[WASHINGTON, D. C.,] January 10, 1861.

WILLIAM Henry TRESCOT,

CHarleston, S. C.:

Received; noted. Conferred with friends, and communicted to President. He looks anxiously for Lieutenant Talbot. Will write.

JEFF'N DAVIS.

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EXECUTIVE OFFICE, STATE DEPARTMENT,

Charleston, S. C., Janaury 10, 1861.

Lieutenant Colonel L. M. HATCH:

You will proceed to take such steps as in your judgment are practicable to light up the harbor of Charleston so as to expose to view the various approaches to Fort Sumter from the sea. Let your lights be so disposed as to expose to view as little as possible our own works and preparations for defense in and about the harbor. Use strict economy in your expenditures for this purpose, and report the coast per night which may be incurred.

F. W. PICKENS.

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WASHINGTON, D. C., January 11, 1861.

W. Henry TRESCOT,

Charleston, S. C.:

Reliably informed that Brooklyn was sent to secure return of Star of West, not to enter Charleston Harbor.

JEFFERSON DAVIS.

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FORT MORRIS, January 11, 1861-7 p. m.

Colonel L. M. HATCH:

DEAR SIR: From all appearanches at sea, to as late an hour as we could descover anything, a large steamer with thwo chimney stacks and a large supply of boats was sent going across, as it were (toward the north), the several channels of our harbor. My impression is, from observation made and reported to me by our lookouts, that she is prepared to re-enforce Fort Sumter from off the bar by means of small boats, and it may be at an early hour of this night. Can you not take the responsibility of putting at once the steamer General Clinch under way, plying the waters with a view to run down to boats. To go to the city to get the order from headquarters will cause too much delay and give ample time for the troops to get into Fort Sumter. If you will do so, I will order the German Rifles on board as an armed force to meet the enemy. I deem the operations to this night such as to settle the question of re-enforcing (certainly from the vessel now outside, should she be a man-of-war with troops) the garrison of Fort Sumter. These facts you can communicate to His Excellency on your arrival in the city, should you not take the step I propose.

Respectfully,

JOHN L. BRANCH,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Fort Morris.

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