.
The question remains: What will Lincoln do about Forts Pickens and Sumter?