Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1861-01-17
Return Of the Star OF the West.

Return of the star OF the west.
The New York Day Book of the 18th inst. AT an
early hour this morning the steamship Star OF the West ar
ing to the storm the Captain deemed impru
dent to to H. Every one on board bneo
badly scared and will hardly make another voyage to the
The elegraphc accounts respecting the approach of the
Star of the West to the Charleston harbor said Capt
forts he says boat came towards him warned him not
to enter but being government duty he paid no aen
on Fort MouItrie was very much surprised when
smoke assembled from Morris Island, and gun fired
across his bow little suspecting that guns were
stationed there He was within Il miles of the batteries
Still he kept his determined to run in near enough
very low S-ater In the meantime the soldiers
ranged and the supplies designed for Fort Sumter were
protection guns of Fort SUMTER could reach their
destination.
Still the heavy guns from batteries Morris poured
upon him. every ball coming and until one
struck the arboard bow about two feet above the
water line. Then, too fire from Fort Moutre was open
thiLgs the vessel stopped by the Captain At this
time an armed vessel with schooner in tow, making
across her bow evidently with view to cut off his retreat
At this Capt NcGowan became alarmed. and determined
RAPIDLY falling and the Star of the fine chance if
she much longer of being left high and dry on
the bar. AS the vessel turned round and was making
straight sea- heavy gun from Morris Island swept so
the ship that struck terror to the hearts Of all on
board apt MCGOWAN says if the angle of elevation OF
that gun had been two inches higher would have swept
the and killed half the troops board as they were
all where the destruction would have
been greatest Capt McGowan, when he heard how many
guns fired at him. he doesn't know but that there
enough OF the The Star of the West managed to
get the bar before the tide too low, and all on
board taking farewell look at the harbor Of Charleston
Capt MCGOWAN converses very freely respecting the
He he was going down WI to
reply question: he thought the Charleston fozca
Rs nc to ms heese b ne bsgsn &
hoisted fag and knew they meant business. Every
body aboard the Star of the West officers soldiers &C.,
little ashamed of the absurd termination of the voyage,
and many are indsposed to repeat It,
River lust of pier the of Warren street The
officer command of the troops, who remains aboard I'M
Capt Nc thinks he will be ordered to return to
Charleston but he no except he goes under
harbor Charleston she draws fifteen feet OF water
bat in her demolish Fort Moutre and the
The Star of the West damaged any extent. She
has board 200 recruits many of them ones, and
cording to Capt. MCGOWAN not fit for active duty.
Correspondence between Secretary Thompson and the
? President.
The following correspondence between Secretary
Thompson (who has resigned his seat in the Cabinet
and the President belongs TO the history of these stir
ring times:
WASHINGTON, January 8, 1861.
: SIR 1t is with extreme regret have just learned
that additional troops have been ordered to Charleston
This subject has been frequently discussed in Cabinet
o Council and when on Monday night, 3lst December
u the orders for reintOcements to Fort Sumter
c0unteTmandtd, distinctly understood from you that
order of the kind would be made without being pre-
vousy considered and decided in Cabinet. 1t is true
that on Wednesday, January ID this sub ect again
discussed in Cabinet, but certainly no conclusion was
i reached, and the War Department not justified il
ordering reintOrcementS without something more thar
then said learn, however, this morning, for the
first time that the steamer Star of the West sailed from
New York last Saturday night with two hundred anC
fifty men, under Lieut.. Bartlett, bound for Fort Sumter
Under these circumstances feel myself bound to resgL
my commission as of your constitutional advisers
] into your hands.
With high respect your obedient servant,
: j. THOMPSON.
His Excellency James Buchanan President of the
United States
Sir: have received and accepted your resignation
yesterday of the Cce of Secretary of the Interior.
On Monday evening, 3lst December, 1860, suspen-
ded the orders which had been issued by the and
navy departments send The Brooklyn with reinforce
ments to Fort Sumter Of this informed you on the
same evening stated to you my reason for this sus
: pension which you knew from its nature, would be
speedily removed In consequence of your request how
promised that these orders should not be renewed
I" without being previously considered and decided in
cabinet This promise faithfully observed my
part 10 order to carry it into effect called special
meeting of the cabinet Wednesday, I'd JAN, 1861 in
which the question OF sending achievements to Fl Sum-
amp discussed both by yourself and Others. be
decided majority of opinions against you. At this
J. moment the answer of the South Carolina commits
siOners to my communication to them of 3lst Deem
Der received and read. 1t produced much ndigna
ton among the members of the cabinet. After fur
ther brief conversation | employed the following Ian
q guage 1t is now all over, and reinforcements must
be sent" Judge Black said, at the moment of my de-
cison that after this letter the cabinet would be unani
nous, and | heard dissenting voice. Indeed, the
e spirit and tone of the letter left doubt my mnC
that Fort Sumter would be Immediately attacked anC
hence the necessity of sending rentorcements there with
d out delay.
r Whilst you admit that Wednesday, January I'd
this subect again discussed Cabinet" you say
but certainly no conclusion reached, and the War
Department not justified in ordering rein force
- ments without something than then said.
In this your recollection is entirely different from that
of your tour oldest colleagues in the cabinet Indeed
my language unmistakable that the Secretaries
of War and the Navy proceeded to act upon it with
out any further intercourse with myself than what you
, heard, or might have heard me say. You had been
emphatic in opposing these reinorcements that
thought you would resign in consequence of my de-
cision. deeply regret that you have been mistaken
in point of fact, though l firmly believe honestly mis-
taken.
:, Yours, very respectfully
t JAMES BUCHANAN.
Hon. Jacob Thompson.
From the Newbern Progress-Extra.