January 25, 1861 (Friday)

Bandages and Lint

Charleston News

"Captain Doubleday (later the founder of Major League Baseball) writing from Fort Sumter on the 20th denies the report put in circulation by Charleston papers that disaffection exists among the garrison.  He presents the troop as in cheerful spirits, and prepared to defend the fort to the last.  He also states that mortars have been placed by the South Carolinians on the land nearest the fort, and that two steamers watched the fort all night on the 19th."  (The News, Daily Chronicles of the American Civil War, New York Herald, January 25, 1861)

"The Fall River News publishes a letter dated Charleston, Jan. 16, and written by the Captain of a vessel now in Charleston harbor.  He says:  'It is currently reported around the city that if Fort Sumter is not given up by tomorrow, they will storm it; and they can probably take it in a short time, for they have got five thousand men for the purpose, and they say they will sacrifice three thousand of them, but that they will have it.  ...We left the city about sunrise and crossed the bar and there were three schooners and two or three brigs placed in the channel to sink, so as to prevent the Brooklyn from coming in.  If she comes in she will have a warm time of it, for they are to blow her to hell.  They have stopped up the ship channel with old wrecks but we can pick our way out as yet.  They will sacrifice everything rather than submit, and I think they are right, for there is no gleam of hope from the North."  (Reports from Charleston, The American Civil War, January 25, 2011)

"Surgeon General Gibbes respectfully thanks a lady of Charleston for two dozen under shirts, and another lady of Charleston for twenty more.  They have been sent as requested.  He also acknowledges the patriotic present of bandages and lint from Mollie's of Talladega, Alabama.  He also thanks many ladies of Charleston for continued contributions of bandages and lint."  (Acknowledgement, The Charleston Mercury--January 25, 1861, Daily Chronicles of the American Civil War)

The Richmond Daily Dispatch reports this from Charleston:  "The offer of military services extended to the Governor of South Carolina by the Catawba Indians of the State, have been accepted.  ----  The Hon. Jefferson Davis of Mississippi has arrived here.  ----  The Legislature has appropriated $50,000 for carrying on the present postal arrangement, if the Federal Government stops the present system." 

As an aside:
"Lincoln is delighted by return of Mrs. Lincoln and Robert from East; he has been expecting them for three days."  (The Lincoln Log, Villard, Eve of '61)

(From the Charleston Post and Courier, Video of Firing a Cannon, January 25, 2011)  "National Park Service Historian Richard W. Hatcher III explains what the soldiers had to do in firing a cannon."  Watch the Video linked on the page.