Yancey, William L., 1814-1863 to Francis Pickens
Order a pdf of this item here.
A high-resolution version of this object is available for registered users. LOG IN
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07087 Author/Creator: Yancey, William L., 1814-1863 Place Written: Montgomery, Alabama Type: Autograph letter signed Date: February 27, 1861 Pagination: 3 p. : docket ; Height: 22.6 cm, Width: 13.7 cm Order a Copy
Writes that South Carolina should not attack Fort Sumter without the orders of the Confederacy, since such an action would lead to confusion and panic. "I have been informed...that the troops in Charleston Harbor will assault Fort Sumpter within a day or two...South Carolina if prepared should have done so when the whole matter was under her control. Now that the responsibility has been transferred or taken by the Confederate States...if the Fort shall be assaulted without order of the Executive of the Confederate States, it will produce a confusion, an excitement, an indignation and astonishment here in the Confederate Congress that will tend to break up the new government." A private letter. Though the stalemate over Fort Sumter was heating up at this time, an attack did not come until weeks later, under the orders of the Confederacy.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.