Robert W. Barnwell, James Orr, and J.H. Adams had been appointed as "Commissioners" to the United States from the newly independent South Carolina. They had arrived in Washington DC two days before and took up residence in what they hoped to be their permanent house on K Street.  They communicated with the President of the United States, announcing their arrival and mission. Buchanan's response two days later was cordial in its non-recognition but gave a full explanation of federal actions in the crisis.  (By John Osborne)

 Robert W. Barnwell, James Orr, and J.H. Adams had been appointed as "Commissioners" to the United States from the newly independent South Carolina. They arrived in Washington DC and took up residence in what they hoped to be their permanent house on K Street.  They communicated with the President of the United States two days later, announcing their arrival. Buchanan's response was cordial in its non-recognition.  (By John Osborne)

Calling Major Robert Anderson's action in consolidating on Fort Sumter a violation of a "solemn pledge," Secretary of War John Buchanan Floyd read a statement at a meeting the Cabinet stating that the only way to prevent bloodshed was to order Anderson's complete withdrawal from Charleston Harbor.  When the Cabinet refused this, Floyd withdrew and resigned two days later.  (By John Osborne)

In a speech at the Astor House in New York City to the New England Society, two days after South Carolina's secession, Senator William H. Seward laid out the strengths of the Union, saying that even now if a foreign power attacked New York, South Carolina would come to held defend it.  He concluded with the belief that tensions were being mollified so that "sixty days more suns will give you a much brighter and more cheerful atmosphere."  (By John Osborne) 

Major Robert Anderson, a fifty-five year old Kentucky-born artilleryman and former slaveowner, was assigned as commander of federal forces around Charleston, South Carolina. Major Don Carlos Buell visited him from the War Department and gave him written orders to avoid conflict at costs and make no move that could construed as hostile. But he was also to "hold possession of the forts in this harbor, and if attacked you are to defend yourself to the last extremity." He could consolidate his forces if need be.  (By John Osborne) 

 Major Robert Anderson, a fifty-five year old Kentucky-born artilleryman and former slaveowner, was assigned to replace the long-serving Bostonian Lieutenant Colonel John L. Gardner as commander of Fort Moultrie near Charleston, South Carolina. For the second time in a week, he made a recommendation to strengthen federal positions around Charleston, this time specifically requesting again that Castle Pinckney be garrisoned with troops.  Anderson had only 101 men in total under his command. (By John Osborne)

Boston newspapers reported an altercation at a leading city hotel involving four young male guests, including several Harvard students.  Two hotel employees had been celebrating when the young guests returned and a fight broke out.  Several of the guests were badly beaten and one student fired three shots from a pistol.  All recovered from their injuries and the two hotel employees were dismissed.  (By John Osborne)

The Kansas Relief Committee reported from Atchison that it now had distributed 157,700 pounds of supplies to twenty-one counties in the territory.  Kansas was in the grip of a nine-month drought that threatened to depopulate large sections as farmers pulled up stakes.  Relief supplies and cash had flowed in from around the country; more than 200,000 pounds of wheat, corn, and beans had been received in just the preceding week.  (By John Osborne)  

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a morning fire at the Empire Mills caused around $100,000 in damage.  The mills were severely damaged but no serious injuries were reported.  (By John Osborne)