Four members of the South Carolina delegation to the United States House of Representatives  -  John McQueen, Milledge L. Bonham, William W. Boyce, and J.D. Ashmore  -  tendered their letter of resignation to the Speaker, explaining that their state had now dissolved its connection with the Congress.  The Speaker, William Pennington of New Jersey, refused to recognize neither their state's action nor their resignation and directed that their names be kept on the roll of the house.  (By John Osborne)

When the news of South Carolina's secession reached New Orleans in Louisiana, citizens took to the streets in celebration.  Leading citizens gave speeches, scores of cannon were fired in salute, and songs sung, most notably "La Marseillaise."  (By John Osborne)

Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky had put together a proposal he felt could avert war between free and slave states.  The six constitutional amendments and four congressional resolutions in the package all dealt with the protection of slavery as an institution from federal or free state interference.  The compromise was introduced as a joint resolution in the U.S. Senate on December 18, 1860.  The measure was discussed in public meetings over much of the North but, in the end, came to nothing in Congress.  (By John Osborne)

In a message to the people three weeks before, President James Buchanan had designated Friday, January 4, 1861 as a day to be "set apart for fasting, humiliation, and prayer throughout the nation."  This event took place on the assigned day and was widely observed.  In Philadelphia, for example, special services were held in the leading churches while public buildings were closed, along with many places of business.  (By John Osborne) 

In a message to the people, President James Buchanan designated Friday, January 4, 1861 as a day to be "set apart for fasting, humiliation, and prayer throughout the nation."  This event took place on the assigned day three weeks later.  In Philadelphia, for example, special services were held in the leading churches while public buildings were closed, along with many places of business.  (By John Osborne) 

Jacob Thompson, although sitting Secretary of the Interior in the Buchanan Cabinet, had been named as a secession commissioner to North Carolina by Mississippi governor John J. Pettus and had vigorously taken up his duties in December 1860. He finally resigned his cabinet post, citing as his reason the President's authorizing of the mission of the Star of the West to resupply Fort Sumter.  His post remained vacant until President Lincoln appointed Caleb Blood Smith in March, 1861.  (By John Osborne)

Governor Francis Pickens of South Carolina issued a proclamation warning "all public vessels of the United States" that they were forbidden "to exercise any authority whatever in the waters of South Carolina" and were especially restricted from Charleston Harbor and any attempt to resupply or reinforce Fort Sumter.   He signed it as governor and commander-in-chief "in and over the State of South Carolina."  (By John Osborne)

In the early morning hours, the chartered steamship Star of the West, with supplies and 250 artillerymen and marines to reinforce Fort Sumter, arrived outside Charleston Harbor, doused her lights, and waited for dawn.  As she made for the harbor, she came under fire from South Carolina forces on Morris Island. When two steam vessels approached from Fort Moultrie, she was forced to retreat and arrived back in New York on January 12, 1860. (By John Osborne)

At dusk, the chartered steamship Star of the West, Captain John McGowan in command, sailed from New York cleared for New Orleans.  Her true destination was Charleston and the resupply of Fort Sumter. Soon after sailing, took aboard under cover of darkness 250 artillerymen and marines.  Four days later, as she entered Charleston Harbor, she was fired upon by South Carolina shore batteries and forced to retreat.  (By John Osborne)