CHAPTER III. PRELIMINARIES TO SUMTER. ally in the safe keeping and at the mercy SOUTH CAROLINA thus placed herself at the head and front of the rebellion. Many months afterward, her Governor Pickens in one of his messages proudly asserted the fact. "From the 20th of December last," said he, "until the 9th of February, this State acted alone. She was entirely separate and independent."* other. The effect of this was, that a That interval between the declaration of independence by South Carolina, and the organization of the rebel Confederacy at Montgomery, was by no means lost to the cause of revolt. It was filled with a series of uniform, resolute acts of aggression, and preparation for an impending conflict. handful of United States soldiers, two partly-filled companies of artillerymen. under the command of Major Robert Anderson of Kentucky, an officer who had served with distinction in the Mexican war, at Vera Cruz, at El Molina del Rey, at Chapultepec, kept feeble guard of Fort Moultrie, while an ever-increasThe Convention of South Carolina ing force of rebels, as the conspiracy assumed for the State the powers of the gained strength, threatened them on all General Government, taking under its sides. It was a policy which was far control the management of the custom from being understood or appreciated at house and collection of the revenue, the the North. Constantly was it asked by judicial authority of the United States, the people, in view of the impending made treason to the new rule punishable danger, Why are not the forts fully occuwith death, regulated the appointment pied? Why is not a sufficient naval and reception of foreign ambassadors, guard in the harbor? When the subject and in general began to provide for all was discussed in the Cabinet on the 13th the acts of independent sovereignty. of December, and decided against the The military property of the General reinforcement of Fort Moultrie, General Government at Charleston, the forts in Cass, unable longer to endure the postthe harbor and the arsenal were already, ponement of patriotic duty, resigned his by an arrangement or understanding be- office of Secretary of State. tween the Congressional Representatives of the State and the Secretary of War at Washington, and the President, virtu Meanwhile the work of disorganization was proceeding in the cotton States with rapidity. The familiarity of the people with the machinery of conventions, and of South Carolina. Charleston Courier, November 6, 1861. all the subsidiary forms of political ac * Message to the Senate and House of Representatives tion, assisted them greatly in the enter- the rebels. It was not to be expected, prise. At short notice they were every- however, that they could long remain in where ready to meet and resolve, assume that position. The South Carolina Conto themselves all the prerogatives of leg-vention, shortly after its assembling, had islation, pronounce their decrees, and sent commissioners to Washington to extemporise a new form of government. treat for their delivery or surrender,Accustomed to their separate State jur- an unparalleled act of effrontery in face isdiction, there was little to shock the of the obligations of the State to the habitual feelings of the people, in setting Union, and the express declaration of the up a parliamentary authority arrogating President in his Message, that he would to itself the powers belonging only to the discharge the duty imposed upon him by United States. The very simplicity and his oath of office in the protection of the perfection of the government was thus public property. turned to its destruction. At the instiga- The exact terms of this extraordition of the Governors and State legisla-nary commission of the sovereign State tures, conventions were called to take are worthy of remembrance as a curioswhat action they thought necessary. Elections were held and delegates appointed. Their deliberations in all cases ended in the resolve of separation. Before the close of January five States, in addition to South Carolina, had thus formally seceded from the Union in the following order: Mississippi on the 9th of January, Florida and Alabama on the 11th, Georgia on the 19th, Louisiana on the 26th. On the 1st of February, Texas was added to the number. The laws and ordinances binding these several States to the General Government were repealed; the obligations of the people to observe the same were withdrawn; the State was pronounced henceforth free, sovereign, and independent. As a sequence of these pronunciamentos, the public property of the United States was taken possession of. Forts and arsenals, with their supplies of ammunition, were seized in all quarters. By concert with Floyd of Virginia, the Secretary of War at Washington, and through the inaction of the President, the forts in Charleston harbor, as we have stated, were left at the command of ity in diplomacy. They authorized and empowered the embassadors, "to treat with the government of the United States for the delivery of the forts, magazines light-houses, and other real estate with their appurtenances, in the limits of South Carolina; and also for an apportionment of the public debt, and for a division of all other property held by the Government of the United States, as agent of the Confederated States, of which South Carolina was recently a member, and generally to negotiate as to all other measures and arrangements proper to be made and adopted in the existing relation of the parties, and for the continuance of peace and amity between this Commonwealth and the Government at Washington.' The Commissioners to carry this decree into effect, Messrs. R. W. Barnwell, J. H. Adams, and James L. Orr arrived in Washington on the 26th of December. On the night of that very day, before they had opportunity to open communication with the President, an act took place at Charleston which materially affected the conditions of their embassy. FROM MOULTRIE TO SUMTER. 39 from so many sources that we cannot doubt it-that the Charlestonians are erecting two batteries, one just opposite us, at a little village-Mount Pleasantand another on this end of the island and they dare the commander to inter fere while they are getting ready to fight Major Anderson, at Fort Moultrie, restive under the threats of the people of Charleston, in his comparatively defenceless position, which he had in vain endeavored to make tenable, and which he felt assured, from the menacing preparations for assault around him, could not probably be held for more than forty-sixty men. In this weak little fort, I eight or sixty hours longer, resolved to remove his command to the more secure protection of Fort Sumter, in the harbor. Accordingly, under cover of the night, having spiked his larger guns and burnt the carriages, by the aid of the boats of the garrison, he transported his little force, with the exception of a nominal guard left behind, to the new position. He also carried with him the stores of provision and ammunition. suppose President Buchanan and Secretary Floyd intend the Southern Confederation to be cemented with the blood of this brave little garrison. Their names shall be handed down to the end of time. When the last man is shot down, I presume they will think of sending troops. The soldiers here deserve great credit, though they know not but that an unequal number is coming to massacre them, yet they are in good spirits, and will fight desperately. Our commander says he never saw such a brave little band. I feel desperately myself. Our only hope is in God." A letter written from Fort Moultrie a fortnight before, by the wife of one of the officers of the garrison, which was published in the Northern papers, with no little effect upon public opinion at the Such was the character of the neglecttime, will exhibit the perils to which the ed handful of men at Fort Moultrie and post was exposed, the spirit of its de- their gallant officer, who, with a full confenders, and a woman's just appreciation sciousness of their imperiled position, of the shortcomings of the government. stealthily removed themselves to Fort "I feel too indignant," was its language, Sumter, in the hope that the government "I can hardly stand the way in which yet would be roused to aid them. The this weak little garrison is treated by the spirit in which this was done, the sober head of the government. Troops and sense of duty, the religious conscientiousproper accommodation are positively re-ness which bound the commanding offifused, and yet the commander has orders cer, Major Anderson, to his country, may to hold and defend the fort. Was ever be gathered from many incidental exsuch a sacrifice an intentional one-pressions in his correspondenceknown? The Secretary has sent several which, at the same time, he showed himofficers, at different times, to inspect here, self sensibly touched by all proper conas if that helped. It is a mere sham to siderations of friendship and humanity make believe he will do something. In--but especially from a solemn act of the mean time, a crisis is very near. I am to go to Charleston the first of the week. I will not go further if I can help it. Within a few days, we hear and devotion at the raising of the flag in Fort Sumter. It was the national standard which he had brought with him from Moultrie. At noon, on the day fol have been their duty to enter upon a negotiation in reference to "all such questions as are necessarily raised by the adoption of the Ordinance," with a view to an amicable adjustment, but that the made such assurance impossible. "We came here," said they, "the representatives of an authority which could at any time within the past sixty days, have taken possession of the forts in Charleston harbor, but which, upon pledges given in a manner which we cannot doubt, determined to trust to your honor rather than to its own power." In conclusion, they urged the immediate withdrawal of the troops from the harbor. lowing his entry of the place, he caused the whole of the small garrison, and the laborers who were employed at the fort to assemble in the area within, around the flag-staff. "The national ensign was attached to the cord, and Major Ander-events of the last twenty-four hours had son, holding the end of the lines in his hands, knelt reverently down. The officers, soldiers and men clustered around, many of them on their knees, all deeply impressed with the solemnity of the scene. The chaplain made an earnest prayer-such an appeal for support, encouragement and mercy as one would make who felt that 'man's extremity is God's opportunity.' As the earnest, solemn words of the speaker ceased, and the men responded Amen, with a fervency that, perhaps, they had never before experienced, Major Anderson drew the 'Star Spangled Banner' up to the top of the staff, the band broke out with the national air of 'Hail Columbia,' and loud and exultant cheers, repeated again and again, were given by the officers, soldiers and workmen." . To this request the President calmly replied by reminding the Commissioners of the language of his Message in regard to his resolution to defend the property of the United States in South Carolina, and setting forth the nature of the alleged agreement or pledges, which he represented as little, if anything, more than the mutual expression of a desire The people of Charleston, disappointed that nothing should be done in the way of their easy prey, were greatly excited either of attack on the one side or reinat the occupation of Sumter. The State forcements on the other, till time was authorities immediately entered the de- given for reflection. From the written serted Moultrie, took possession also of memorandum which he presented of the Fort Pinckney, which had no force to South Carolina Members of Congress, the offer resistance, and seized the Govern- mediators in this affair, it appeared that ment offices in the city. News of these they, at least, had promised nothing, transactions at once reached Washing- only "expressed their strong convictions ton by telegraph. The South Carolina that neither the constituted authorities. Commissioners in exercise of their ex-nor any body of the people of the State traordinary authority immediately ad- of South Carolina, will either attack or dressed a letter to the President in which, after announcing that the State had "resumed the powers she delegated to the Government of the United States and declared her perfect sovereignty and independence," they stated that it would molest the United States forts in the harbor of Charleston, previously to the act of the Convention, and we hope and believe not until an offer has been made through an accredited representative, to negotiate for an amicable arrangenient of THE PRESIDENT SPEAKS. all matters between the State and the Federal Government, provided that no reinforcements shall be sent into those forts, and their relative military status shall remain as at present."* 41 tions. This would only have been done with any degree of safety to the command by the concurrence of the South Carolina authorities. But before any step could possibly have been taken in The signers of the memorandum, in this direction, we received information fact, could hardly have asked the Presi- that the 'Palmetto flag floated out to the dent of the United States to bind the breeze at Castle Pinckney, and a large Government to inaction while the uncer- military force went over last night (the tain forbearance of the other side might 27th) to Fort Moultrie.' Thus the aube terminated at any moment by a hos-thorities of South Carolina, without waittile act of the Convention. "It is well ing or asking for any explanations, and known," says the President "that it was doubtless believing, as you have expressmy determination, and this I freely ex-ed it, that the officer had acted not only pressed, not to reinforce the forts in the without but against my orders, on the harbor and thus produce a collision, un- very next day after the night when the til they had been actually attacked, or removal was made, seized by a military until I had certain evidence that they force two of the Federal forts in the harwere about to be attacked." He then re- bor of Charleston, and have covered cited the instructions of the War Depart- them under their own flag instead of that ment to Major Anderson, which required of the United States. At this gloomy him to hold possession of the forts in the period of our history, startling events harbor, and if attacked defend himself to succeed each other rapidly. On the very the last extremity, while it was left to day, the 27th instant, that possession of his discretion, in case of an attack or these two forts was taken, the Palmetto 'tangible evidence of a design to pro- flag was raised over the Federal Customceed to a hostile act," to put his command house and Post-office in Charleston; and into any one of the forts which he might on the same day every officer of the think best adapted to increase its power Customs-Collector, Naval Officer, Surof resistance. Under these circumstan- veyor and Appraiser-resigned their ces, said the President, Major Anderson, offices. And this, although it was well as" a brave and honorable officer should known from the language of my Message not be condemned without a fair hear- that, as an executive officer, I felt myself ing." bound to collect the revenue at the port of Charleston, under the existing laws. In the harbor of Charleston we now find three forts confronting each other, over all of which the Federal flag floated only four days ago; but now, over two of them, this flag has been supplanted, and the Palmetto flag has been substituted in its stead." The President, however, would even then have been disposed, in spite of discouragements to such a course, to recall Major Anderson from Sumter to Moultrie. "My first promptings," he wrote, "were to command him to return to his former position, and there to await the contingencies presented in his instruc * Messrs. McQueen, Bonham, Boyce and Keitt to President Buchanan, Washington, December 9, 1860. The President was touched to the quick, and would be trifled with no |