Shreveport daily news., 1861-07-16

was forDOrne without which 1t was
deemed possible to keep the Gov
On the 9Th of March, the present
incumbent's first full day in Office,
letter from Major Anderson, COM
manding at Fort Sumter, written on
the 2sth Of February, and received
at the War Department on the 4th
Of March, was by that Department
placed in his hands.
This letter expressed the profession
al opinion Of the writer that reinforce
ments could not be thrown into that
fort within the time for his relief,
rendered necessary by the limited
supply Of provisions, and with view
Of holding possession of the same,
with force Of less than 10000 good
and well-disciplined men. This'
opinion was concurred in by all the
officers of his command, and their
memoranda on the subject were made
enclosures Of Major Anderson's let
ter.
The whole was Immediately laid
before Lieut.. General Scott, who at
once concnrred with General Apder-
son in opinion. On reflection, how
ever, he took full time, consulting
with officers both of the Army and
Navy, and at the end Of four days
came reluctantly but decidedly to the
same conclusion as before. He also
stated at the same time that no such
| suffi cient force was then at the con-
troll of the Government, or could be
raised and brought on the ground
within the time when the provisions
in the fort would be exhausted.
In purely military point of view,
this reduced the duty of the Adni,lis-
tration in the case to the mere matter
Of getting the garrison safely out Of
the fort. 1t was believed, however,
that so to abandon that position un-
der the circumstances would be ut
terly r,1inous; that the necessity un-
der whichit was done could not be full
Iy understood; that by many it would
be construed as part of a voluntary
policy; that ut home it would disor-
ganize the friends Of the Union, en-
bolden its adversaries, and go far to
ensure to the latter recognition
abroad. That, in fact, it would be
our national destruction consumma-
| ted. This could not be allowed.
Starvation was not yet upon the
garrison and ere it would be reached
Fort Pickons might be reinforced.
This last would be a clear indica-
ton Of policy, and would better ena-
bic the country to accept the evacua-
ton Of Fort Sumter as a military
necessity. An order was at once Ii
rected to be sent for the landing Of
the troops from the steamship Brook
lyn into Fort Pickens. This order
could not 60 by land, but must take
the longer and slower route by sea
The first return news from the or
der was received just one week be-
fore the fall Of Fort Sumter. The
news itself was that the officer COM
manding the Sabine, to which vessel
the troops had been transferred from
the Brooklyn, acting upon some qua
81 armistice of the late Administra-
| ton, and Of tbs existence Of which
the present Administration, up to the
time at which the order was dis
patched, had only too vague and un-
certain rumors to fix attention, had
refused to land the troops To now
reinforce Fort Pickens before crisis
could be reached at Fort Sumter,
was impossible, rendered so by the
near exhaustion of provisions il the
latter named fort.
Ia precaution against such con-
juncture, the Government had, few
days before, commenced preparing an
expedition, as well adapted as might
be, to relieve Fort Sumpter, which
expedition was intended to be ulti-
mately used or not, according to cir
cumstances. The strongest anticipa-