Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-15
Mpjor ApdersOn's Policy aud Present Pos
aiti0n.

HNtIoA - OitCy Aua ECbShA
sition:
The Charleston Is. CO. correspondent of
the New York Tribune, writes on the 9th as
follows:
The rebels have of late turned special
attention to the harbor defenses, as though
the game they are playing depended on
them. Captain Hartstene, late of the United
States Navy, and the most regretted deserter
from it, has been giving the subject his
special attention since he entered the service
of the rebels and it is evident that i'm
portant results are believed to depend on
their completeness. The plan clearly is, to
render the reinforcement of Fort Sumter,
or, what is of quite as much consequence,
the supplying of the garrison with pro-
visions, as near a impossibility as they
can. If Major Anderson is not supplied
with provisions, he must in time surrender,
if be is not Withdrawn by the Government.
There has been a deep game in this part
of the business by the rebels, and | am able
to state for a certainty that It proceeded
from JEFF. Davis, upward of two months
ago, while be was yet in the Senate. He
urged the clltivating of a good understand
ing with Major Anderson, and made a
special plea in a letter to Governor Pickens
that be might be permitted to purchase sup
plies for Fort Sumter in Charleston market.
The reasons he assigned were fit for traitors
only. His advice was followed, and it was
about this time that protracted interviews
took place at the fort between Major Ander
son and leading rebels, who visited him on
two successive days under a flag of truce.
Then followed the mission of Colonel
Hayne and a messenger from Major Ander-
son to Washington, and the promise by Mr..
buchanan to do nothing but maintain the
present status of affairs in Charleston Har-
Dor, and the other movements by which the
rebels gained time, which they improved, to
render their position as nearly impregnable
as possible. All the while the Government
did nothing, and Major Anderson continued
to advise no movement to relieve him.. 1t
was about this time also hat reports leaked
out from the Executive branch of the
Government prejudicial to Major Anderson,
and which were mentioned at the time in
this correspondence. With a malignity ex-
tr%aordinary as it was unexpected, the per-
mission was accorded the garrison to obtain
provisions from Charleston, though in small
quantities.
Fort Sumter, if not then actually short of
provisions, could count the days when it
would be. l but record a piece of the his
tory of the last two months, when ! state
that, nevertheless, Major Anderson not once,
but twice and thrice, assured the Govern
ment at Washington that he stood in need
of neither men, provisions, nor fuel. He
steadily ADVISED against any HtIempJ 10 sup
ply him with either, although at that time
it was entirely practicable to do so, and
every body but he said he might soon have
these supplies. During the ensuing six or
eight weeks he saw going on all around
him the gigantic preparations to wall him
in. His fate was as clear as the unclouded
sun if he was not relieved.
l made no mention of the fact that he
failed to assist the Star Of the West to enter
with men and provisions, or TO protest even
with so much as a single shot against the
driving of her back nor Of the fact that he
has permitted the rebels to transport their
munitions daily and hourly under the wall;
of Fort Sumter. For near two months he
has seen the harbor close gradually bui
surely against his Government, and he could
almost count the days when any attempt tc
throw into the fort provisions or men would
be attended with extraordinary difficulties
if not an impossibility. And he saw at the
same time going on all around him prepare
tions to besiege him, that told for a certainty
that the time must COM when he must have
provisions and men, or his garrison sacrificed
if he did not evacute the fort. And yet i
we are to credit undenied reports, he assured
his Government as late as twenty days age
that he could maintain his position, while
then, and tor some time before, he was in
large measure subsisting from day to day OF
the bounty of the Rebels-a bounty which
they could at any moment cut off. 3.