February 12, 1861

Sears, Thomas, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

Two Virginians offer to fight in the army of South Carolina, which had already seceded, "to show to the Rest that we are sincere in what we say and in the cause of... the Southern confederacy." With an autograph endorsement by Pickens.

GLC09196

January 28, 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Manuscript document

Title: to the House of Representatives

Informs the legislature of J. W. Hayne's confidential mission to negotiate with Buchanan over the right to reinforce Fort Sumter. "The letter of the President...asserts in plain terms, his right to send reinforcements, and I cannot disconnect this positive assertion of his right from an intention, or expectation, speedily to exercise it."

GLC09197

15 March 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to L. P. Walker

South Carolina Army units to be received into the Provisional Confederate Army. The "Convention...shall adopt the necessary ordinance for their transfer to the Confederate States. They will...be fully prepared & equiped to serve the country at any post to which they may be ordered."

GLC09198

30 March 1861

Potter, J. Sturgis, fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

A Boston entrepreneur suggests that machinery for knitting hosiery be adapted to cotton thread. "All of the labor except a man to manage the carding machines, could be better done by female slaves than any other. There is a cotton factory in your state that can at once be turned a very profitable account by introducing this machinery."

GLC09199

30 April 1861

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Autograph endorsement signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

General Beauregard supports Colonel R. W. Habersham's submitted plan for enlisting planters' help to provide grain and hay for army livestock. "I think the above suggestions of Col. Habersham of so much importance, that I have the honor to enclose them to your Excellency in the hope that they may be carried out before it becomes too late." Written on the letter of 30 April 1861 sent from Habersham to Beauregard and forwarded to Governor Pickens.

GLC09200

29 June 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Colonel Richard H. Anderson

Detailed instructions on how he expects Colonel Anderson to command the defense of the Charleston harbor. "If any great emergency should arise, I am determined to hold this fortress at all hazzards, as it is the key of the harbor, and is essential to guard the Independence of the State."

GLC09201

30 June 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain Stephen Dill Lee

Writes about sending troops to Virginia. "Capt. Walker has a company of about seventy-five men who are prepared as he says to be mustered into service...to fill up the vacancies in the 7th Regt...you are authorized to furnish them with the ordinary transportation to Manassas Junction."

GLC09202

18 June 1861

Alston, Charles Jr., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

Informs Governor Pickens that his constituents believe too many troops have been sent to Virginia, leaving the seacoast vulnerable. Senator Alston says "something ought to be done for our own Sea Board for they do not think that the troubles of South Carolina have ended with Fort Sumter."

GLC09203

13 June 1861

Manigault, Gabriel E., fl. 1861

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

Suggests furnishing privateers with captured guns. "Frequent applications are made at the Ordnance Office by persons wishing to fit out privateers, for guns to arm their vessels...this is one of the most economical and effectual modes of carrying on the war and distressing the enemy. With autograph endorsement of Pickens.

GLC09204

11 October 1861

DeSaussure, Wilmot Gibbes, 1822-1886

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Francis W. Pickens

Detailed report from the secretary treasurer of South Carolina on finances, supplies, audits, etc. "...only Eighty three thousand dollars of accounts have been audited since I left Richmond. This delay is criminal..." With autograph endorsement signed by Pickens.

GLC09205

circa December 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to the South Carolina Legislature

"The public mind has in some degree over-estimated the essential importance of our cotton to England & France - in supposing that if deprived of it they would be forced to interfere in this contest with our enemies. They will be governed solely by their interests.

GLC09206.01

1861-1865

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Letter fragment]

"...Why these appointments should cause such excitement amongst the junior officers in Fort Sumter I am at loss to understand."

GLC09206.02

20-29 December 1861

Pickens, Francis Wilkinson, 1805-1869

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Christopher G. Memminger

Criticizes General Ripley's failure to report troops sent from South Carolina and requesting arms. "[Ripley's] proper place is in Fort Sumter & Moultrie & to command the batteries - and he is suited to nothing else...when I had Beauregard there never was the slightest misunderstanding...I hope the Secy. of War may allow the Confederate arms to be given out to our troops...I can make an exchange... [for] an equal number in Mississippi now in the hands of our Regts."

GLC09207

circa October - November 1862

Davis, Jefferson, 1808-1889

Manuscript document

Title: [Confederate Goverment document]

Document containing clerical copies of correspondence over conscription in South Carolina written by Jefferson Davis; Governor Francis W. Pickens and the Executive Council; James Chestnut, Jr.; and G. W. Randolph. "Four Regiments to be accepted for 90 days having conscripts in them during that time, then ... disbanded. Conscripts in them to be assigned by the Secretary of War. Others in the Regiments not liable to conscription to be then discharged."

GLC09208

9 March 1863

Boham, Milledge L., 1813-1890

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Defends his decision to suspend an earlier state militia reserve call-up, saying that the untrained militia are inefficient and would be more valuable planting crops at home. Supports his opinion with extracts from telegrams sent to General Garlington by Miles and Orr.

GLC09209

12 March 1863

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Letter signed

Title: to Governor Milledge L. Bonham

Replies to Bonham's defense of 9 March 1863. "I was fully alive to the sacrifices and hardships which a call on your militia must entail, ...but at the same time, I have regarded the alternative consequences that might be involved without the presence here of every arms-bearing man your State can raise..."

GLC09210

3 January 1863

Bragg, Thomas, 1810-1872

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Governor Milledge L. Bonham

Requests specific information on troops in South Carolina state militia service who are "subject to military duty under the Conscripts Acts," to counter assertions of preferential treatment published in other states' newspapers. With newspaper clipping.

GLC09211

9 January 1863

Boham, Milledge L., 1813-1890

Manuscript letter

Title: to Thomas Bragg

Replies to Bragg's "interrogatories." "With the view to counteract the unfounded assumption that this State has hitherto failed to furnish to the common service her full quota of troops, I beg to add that it appears...this State had contributed to the Confederate service between forty five and fifty thousand soldiers within a fraction of one sixth of her entire white population..."

GLC09212

5 June 1863

Echols, William H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major D. B. Harris

Unfulfilled requisitions to the South Carolina government for slaves "leaves the Capt almost entirely without laborers and consequently without the means of carrying on satisfactorily the work expected to be done" for coastal defense. With autograph endorsement signed by Harris, forwarding the letter to General Beauregard, and autograph endorsement signed by General Thomas Jordan forwarding it to Governor Bonham.

GLC09213

28 April 1863

Harris, D.B., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Responds to complaints that the impressed slaves are idle. "Requisitions have from time to time been made upon the State authorities for slave labor, not for the purpose of harassing the planters or interfering in their business, but, for the construction of works deemed necessary for the defense of their City, and State...That there is at present no guns in the Battery...is no evidence that the labor required to erect the work, has been thrown away. General Beauregard forwards the letter to Governor Bonham "for his information & for transmission to Mr. Mazick who is probably not aware…

GLC09214

28 April 1863

Echols, William H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major D. B. Harris

Explains "the seven or eight negroes he [Senator Mazyck] speaks of were idle a few days, they were detailed for contingencies in the city,...and variously employed on small jobs." With autograph endorsement signed by Harris.

GLC09215.01

29 April 1863

Beauregard, G.T. (Gustave Toutant), 1818-1893

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to Governor Bonham

About complaints that the impressed slaves are idle. "Nothing is known of this matter at these Hd Quarters."

GLC09215.02

24 April 1863

Boham, Milledge L., 1813-1890

Autograph letter signed

Title: to General Pierre G. T. Beauregard

Replies to Beauregard's forwarded report by William Echols of 20 April 1863. "I have directed Col. Shannon to call on two Divisions...for the month of May, which I hope will enable the Engineer to complete the works, as the cultivation of the provision crop... is growing daily more important and there is great unwillingness on the part of the planters to send their hands to the Coast at this particular period."

GLC09216

20 April 1863

Echols, William H., fl. 1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Major D. B. Harris

Details the lack of slave laborers supplied during March and April. General Beauregard forwards the report to Governor Bonham with comment. "It is probable that sooner or later a still more determined attack on Charleston will be made & it is of vital importance to complete as soon as possible the works considered indeensible for its safety." With autograph endorsement signed by Harris and another by General Beauregard.

GLC09217

3 April 1863

Arthur, B.F., fl. 1860-1863

Autograph letter signed

Title: To General Johnson Hagood

Bonham's secretary asks General Hagood to investigate "a lad of 14 years of age...having run away from his mother, and joined Co. 'G' Nelson's Battalion" and to refuse the boy's enlistment if he is that young.

GLC09218