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THE

OCCUPATION A MILITARY NECESSITY.

125

The desertion of this untenable post for the In the mutterings of an excited populacefastness of Fort Sumter, which lay like a vast in the gathering of soldiery-in the resolution monster on the bosom of the waters far out of inquiry [see page 112], Major Anderson in the harbor, was a step certainly never con- detected the evidence of an early occupation templated by the South Carolina authorities of Fort Sumter, if not of an actual assault nor by the President. Anderson's last instruc- upon Fort Moultrie. If Sumter were occutions from the War Depart-pied by an enemy, Moultrie would not be ment — as averred by the tenable for five hours. It was, in fact, the President in his correspon- key to the harbor, which, if properly garrisdence with the South Carolina Commissioners oned, would defy the assault of any force for -were as follows: months. Noting carefully the daily, almost

Anderson's last Instructions.

"Verbal instructions to Major Anderson, First Ar- hourly, gathering strength of the revolutiontillery, commanding Fort Moultrie, S. C." "You are aware of the great anxiety of the Secretary of War that a collision of the troops with the people of this State shall be avoided, and of his studied determination to pursue a course with reference to the military force and forts of this harbor, which shall guard against such a collision. He has, therefore, carefully abstained from increasing the force at this point, or taking any measures which might add to the present excited state of the public mind, or which would throw any doubt on the confidence he feels that South Carolina will not attempt by violence to obtain possession of the public works,

ists; seeing, upon all sides, unconcealed preparations for large military movements; looking wistfully, but in vain, for succor from reinforcements, it would have been a base betrayal of trust for him to have remained in Moultrie when Sumter offered him the shelter of its kindly walls.

or interfere with their occupancy.

"But as the counsel and acts of rash and impulsive persons may possibly disappoint these expectations of the Government, he deems it proper that should be prepared with instructions to meet so unhappy a contingency. He has, therefore, directed me, verbally, to give you such instructions.

you

"You are carefully to avoid every act which would needlessly tend to provoke aggression, and for that reason you are not, without necessity, to take up any position which could be construed into the assumption of a hostile attitude; but you are to hold possession of the forts in the harbor, and if attacked, you are to defend yourself to the last extremity. The smailness of your force will not permit you, perhaps, to occupy more than one of the three forts, but an attack on, or attempt to take possession of either of them, will be regarded as an act of hostility, and you may then put your command into either of them which you may deem most proper to increase its power of resistance. You are also authorized to take smilar steps whenever you have tangible evidence of a dugn to proceed to a hostile act.

"D. P. BUTLER,

"Assistant Adjutant-General.

"FORT MOULTRIE, S. C., Dec. 11, 1860."

A correspondent from Washington, under date of December 29th, said:

66

The Occupation a Military Necessity.

forts of Charleston. He held and occupied Major Anderson had command of all the them at his discretion. Before he went to his command last Autumn he was here, and was depressed at the position he felt he was about to occupy. But his views of duty were wholly those of a soldier. His business was to defend his position, and the fact that he intended to do it was what depressed him. He felt the delicacy of his situation, and he knew the weakness of his command. He found himself at Fort Moultrie, threatened with an attack. He besought the Executive for more troops. General Scott, over and over again, urged that they be sent. The President refused. Major Anderson went on strengthening his position while, at the same time, he urged forward the completion of Fort Sumter, the mounting of its heavy ordnance, &c. This was done as promptly as possible by Captain Foster of the Engineers. When the engineering labors of Captain Foster were completed, he reported the fact to Major Anderson. Without any special orders or suggestions from the President, the Secretary of War or the Commander-in-chief, Major Anderson, looking upon his position

"This is in conformity to my instructions to Major from an exclusively military point of view,

Buell.

JOHN B. FLOYD,
"Secretary of War."

seeing the weakness of Fort Moultrie and the strength of Fort Sumter, did precisely that

thing which, as a military man, he was com- | rapidly relieved of their heavy cargoes. The pelled to do, and which he could not avoid doing without inflicting a stain upon his military reputation. He left the weaker for the stronger position. As a military act its propriety admits of not the slightest question among military men. As a political question, or an act of policy, in reference to the difficulties between South Carolina and the United States, Major Anderson had nothing to do with either, and acted with no reference to either. He simply discharged his duty as a wise and gallant soldier."

small-boats pulled away after everything needful, which it was possible to transport, had been recovered. By daylight the entire force was within the walls of the great water fortress, excepting Capt. Foster and eight men, left to dismantle the big guns bearing on Sumter, by burning their carriages. This duty Capt. Foster proceeded to perform. At an early hour, Thursday morning, the smoke from the burning carriages gave the Charlestonians their first intimation of an extraordinary occurrence. The alarm immediately spread, and the people thronged the wharves and battery looking out upon the harbor. The military were ordered under arms. Everything betokened a crisis in the affairs of the "sovereign" State. It was at first supposed that a reinforcement had arrived-then it was reported that the garrison had evacua

This statement presents a correct view of the circumstances, and justly gives to the commander the entire credit of the movement, so applauded by friends, so execrated by foes. If merely a military act it nevertheless was potent with political results. The little vessels which, in their night duty between Moultrie and Sumter, bore to the fast-ted ness the men and munitions that were to hold it for their country against conspirators, held the fate of a Republic on their slender decks; and the soldier who ordered the transfer became an instrument in the hand of destiny, of leading the Crusade against the Goths who sought to sack the citadel of the Republic, and scatter its glories to the four winds of Heaven. He proved a worthy leader.

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Besides the vessels, several row-boats were brought into requisition, to be manned by the soldiers. At an early hour Wednesday (Dec. 26th), the order was given for the evacuation. Not a soldier of the garrison knew the destination, but all were zealous for duty. The vessels were rapidly loaded from the landing-place with all the personal effects of the officers and men, with munitions, provisions, and with the women and children of the post. They then stood out toward Fort Johnson, on James Island, but brought up at Sumter, where, by the aid of the workmen in the fort, the vessels were

the harbor, after destroying the fort. Some laborers, however, arrived at the wharves, direct from Sullivan's Island, and communicated the truth to the thoroughly exasperated people and the anxious authorities.

The Convention immediately came together, in secret session, scarcely waiting for the formality of a breakfast. It gave orders for the military disposition necessary in a moment of danger. Governor Pickens was out on duty, gathering the masses of men into soldierly consistency. The battery was filled with troops, ready for any service. When news arrived of the course pursued by Anderson, Governor Pickens sent off a note to inquire by what authority the evacuation was made, and what was the object of the movement. Anderson replied, stating that it was a military step for which he alone was responsible-that it was an act of defence only. While these messages were on their way, Captain Foster appeared in the streets of Charleston to repeat the facts of the case to all inquirers. Intense indignation was expressed at the coup de main, but no violence was offered to the officer. Having imparted the information as authorized by Major Anderson, he returned to Fort Moultrie to retain its possession and await the action of the authorities. It was thus retained to throw upon the State the responsibility of its seizure from a United States garrison.

CONDITION OF FORT

MOULTRIE.

127

Condition of Moultrie after the act.

"The entire place was, to all appearances, littered up with the odds, ends, and fragments of war's desolation. Confusion could not have been more complete had the late occupants retired in the face of a besieging foe. Fragments of gun carriages, &c., broken to pieces, bestrewed the ramparts. Sandbags and barrels filled with earth, crowned the walls, and were firmly imbedded in their bombproof surface, as an additional safe

The Charleston Courier's small arms, clothing, provisions, accoutrespecial reporter, visiting ments, and other munitions of war had been the partially evacuated fort removed off and deposited — nothing but to observe its condition, gave an interesting heavy balls and useless cannon remained. statement of his observations. He wrote: "In order to ascertain truthful statements of the actual damage done to the forts, of the causes of the movement, and of the state of affairs generally, reporters were despatched to the scene during the forenoon. On the way across the harbor, the hoisting of the American flag from the staff of Fort Sumter, at precisely 12 o'clock, gave certain indication that the stronghold was occupied by the troops of the United States. On a nearer ap-guard-and, notwithstanding the heterogeproach the fortress was discovered to be occupied, the guns appeared to be mounted, and sentinels were discovered on duty, and the place to give every sign of occupancy and military discipline. The grim fortress frowned defiance on every side; the busy notes of preparation resounded through its unforbid ding recesses, and everything seemed to indicate the utmost alacrity in the work on hand. "Turning towards Fort Moultrie, a dense cloud of smoke was seen to pour from the The flagstaff was down, and the whole place had an air of desolation and abandonment quite the reverse of its busy look one week ago, when scores of laengaged in adding to its strength all the works skill and experience could sug

end facing the sea.

borers were

gest.

neous scattering of materials and implements, the walls of the fort evinced a vague degree of energy in preparing for an attack. A ditch some fifteen feet wide and about the same in depth surrounds the entire wall on three sides. On the south side, or front, a glacis has been commenced and prosecuted nearly to completion, with a rampart of sandbags, barrels, &c.

"On one side of the fort a palisade of Pal

metto logs is extended around the ramparts as a complete defense against an escalading party. New embrasures have been cut in the walls so as to command the faces of the bastion and ditch. These new defenses are all incomplete, and are evidence of the haste with which they were erected. Considering the inferior force, in point of numbers, under his command, Major Anderson had paid par

"In the immediate vicinity of the rear or landside entrance, however, greater activity was noticeable. At the time of our visit, a large force of hands had been summoned to deliver up their implements for transportation to Fort Sumter. Around on every side were the evidences of labor in the fortification of the work. In many places, a portion of the defences were strengthened by every appliance that art could suggest or ingenuity devise; while, in others, the uncompleted works gave evidences of the utmost confusion. On all hands the process of removing goods, furniture, and munitions was yet going on. The heavy guns upon the ramparts of the fort were thrown down from their carand every cartridge had been removed from riages and spiked. Every ounce of powder the magazines; and, in fact, everything like Sumter, were nine eight-inch columbiads,

ticular attention to strengthening only a small part of the fort.

"A greater portion of the labor expended was spent upon the citadel or centre of the west point of the position. This he had caused to be strengthened in every way; loop-holes were cut and everything was so arranged that in case a well-concerted attack was made, he would have retired from the outer bastions to the citadel, and afterwards blow up the other portions of the fort. For this purpose mines had already been sprung, and trains had been laid ready for the application of the match. The barrack-rooms and every other part of the fort that was indefensible would have gone at a touch. "On the ramparts of the fort fronting Fort

mounted on wooden carriages. As soon as the evacuation of the fort was complete, the carriages of these guns were fired, and at the time of visiting the fort yesterday, were nearly consumed, and the guns thereby dismounted. These guns, as well as those constituting the entire armament of the fortress, were spiked before it was abandoned. This is the only damage done the fortification, further than cutting down the flagstaff, and the breaking up of ammunition wagons to form ramparts on the walls of the fort."

Active Preparations

for Resistance.

This movement of the commander was construed by the Convention as a threat of coercion, and every means were taken to prepare for resistance. A communication was dispatched to the Commissioners at Washington, authorizing them to demand of the President the unconditional evacuation of the forts in the harbor in event of his refusal to order Anderson back to Moultrie, and thus restore the status ante quo bellum. The telegraph offices were placed under State control. The post-office was considered to be under surveillance. The custom-house already had become part of the machinery of State. Orders were issued, during the day, for the occupation of Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie by the State troops. The arsenal, already in possession of State troops under Major Humphreys, gave freely of its plentiful stores to equip the troops, and to furnish munitions and artillery as they were required. Mr. Floyd had, during his four years' administration, succeeded in placing ten years' ordinary supplies in that arsenal, and thus had, indeed, befriended "the cause."

Seizures by the State

men.

Troops.

took possession of Moultrie. Captain Foster, seeing the approach of the troops, retired up the beach to a small boat with his eight men, and was suffered to pull over to Sumter. The work of restoration immediately commenced. Anderson could have shelled the fort, had he dared to assume the offensive; but, as his orders were imperative, to stand only on the defensive, he soon had to see one thousand troops and Negroes swarming on Sullivan's and Morris' islands, throwing up fortifications and mounting guns for his own destruction. Had he been empowered to forbid this hostile work, the shot and shell of his tremendous Columbiads would haver endered it simply impossible for the revolutionists to erect their batteries. One of Mr. Buchanan's most unfortunate mistakes was to resist reinforcements of the forts in the harbor, when they could have been thrown in early in November. His next great error was to hamper Anderson with orders which forbade him to assume the responsibility of destroying fortifications expressly designed for the subjuga tion of the besieged garrison. The patriotism and courage afterwards introduced into the Cabinet, in the persons of Judge Holt, Judge Black and General Dix, gave the country good cause to regret their introduction at so late an hour.

Honor to Major Anderson.

The movement into Sumter was received with remarkable unanimity of approval in all sections of the country, save in the disaffected States. Even there many were found who saw in the act the attitude best calculated to force matters to a speedy settlement. It would seem to prove that, if it had "precipitated" matters politically, it had also precipitated the unsettled patriotism of the people to glisten like a ruby on the 'Ethiop breast" of the rising storm. The press, the pulpit, the platform, the poets-all chaunted paæans for the loyal Andersonmore loyal and true, indeed, than his superiors. His name became the theme of discourse, for many a day, in public and private, throughout all the States still faithful to the Constitution and the Laws. Such sponta

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During the afternoon of Thursday (December 27th), the two forts were occupied. Castle Pinckney was taken by Colonel J. J. Pettigrew, with a force of two hundred That fort had not a soul in it, and was so barricaded that scaling ladders had to be used to secure an entrance. The guns were found spiked, the ammunition and stores secured, and the flagstaff down. When it had been stripped no one knew. Lieutenant-neous, heartfelt congratulation never before Colonel De Saussure, with two hundred men, | was offered to a servant of the United States.

HIST ORICAL SUMMARY OF EVENTS,-No 2.

FROM DECEMBER 27th, 1860, TO MARCH 4th, 1861.

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-The United States Revenue Cutter Aiken betray ed by its commander, Capt. N. L. Coste, into the hands of the South Carolina authorities.

Dec. 28. South Carolina authorities seize the Custom-house and Post-office. Castle Pinckney and Fort Moultrie occupied by State troops. The Arsenal at Charleston is held by orders of Governor Pickens. Large numbers of troops pouring into Charleston. One body of eighty men received from Georgia. The Palmetto flag flying from the forts, public buildings, &c. The Stars and Stripes only fying from Fort Sumter. A dispatch to a member of the Cabinet, from Charleston, says troops are pouring in from all directions.

Mr. Holt, the Postmaster-General, sends orders to the Sub-treasury at Charleston, to remit all the balance, $35,000, on the Post-office account in his possession, immediately, to the credit of the department. If this order is not complied with at once, he will demand of the Federal Government to enforce orders. He is also determined, as before suggested, to suppress mail matter to and from South Carolina, if the mails are interfered with in that State.

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Jan. 1, 1861.-The New York Journals of to-day

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all regard the capital as in danger of seizure. One
says:
It is now well known that military companies
have been organized and drilled for months past in
Maryland and Virginia-some of them under the eye
of an officer of the regular army-and that the dis-
seizure of Washington city in the interest of the dis-
tinct object of their organization is to aid in the
unionists, or the prevention by force of Lincoln's
inauguration. Some of the less prudent of their
leaders boast in private circles that they have five
thousand well-armed and organized men ready to
strike the blow instantly upon the concerted signal
being given."

Jan. 2.-In view of the dangers which threaten the place the militia of the district under arms. Regucity of Washington, General Scott has taken steps to lars are also being ordered to the Navy Yard and every precaution is to be taken to avoid a surprise, and to repel any attempt at revolutionary proceed

The Cabinet broke up to-night, after five hours session, without coming to any conclusion relative to the disposition of troops at Charleston. The impression prevailed that a conflict was inevitable. Secretary Toucey and Mr. Holt, Postmaster-Gene- ings. ral, urged defense; the others, a further evacuation,

necessary.

-A dispatch from Georgia states that the election returns indicate that the State has voted, by

a

large majority; for immediate secession. The State

troops are also reported to be in possession of the

in Mr. Buchanan's Cabinet as Secretary of War. In Der. 29.-John B. Floyd resigns his appointment his letters United States arsenal in Savannah, as well as of to withdraw Anderson from Charleston harbor enwith a purpose to inaugurate civil war by refusing Forts Pulaski and Jackson.

-Gov. Ellis, of North Carolina, dispatched troops

tirely. "I cannot consent to be the agent of such a to-day to seize upon Fort Macon at Beaufort, the

forts at Wilmington, and the United States arsenal at Fayetteville. It was done to keep the property from seizure by mobs-so Gov. Ellis wrote to the

calamity," (civil war,) and therefore tenders his re-
signation. It was accepted by the President, Dec.
31st, in a very curt and summary note.
-The South Carolina Commissioners make known Department of War.
their mission, by official communication to the Pre-

sident.

-Private accounts from Charleston state that a thousand negroes are engaged in the erection of fortifications in the harbor, and that the channels lead

Dec. 30.-The President replies at length to the
South Carolina Commissioners, declining to receive ing to Fort Sumter have been obstructed by sunken

them.

vessels, and the buoys removed. Also, that Gov. Pickens has received the offer of 10,000 volunteers

Dec. 31.-Reports from Charleston state that strong from without the State, who hold themselves in fortifications are going up in and around the harbor, readiness to march at a minute's warning.

to resist any reinforcement of Fort Sumter.

Senator Baker, of Oregon,concluded his response

-It is announced from Washington that the report to Mr. Benjamin's speech, in the United States Senate. which prevailed throughout the city this afternoon, It was pronounced a "masterly effort."

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