Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-01-09
w. ID. WALLACH.
AUTHENTIC ACCOUNT OF THE EyAC.
UATIoN OF FORT MOULTRIE.


The Night Of December 26, 1860.
HOW AND WHY MAJOR ANDERSON MOVED HIS
TRooPs-THs ROW ACROSS THE HARBoR-rHE
FEDERAL GUNS AND THE CHARLESTON STEAM
BOATS.
From the New York World.
We give below the first genuine and authentic
account which has passed through the southern
mails OF Major Anderson's removal from Fort
Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Our correspondent,
who has had every advantage that partic-
patton In that gallant manouvre or a residence
within the walls of both forts, or military
knowledge could give him, recites the prepa-
rations which were being made by the Charles
tonians to hem in the brave Anderson and his
troops; his fruitless efforts to induce the War
Department to allow him to provide for their
defense; the reasons which compelled him to
hasty evacuation Of Fort Moultrie; the provis-
ions made by the Charlestonians to prevent
the removal to Fort Sumter. and with what
shre1dness and ability they were foiled; how
the troops baggage and provisions were trans
ferred; the row across the harbor, in a clear
moonlight, within q hundred yards of the
Charleston steamboat; and a history of the
night, until his command was finally housed in
the stronghold Of Sumter.
THE EVACUATION.
Major Anderson has done the best possible
thing tor his small command and the country
at large. IL was unauthorized, il is true, but
1t wss Indispensable To defend himself on
the bar and extensive rsmparts of Fort Moul-
trie for more than three or four days would
have been impossible. If not from any actual
loss of men, he must have succumbed from
fatigue and loss Of sleep, for it would have
been impossible to spare a man from his post
The South Carolinians were making prepsra-
tions to erect three batteries against him, to
surround him with rife pits and open trenches
They only awaited the signal from their Com
missioners to begin. Their engineer eficers
came down every day TO examine and lay out
their plans OF attack. Cannon had actually
been sent to the Island. In few days the
Major would have been surrounded with
perfect net work, and his hands were still tied
behind his back. The Government would not
even give him permission to level the immense
sand bills which overlooked his works. They
would not send him the ammunition he needed,
nor would they allow him necessary mortars
and shells to dislodge the clouds Of rifemen
who would pick of his cannoners. d
He and his command had, nevertheless, de-
termined to fight it out to the last, and blow
up everything. The only possible safety for
them was In burning down Moultrieville in the
frst place (for they were 30 hemmed in they
could BOT see hundred yards) and in taking
down the crests of the higher sand hills. It
was all in vain; his hands were tied and when
1T became apparent that the heavy batteries
of Fort Sumter were, in addition, to plunge
their fire into the work, and enflade one and
take In reverse two Of his lines, the case re-
eOlNcQ lISeH lDI0 u massacre, and not into q
siege or assault. Fort Moultrie itself is but
mere dependency of Fort Sumter. The battle
which the Major was about to fight would be
IN every sense useless one, so long as the en-
emy held Fort Sumter. Victory would not
have given him command of the harbor By
moving to Fort Sumter he gained safety for
the men, free and untrammeled position,
commanding the harbor-a position from which
he might prevent the erection Of efficient bat
teries against ships, from which he can drive
out an enemy from Fort Moultrie-a position
which few days work will render impreg-
nable to all but treachery.
The Government, instead of acting under
perpetual menaces and threats, can now act
If il chooses, with dignity and frmness, for
Charleston is at the feet Of Anderson whenever
he choses to exercise his power. Not vessel
can como in or out without his permission. He
can collect the revenue with ease, the lights
can be put out with his guns and all this hiss
occurred without bloodshed. No blood need
be shed unless South Carolina madly fings
herself against him in furious effort to re-
trieye her broken fortunes. She feels and
knows she is in the power of the United States
Government. Sensible they were in driving
Anderson to extremity, and fearful he might
make an attempt Of the kind, they had sta
toned two steamboats, having l20 men, with
two pieces of artillery, under command Of 1t.
Hamilton, recently resigned from the Navy.
They had stationed these between Fort Sumter
and Fort Moultrie to cruise around and pre-
vent any attempt to transfer the garrison, but
Anderson foiled them. He carried out his
project with consummate ability. He talked
for week OF the absolute necessity Of sending
the women and children to the village Of Fort
johnson for safety. There is an old dilapida-
ted public building there in which he proposed
to put them until the battle was over He
chartered three lighters to carry them and
their baggage, and be added everything to the
cargo he could without exciting suspicion.
The CharlestOnians did NOT 1;s to pta
with tie transit Of provisions to Capt. Fosters
men at Fort Sumter, because they regarded
him as in reality finishing the work for them.
This ne was actually doing, through the neg
lect of the Administration; Under Pretense of
sending hlm provisions. Maj. Anderson sent
ever large amount of his stores Thus dis
embarrassed he was ready for a move. The
schooners, with the camp women and children,
had orders to sail from Fort johnson to Fort
Sumter upon hearing two cannon fred at Fort
Moultrie, the signal that the evacuation of the
fort had been completed. He then gave orders
to the men to pack their knapsacks, and hold
themselves in readiness at all times as they
might, some day have to move. He took one
Of his officers aside about p. on the 26th,
and told him in about twenty minutes he should
make the attempt to reach Fort Sumter. The
attempt was q dangerous one. Two steam
boats lay of the fort with troops and guns and
these boats would have run him down in mo-
nient had they been aware Of the movement.
hnueIeOn leit OfueIe 70 uro lntO inc NINA
steamboat, If she molested his men, and 32-
FOUNDER was loaded up for that purpose.
Fort Moultrie Is always surrounded by paid
spies and members of the vigilance committee,
but they did not interfere, and probably did
not understand what the command was doing.
The troops sprang into the boats and the men
pulled witha will. half way the hostile steam
boat approached rapidly with q ship in tow.
1t was a glorious moonlight night, and very
clear. The steamboat passed within q hun.
drcd yards, but probably took the boats to con-
tain workmen returning from Fort Sumter.
Sumter was reached at last in safety. An ex.
clamation of surprise came from the bricklsyers
en- the wharf One Of them shouted 'tHurrah
for the Union" He was hurried in and made
to keep quiet. In the meantime the officers
who remained in Fort Moultrie held the Ian
yards of the guns in their hands ready to fire
upon the steamboat, If il molested the boats.
The boats were sent back. The remainder Of
the. command embarked and reached Sumter in
i.,fety, though one boat passed almost under
he bow Of the Nina. The movement was &C.