Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-31
have the honor to be, very re9pectfull
J. ROLT. Secretarn {
o. LOI1I, DtCT 6LUTy q y
His Excellency, JOHN W. ELLIS,
Governor of North Carolina, Raleigh.

VOFeTuOT OF NOrtn-Caroina, Raleigh.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT Raleigh, N. O., JAM IL, 1861.
SIR Hearing this morning of the extreme illness of Gen.
Cowan herewith transmit you military order which
was prepared on yesterday for him.
have been informed, unofically, that captain S D.
Ihurston OF the SmthVie Guards has with bis company
taken possession of fort Caswe holds the same
My informant assured me at the time that Capt.
hulson IS gallant olcer and was actuated by patriotic
motives, as citizen OF North Carolina in the movement
referred to- This, doubt not, is yet view of the
relations existing between the general government and the
State of there authority law under
existing circumstances o the occupation of United
fors situated III this State cannot therefore, sustain the
action OF Captain Thurston however patriotic his motives
may have BEEN and compelled by imperative sense
OF duty to order that fort Caswe be restored to the pos
session of the authorities of the United States
You will proceed to smthvle upon the receipt of this
communication and communicate orders Captain Thurs
ton to withdraw his troops from fort Caswel.
You will also investigate and report the facts of the trans
action to his department.
OapGin- General and Comm0nder- IN Chief N. G. H.
Priuate Secretary ard acting adj,Aamt General.
Col. JOHN L. CANTwELL,
Commanding sOh Regin,ent ~ c. IT.
HEAD QUARTERS BOTH REGIMENT N. G. NJ
WILMINGTON, Jan. l6, 1861.
Captain General and COMMANDMENTS Chief N c. NJ:
cir herewith please lind copy Of order issued in
Major j. }. Hedrck to the From the information
have received it appears that Fort Caswe occupied
by citizens of this State in consequence of report that
federal troops had been ordered to that point appears
also that the u Sergeant in CHARGE in the Fort
and that he under restraint.
Captain Thruston desires to his company
the Smithville Guards, did not occupy the fort
These, believe, the facts of the case.
Respectfully, &C.
JNO. l.. CANTWELL
Colonel " @ NJ
ROBERT E. CALDER,
Acting Adjutad.
SMIrHvILLE, N. c., Jan. II, 1861.
To MAJOR j. J. HEDRICK,
Commanding Officer at Fort CdSoceH:
SIR In obedience to the order of His Exceency, John
W. Ellis, Governor, Captain-General and Commander-n-
Chief OF the Militia of this State copy of which herewith
transmtt becomes my duty direct that you withdraw
the troops under your command from Fort Caswe
store the to the custody Of the officer of the United
States, Whem you found in charge.
Respectfully yours,
Signed, j. l., CANTWELL,
Colonel N. @. M.
Signed ROBERT E. CALDER,
Acting AGjutGnt.
FORT CASWELL, Jan 18th, 1861.
Col. JNO l.. CANTWELL-
SIR Your communication, with copy of the order of
Governor John W. Ellis Captain General and Commander
OF Carolina demanding the surrender of this
posi- mas been received. In reply, have to inform you
tnat We as North oinians, will obey his command.
This post will be evacuated tomorrow at O'clock A. NJ
Respectfully DC.
JOHN j. HEDRICK,
MGj. ConlDldndant.
GEO. WORKMAN, Acting AdJutdnt