Your obedient servant,

A. Lincoln.

[Inclosure.]

Steamers Pocahontas at Norfolk, Paunee at Washington, Harriet Lane at New York, to be under sailing orders for sea, with stores, etc., for one month.  Three hundred men to be kept ready for departure from on board the receiving-ships at New York.  Two hundred men to be ready to leave Governor’s Island in New York.  Supplies for twelve months for one hundred men to be put in portable shape, ready for instant shipping.  A large steamer and three tugs conditionally engaged.

To ______ Stuart.

Washington, March 30, 1861

Dear Stuart: 

Cousin Lizzie shows me your letter of the 27th.  The question of giving her the Springfield post-office troubles me.  You see I have already appointed William Jayne a Territorial governor and Judge Trumbull’s brother to a land-office.  Will it do for me to go on and justify the declaration that Trumbull and I have divided out all the offices among our relatives?  Dr. Wallace, you know, is needy, and looks to me; and I personally owe him much.

I see by the papers, a vote is to be taken as to the post-office.  Could you not set up Lizzie and beat them all?  She, being here, need know nothing of it, so therefore there would be no indelicacy on her part.

Yours as ever,

TO THE COMMANDANT OF THE NEW YORK NAVY-YARD.

Navy Dept., Washington, April 1, 1861

To the commandant of the navy-yard, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Fit out the Powhatan to go to sea at the earnest possible moment under sealed orders.  Orders by a confidential messenger go forward to-morrow.

Abraham Lincoln.

TO LIEUTENANT D. D. PORTER

Executive Mansion, April 1, 1861

Lieutenant D. D. Porter, United States Navy.

Sir:—­You will proceed to New York, and with the least possible delay, assuming command of any naval steamer available, proceed to Pensacola Harbor, and at any cost or risk prevent any expedition from the mainland reaching Fort Pickens or Santa Rosa Island.

You will exhibit this order to any naval officer at Pensacola, if you deem it necessary, after you have established yourself within the harbor, and will request co-operation by the entrance of at least one other steamer.

This order, its object, and your destination will be communicated to no person whatever until you reach the harbor of Pensacola.

Abraham Lincoln.

Recommended, William H. Seward.

RELIEF EXPEDITION FOR FORT SUMTER

Order to officers of the army and navy.