Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-04-24
From the Harrisburg Patriot & unioul
Events Preceding the Assault upon
Fort Sumter

The real destination and object OF the
fleet sent by the Government to the
South MS well as the natnre of the ncgo
tiations which preceded the attack ct
! the Confederate batteries upon Fort Sam
ter, is still involved in doubt and uncer-
tanty. All we know is that several YES
sells crossed the bar and entered the har-
! Dor of Charleston, while the battle was
| progressing, without striking a blow or
attempting to afford assistance to the be-
leaguered garrison. Their instructions
may lave prevented them from taking
any part in the conflict. The following
narrative, published in the Baltimore
american before the assault upon Sumter,
gives the most str light forward and plaus-
I5Ie account Of the events preceding that
transaction:
Nearly four weeks since the President
and Cabinet, on the representation Of
! Gen. Scott decided to evacuate Fort Sum
/ ter as a military necessity-Jhat is to say.
the reinforcing aud provisioning of it was
not deemed essential, in view Of the cost
oi blood and treasure it would require to
accomplish the purpose. This decision
! of the President was communicated tG
Major Anderson by special messenger,
with instructions TO open negotiations
with the military authorities at Charles
! ton to carry the project into execution.
These negotiations have been progress
ing ever incc, and the numerous mes sem
/ gers tEat have been passing between
/ Charleston and Washington hayc COM
mRncated to Major Anderson the in
/ Istructions Of the Government and 20 the
/ President the deman&s Of the authorities
| of the Southern COnfedeaCy. II is un-
! derstood that Major Anderson refused,
under Instructions, an unconditional sur
IrcEder of the fortress to the Contederacy.
/ but proposed to abandon it with his garrie
son, leaving the fort in possession OF
corporal and two prlvates, to protect the
property Of the Government. and leave it
/ thus TO await future events. lie is alsG
understood to have demanded of General
/ Reauregard that a pledge should be given
/ him that no attempt should bc made to
take possession of it atte: the evacuation
Of the garrison and that the officer left in
charge should not Le moested, or his POS.
session as the nominal Representative Of
the Government !nterIered with.
TAis proposition did net moet the views
of General Baaurcgard, who demanded
lllNI lllt lluH - Nlit NIlIlGi 'oNtNtA ouOulu
/ be saluted and lowered, as was done az the
Pensacola Navy Yard, and that formal
surrender of the fort should be made by
! tEe Government of the United States to
the Government of the Southern Conieder
acv, and tue Coniederacy flag of seven stars
raised on the hag mah and saluted.
This demand. which would be virtual
recognition by the President and Major
Anderson Of the existence OF the Sothern
Conicdcracy, was firmly refused, and the
decision OF Maj. Anderson was subsequent,
" sustained and approved by the Presi-
dent and his Caoiuct. Thus matters stood
up 10 the commencement Of last week,
hen Gen. Bcsurcgdrd intimaled to Ma
ior Anderson that, il the demand of the
Conicderacy was not complied with, ma
order would he Immediately issued to cut
oil all further communication between
the fort and Charleston, and tnat his reg
ular supplies of mmketing would be stopN
red. This fact was brought to Washing
ton 10y Colonel Lamon as the ultimatum
OF the Coniederacv. 4 Cabinet meeting
was then called, and 1t is SAID that the
refuse. to make a formal Surrender of the
fort and the lowering Of the tag was un'
animou,ly rc-atiimed
Immediately after this decision orders
were given for the military and naval
preparations that have sIuGa oecasioned
50 much eXcitem ant, the object Leipg to
use them if necessary in relieving the
garrison Of Major Anderson from threat.
eDed starvation, and maintlinng the dig
Hity oil the Government and the honor Of
the liag in Charleston harbJr; or, if MOI
required there, TO dispatch the eXpedi-
ton to Texas to maintain tle treaty
stipulation, Of tho GOUarcment on the
frontier, and drive back the Indians aud
MeNiels who gry threatening TO invade
ihe State.
In the meantime Lieut. Talbot was dis
patched 10y Major Anderson to Washing,
ton with further Information a5 to the
condition Of affairs, in which rumor says
that Major Anderson urged the Govern
ment not to allow the flag winch he had
so long maintained in the face Of his be.
sIogers to be humblcd rs they required
and to compel the gallant men who had
stood 50 molly 10y him, including the me,
cEanlcs who could have left him il they
had desired, to witness the humiliating
sight OF any flag but that of their country
NOlting from its battlcmepts.
This account tGrlher states that as soou
as information wa, received at Washing.
ton that Gen Beauregard had cut off the
supplies from Fort Sumter, the President
dispatched a messenger to Charleston.
with instructions to Major Anderson to
nDtity the Confederate authorities that
the Govcrnment proposed Immediately to
dispatch an unarmed vessel with food for
the garrison at Fort Sumter and that he
was i.strucled, if the vessel should be
fired upon, to ret2rn the fire from the
fort. The messenger arrived at Charles,
ton. but was denied the Opportunity Of
communicating with Fort Snmter. We
know what tol owed. The expedition
started from New York, and Immediately
tie secession batteries opened upon Forl
Sumter. which, in its almost defenceless
cond ition, was compelled to surrep-
der.
This account, which is certainly plaus;
bic aud consistent, will, if it turns out 10
be correct. s0ryc to explain the apparent