HDQRS. THIRTIETH Regiment NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA,
Wilmington, N. C., January 12, 1861.

His Excellency JOHN W. ELLIS,

Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Raleigh, N. C.:

SIR: Yors of 11th instant, directing me to proceed to Smithwille, has just come to hand. In obedience threto I shall for Fort Caswell this a. m. Have detailed R. E. and William Calder as my staff for this duty.

Respectfully,

J. L. CANTWELL,

Colonel, Commanding.

[1.]

HDQRS. THIRTIETH Regiment NORTH CAROLINA MILITIA,
Wilminghton, N. C., January 12, 1861.

Major J. J. HEDRICK,

Commanding at Fort Caswell:

SIR: In obedience to the order of His Excellency John W. Ellis, Governor, captain-general, and commander-in-chief of the militia of this State, a copy of which I herewith transmit,* it becomes my duty to direct that you withdraw the troops under your command from Fort Canswell, and restore the same to the custody of the officer of the United States whom you found in charge.

Respctfully,

J. L. CANTWELL,

Colonel, North Carolina Militia.

[1.]

WASHINGTON CITY, January 12, [1861.]

JOHN SPELMAN, Raleigh, N. C.:

Seward willing to acept Rice's proposition for Territories. Fugitive slave law to be enforced and uncosntitutional personal libery laws repealed. Invasion of States to be punished by law. Constitutional guarantee for slavery in States. Evidently disposed to settle, but proposition not satisfactory to South. Thinks war inevitable from dissolution.

L. O'B. BRANCH.

(Copy to W. W. Holden, Raleigh, N. C.)

[1.]

WASHINGTON, January 12, [1861]-5 p. m.

R. R. BRIDGERS, Raleigh, N. C.:

Manner conciliatory. Conceded more than ever before, but not enough. War the result of secesion.

T. BRAGG.

[1.]

WASHINGTON, January 13, 1861.

LEWIS E. HARVIE, Richmond, Va.:

Let none be deceived be reports of Seward's speech yesterday. It was frandulent and tricky under cloak of seeming mildness, and no ofter of concession worth consiceration.

J. M. MASON.

[2.]

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* See p. 4.

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