The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-12-28
The Revolution In South SaroiiaA--
Abandonp, at OF Fort M"ulsric ny Major
NnIersOn.

4
Yesterday The city "f New York, and 10 ioab,
| The whole country wherever the news reached
WI. thrown into state 90 thr utmost excite
ment BY Intelligence from Charleston OF thu
evacuation and destruction Of Fort Moultre,
and m impression prevailed for some time that
the font had been captured by the citizens of
South Carolina. hut on receipt of later news
il turned ont That Fort Moultric had not
| been attacked hu, was voluntarily abandoned
| by Major Anderson. both for military and po-
litical reasons. lie removed his troops to Fort
Sumptcr ~ night, and left small force TO spike
the guns. burn the gun carriages and dismantlc
Fort Mcultrie II was believed at Charleston
that il was intended TO blow up the works, but
our latest adyiccs 10 moi mention that this had
been done.
The military reason assigned for removing
Tie troops to Fort Sumptcr is, that Fort Moul-
iric could not be held with Fort Sumpter in
possession of the revolutionists, the latter fort
commanding the other, owing TO its greater
elevation. and besides being considered Of such
strength that bombardment from Fort Moul-
trie could have no effect upon il. Fort Sumpter
was only occupied by few troops and labor
ers till Major Anderson took possession Of 1t,
and il might at any moment have fallen into the
hands Of the people OF Charleston.
The political reason assigned by Major An
dcrson himself is. that this movement looscd the
Gordian knot and put an end TO the danger Of
an immediate collision between the United
States troops and tho-e Of South Caro-
lima. For Fort sumpter is imprcgnable
against any armament which the Palmetto State
can at present bring against IL, though Sullivans
leland, on which Fort Mouitrie l. situated,
commands the ontcr entrance 10 the harbor,
and l. regarded BY many military authorities
a. the key Of The place. II Wa here, Ia l176,
that Colonel Moulirie. in obedience to Cover
nor Ruilcdge and hi- own genius. won for him
self impcrishable rcnown by defending the
fort contrary to the advice OF so able military
leader a. General Lee. who regarded il as ut
tcrly untcnablc against the British feet. II
was mere rude work &C earth and sand and
palmetto log; but. commanded a. it wa, IL
defeated nine British ships, one Of which was
burned. We perceive from our report Of the
revolutionary Convention, now sitting at
Charleston that the question Of the State taking
immediate military possession Of Fort Moutre
and Sullivan's Island was being considered in
secret so. ion
Till late hour Las, evening II was believed
here that Major Anderson had acted under The
special instructions Of the President But by
an important despatch We received from
Washington. dated eight o'clock. We learned
that Major Anderson not only acted altogether
on his own responsibility, but contrary 70
express orders, for which il !. possible he will
he removed from command Of The station, a.
The citizens Of Charleston are greatly cxaspc-
rated, and consider il On act Of war unless dis
Nvowcd nv the President II appears that Mr..
Buchanan. sdhering 10 the policy Of his Mes
~agc, directed the commandant TO act only on
Tho defensive and not 10 remove the garrison
or take any steps unless he was attacked.
Had the course which Major Anderson
adopted beer in obedience 10 the orders of The
President. II would have brcugh, the rcvolu-
lion in South Carolina TO crisis,
and that State would b. compelled either
20 rcccde or come TO an immediate
collision with The federal government. As
the matter now stands, o collision Is not
inevitable, and time may DO gained for the
restoration Of amicable relations. Our despatch
says Il viii be next TO impossible to prevent
collision, and that an attack will be made on
the forts by the excited people. But II is 70
he hoped The citizens Of Charleston will be
gc''raincd ~ wiser ccunscls ffem an, course